He was offered to become the third wheel to Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz!
Coco Martin has been declared as ABS-CBN’s “Primetime King” after his series, “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” broke records and has been touted as the longest-running teleserye at seven years.
But stardom and popularity did not also come easy to him as he also experienced hardships when he was just starting out on TV. Prior to his projects, Martin was known as an indie film actor, taking part in daring roles in movies such as “Masahista” and “Serbis,” with Brillante Mendoza as his director and manager.
Martin actually has veteran actress Jaclyn Jose to thank, as she opened the door for him to successfully penetrate television. “Kung hindi ko pa po nakukwento, si Jacklyn Jose—si Mommy Jane—ang isa sa mga dahilan bakit ako nakapasok sa TV. Kasi marami akong rejections noon, e, dahil nga noong nagsisimula ako sa indie films, mga ginagawa namin ni Direk Dante—first movie ko, ‘Masahista’ tapos medyo matured,” he shares at the press conference of his Summer Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Apag.”
With his string of daring movies in the indie scene, Martin admits, “Ang tingin talaga sa akin noon ng network, bold actor, sexy star.”
READ: Coco Martin Shares How He Gathered Actors To Join “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”
ABS-CBN rejects Coco Martin twice
Coco Martin has, in fact, experienced rejection in the past from his current network, ABS-CBN. He does not mention what year it happened but there were two inquiries when he almost got the role but it did not push through.
Both rejections were because of that: he was considered a “bold” actor.
He recalls, “Kapag nag-i-inquire sila sa akin noon kay Direk Dante para kunin ako tapos magsasarado na yung project… Hindi ko makalimutan to, e, unang in-inquire kay Direk Dante, ‘Direk, pwede ba si Coco maging love triangle ni Shaina at saka ni Rayver?’”
In the late 2000s, Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz were being groomed as one of ABS-CBN’s hottest teen love teams, headlining several programs of the network.
Martin continues, “Siyempre, si Direk Dante, excited na excited kasi mabibigyan na ako ng trabaho. E, kasi alam naman natin kapag sa TV, yun yung tinatawag ng mga artista na bread and butter. Kumbaga, may regular income ka. Kapag sa pelikula kasi, minsan ngayon meron, tapos medyo matagal wala. Siyempre, excited kami na makakapasok na ako sa TV, magkakaroon na ako ng regular show.”
Next thing they knew, Martin was no longer being considered for the project. “‘Tapos biglang binalikan kami, ‘Direk, si Coco Martin pala ay bold actor. E, alam mo naman, medyo conservative kung ila-love triangle kay Shaina at Rayver.’ Kami naman, e, di okay, next time.”
After a few months, Martin was being offered another role as part of Judy Ann Santos’ teleserye.
He narrates, “Sabi ni Direk Dante, ‘Anong role?’ ‘Gay siya na magiging bestfriend ni Ate Juday.’ ‘Sige sige,’ sabi ni Direk Dante. Sinabi sa akin ni Direk Dante na yun nga, may nag-i-inquire. [Sabi ko], ‘Sige, laban ako diyan basta may trabaho.’ ‘Tapos binalikan na naman si Direk Dante, ‘Direk, pasensya na, sexy actor pala si Coco Martin. Alam mo naman, kapag sa TV, conservative.’”
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Coco Martin was hurt
The “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” actor admits that he got hurt by how he was rejected. He explains, “Kasi sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, ang taas ng tingin ko sa trabahong ginagawa ko. Hindi ko siya tinitignan na parang itong proyektong ito, gagawin ko, maghuhubad ako, magpapakita ako ng katawan kasi gusto kong sumikat, hindi yun. Ginagawa ko yung project na yun dahil may tiwala ako, may respeto ko sa trabahong ginagawa ko, kahit ano pa yan.”
The rejections discouraged Martin to try out television acting.
