“Gusto kong kunin lahat ng mahuhusay na artista sa Pilipinas”
Coco Martin wants to gather the best actors in the industry for “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.”
This is his answer to FreebieMNL when he was asked during the press conference on how he was able to gather such a casting coup for the series.
He first lets out a smile before giving a short explanation about the show’s casting.
Humbling himself, he then says with a smile, “Actually, ano e… Lord, sorry!”
Martin then continues, “Ang nasa isip ko noong binubuo ko ‘tong ‘Batang Quiapo,’ gusto kong kunin lahat ng mahuhusay na artista sa Pilipinas. That’s it. Gusto ko silang makatrabaho, gusto kong magsama-sama kami. Kaya alam ko kung sino yung mga mahuhusay at masasarap na katrabaho. Kaya personally, ako talaga yung tumawag, pumili po sa kanila.”
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Among Martin’s co-stars in the show are veteran actors Christopher de Leon, Cherry Pie Picache, John Estrada, Irma Adlawan, Tommy Abuel, Pen Medina, Ronnie Lazaro, and Charo Santos Concio. Lovi Poe plays Martin’s leading lady.
They are part of the main cast and play big roles in the series, which aired last February 13 on ABS-CBN platforms.
Irma Adlawan, Christopher de Leon on accepting ABS-CBN show
During the press conference held at ABS-CBN’s Studio 10 on February 7, 2023, FreebieMNL also asked Irma Adlawan and Christopher de Leon what made them accept this ABS-CBN project.
Among the veterans in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” De Leon and Adlawan are the actors who can do projects both for ABS-CBN and GMA-7.
According to Adlawan, it depends who is the first to call for a project. But she admits that getting a call to join “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” was somewhat special for her.
At that time, she was still doing “2 Good 2 Be True” with Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.
She shares, “Actually, nasa ‘2 Good…’ pa ako, I got a call from Miss Eila,” talking about the show’s producer. She continues, “I felt so special kasi sabi niya, pinapatawagan ni Coco yung mga gusto niyang makatrabaho even if hindi pa niya alam kung kailan magsisimula. So, sabi ko, ‘Oh, wow, thank you for making me feel very special.’”
It counts that she has worked with Martin several times when he was still active in doing independent movies. Adlawan says, “Of course, I’ve worked with Coco for a long time, since indie days pa lang. Hindi pa siya the Coco Martin pero Coco Martin na siya dito,” pointing at her heart. She adds, “Well, I’ve known him for quite a while pero kasi, very short yung stint ko with ‘Ang Probinsyano,’ medyo schedule-wise, yung mga kasama ko ay medyo busy so medyo na-shorten kami. But this time around, hopefully, I will be with him longer than ‘Probinsyano’ and thank you again.”
The same story happened with de Leon, who personally received a call from Martin himself. It serves as a reunion for them after working in the 2014 series “Ikaw Lamang.” De Leon also appeared as guest in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”
Prior to “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” De Leon was seen in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’s” last rival show in GMA Network, “Lolong.”
De Leon recalls, “It was like several months ago, Coco called. Tinawagan ako sa phone and then he offered me this one, ‘Batang Quiapo.’ Of course, wow. Sabi ko, this will be an honor to work with, maging kasama ko si Madam Charo and the rest, and sinabi niya yung casting and all that. More often, ang priority ko is the project itself, my role, anong klaseng role, what is the character. Mabilis niyang na-explain sa akin kung ano yung gusto niya, noong tumawag siya. So, he knows really what he wanted. Like, he wants me to play this role and nakuha ko kaagad.”
Seeing Martin’s hardwork in the show, De Leon predicts, “This is going to be really something big, ano, just like ‘Probinsyano.’ Everybody wanted to be part of it.”
De Leon plays the role of Ramon, the father of Tanggol (Martin) who is a head gangster. Adlawan plays Ramon’s sister.
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Banner Art Paulo Correa
