There’s no doubt that Coco Martin is one of the busiest celebrities at present. Aside from starring in and being one of the people behind the hit primetime series “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” he has also ventured into various businesses.
Thus, there are arguably people who have been wondering if he doesn’t get tired with all the roles that he has to juggle both in his personal and professional lives. And the Kapamilya Primetime King himself tackled it in the second part of his exclusive interview with veteran showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz.
“Siguro meron akong nakukuhang happiness and fulfillment,” he said. While acting itself is already tough, he also has to juggle being the director, conceptualizer, scriptwriter, producer, and line producer of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” which are certainly difficult in their own ways.
Coco went on to mention that a lot of people have told him that he has a “gift,” which he initially wasn’t able to comprehend until he started working on the Kapamilya series. Compared to “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” he disclosed that he’s actually “more chill” in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” since he has already learned to manage his expectations with regard to the outcome of every scene that they would shoot.
As Ogie brought up the astounding popularity and longevity of his two latest teleseryes, which both amazingly defeated every series that the other network has slated on the same timeslot, Coco bared what could be the secret behind its undisputed success.
“Ang ‘Probinsyano’ at ‘Batang Quiapo,’ wala kasi siyang kwento. Kaya kahit saan ko siya dalhin, sinasalo lang ng viewers. Meron akong umpisa pero wala akong gitna at dulo. Kasi, sabi ko nga, paano aabot ang isang show ng seven years? Alam mo naman kapag gumagawa tayo ng teleserye, alam mo na kung saan pupunta ang kuwento, kung saan ang journey. Ako kasi ang dali kong ikabig, ang dali kong manipulahin,” he elaborated.
Then he added, “Medyo metikuloso ako pagdating talaga sa trabaho. Hindi sa akin puwede ‘yong puchu-puchu lang,” he said, admitting that he actually gets crabby every time he’s on the set because he takes his work seriously.
In order to ensure that everyone is at their best and is taken care of regardless of the role they play on the show, whether in front of the camera or behind, Coco implemented a set of rules that everybody must obey.
“Lagi kong sinasabi kahit kanino, every second binabayaran tayo. Hangga’t maaari, ayokong nakikita na may nagce-cellphone at naglalaro. Sabi ko, binabayaran tayo ng kumpanya. Kung ikaw ba ang boss, matutuwa ka na ‘yong tao mo naglalaro lang diyan?” he started off by clarifying that using phones are only allowed during breaks and inside the tents but are discouraged on the set.
He continued, “Pangalawa, gusto ko naka-uniporme tayo para may representasyon ang kumpanya. Pangatlo, dahil nanggaling ako sa [pagiging] talent, gusto ko kahit papaano ‘yong mga talent may tent na at saka may upuan saka lamesa. Dapat mayroon din silang sariling portalet para hindi naghahalo ‘yong mga artista saka talent…” Besides, he also makes sure that they’re well-fed on the set as he wants them to always something to eat for merienda.
But the strictest and most shocking policy that he probably ever imposed was to have everyone—from the staff and crew to the artists—be subject to a drug test because he firmly believes that if one is serious about his/her work, he/she must align with the qualifications and be in the right mental and physical state.
“Ang pinaka ayaw ko kasi, ‘yong nagtratrabaho ka para sa bisyo mo. Gusto ko, nagtratrabaho ka para sa future mo at sa family mo. Kasi kung may halong kalokohan ‘yan, may halong drugs ‘yan, out [ka na] kahit magtampo ka pa sa akin.”
Apparently, someone got positive with drug use, whom he advised to take a leave for the meantime and just go back once he’s already negative and has stopped with his vice. As what he would always remind his colleagues, “Kung seryoso ka at mahal mo trabaho mo, aalagaan mo ‘yon at iingatan mo.”
Another significant thing notable about “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” is how a plethora of former and up-and-coming talents are hired to take part in the series, just like what happened in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” According to Coco, it’s something that he couldn’t avoid, yet he never committed easily since he would never say “yes” to someone only to drop him/her afterwards.
Thus, he imparted that there were times that his fellow creatives in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” would poke fun at him as he seemingly turns into a manager and gets pressured in finding the most fitting role for the artists who sought his help for a job and he promised to provide. One of them is Rod Navarro Jr., the son of the late film and television director, Rod Navarro, who approached Coco one day to tell him that he aspires to be part of the series. And now, he plays the role of Dindo, the newest dependable right-hand of Irma Adlawan’s character, Olga.
Aside from the fact that he knows all too well how it feels to humble oneself and ask others for help, he was also apparently impressed by the work ethic of Rod Jr., as well as his determination to score a job and keep it and his courage to come forward to him without assurance that Coco’s response would be favorable.
The Kapamilya Primetime King then imparted the piece that he always tells anyone who would ask for a work opportunity from him. “Ang hinihingi mo sa akin trabaho hindi naman pera. ‘Pag pera ang hinihingi mo sa akin, doon pa ako mapapaisip kasi alam ko pangtapal ‘yan o next hihingi ka ulit sa akin. Baka hindi na kita mapagbigyan kasi ang dami nang humihingi ng tulong. Pero kung trabaho ang gusto mo, hindi kita makakalimutan kasi at least iniisip mo na may gusto kang mangyari sa buhay mo.”