He says, “After that, talagang sabi ko mula noon, ayaw ko nang mag-TV. Kasi, sabi ko, kung ayaw nila sa akin, e, di huwag. Hindi ko naman pinagpipilitan ang sarili ko. Sila ang nag-i-inquire sa akin. Ang masakit, nakakatikim ako ng rejection. Napakasakit na ang baba ng tingin nila sa akin pero ang taas taas ng tingin ko sa trabahong ginagawa ko.”
What even hurt Martin more was the difference in how the Philippines treated him and his work compared to other countries.
That’s why when he was offered another stint on television by Jaclyn Jose, he almost did not accept it.
He narrates, “Tapos noong nandoon na kami sa Cannes noon, hindi ko makakalimutan ‘to. Sabi ni Mommy Jane—nag-iinuman kami doon kasi competition kami. Sabi ni Mommy Jane, ‘Co, gusto kang kunin ni Direk Andoy [Ranay] sa show niya sa Channel 2, ‘Ligaw Na Bulaklak.’’ Sabi ko, ‘Mommy Jane, ayoko na.’
“Kasi sabi ko, ilang beses na akong na-reject sa TV. Kung ayaw na nila sa akin, okay lang naman. Dito na lang ako sa indie. Hindi man ganun kalaki yung kinikita ko pero nararamdaman ko yung respeto. Kumbaga, yung pagtingin nila sa ginagawa natin, lalo na kapag lumalaban kami sa international. Hindi nila kami kilala doon pero yung respeto, natatanggap namin. Bakit sa sarili naming bansa, iba? Bakit ang baba ng tingin, bakit ganun ang tingin sa amin?
“Sabi ni Mommy Jane sa akin, ‘Nak, pagbigyan mo na ako, isa na lang. Kapag hindi pa natuloy itong project na ito, huwag ka na mag-TV kahit kailan. Pagbigyan mo na ako, isa na lang.’”
Accepting the role in “Ligaw na Bulaklak” proved to be the right decision for Martin’s career.
“Doon ako nag-start, doon ako napansin, na binigyan ako ni Direk Andoy Ranay ng pagkakataon. Doon ako napansin ng Channel 2 na magdidire-diretso yung trabaho ko sa network, sa ABS-CBN.”
Staying down to earth
Coco Martin’s humble beginning is the reason why, despite the achievements and popularity he has right now, he remains to be down to earth, just like how his co-stars describe him.
In fact, Jaclyn Jose, Gladys Reyes, and Shaina Magdayao had good words for Martin during the press conference of their Summer Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Apag.”
When asked why he remains to be humble, Martin says, “Ang tingin ko talaga sa ginagawa ko, hanapbuhay talaga, e. Hindi ko ninanamnam kung anuman yung sinasabi nila na, ‘Uy, sikat ka.’ Wala talaga kasi nagsimula ako doon sa pinaka-humble na beginning talaga.
“Sabi ko nga, paulit-ulit kong kinu-kuwento, hindi ko pinangarap na maging artista. Kaya ko napasok itong trabahong ito kasi gusto kong makapag-TNT o makapagtrabaho abroad. Doon ako nag-start.”
In his humble beginnings, Martin learned the hard way not only from the rejections but also with the people who guided him on his way to the top.
“Yung mga taong gumabay sa akin, kumbaga, tumigas ang buto ko sa industriyang ito. Yung mga taong alam mong napakahaba na ng pinagdaanan. Sila yung lagi kong kakwentuhan, kausap. Bago ko pa maranasan yung isang bagay na pagkakamali o maling gawain, alam ko na yun o nakwento na nila sa akin yun. Maraming proseso na na dumaan at napaliwanag na nila sa akin.”
Martin headlines the cast of “Apag” with Jaclyn Jose, Gladys Reyes, Mercedes Cabral, Senator Lito Lapid, Shaina Magdayao, Gina Pareno, and Joseph Marco. It is part of the 1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival, which will run from April 8 to April 18, 2023.
Banner Art Paulo Correa
