In the more than two-year run of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” its lead protagonist, Tanggol (Coco Martin), has not only encountered numerous enemies throughout his journey but also several people who have played significant roles in his battles against those who had done his loved ones wrong, as well as various social injustices.
One of them is Patrolwoman Paula “Ponggay” Garcia, impeccably portrayed by brilliant actress Maris Racal, with whom he has found a very unlikely yet reliable ally. And just like with the past women who became part of his life, his connection with her was initially patchy, especially considering that they are from the opposing sides of the society—her as a promising policewoman and him as a notorious troublemaker and criminal.
But despite their differences, Tanggol and Ponggay were still able to find a common denominator that slowly turned them into each other’s partner in crime—their pursuit of bringing back the glory of Manila by doing anything they could to quell corruption, stop the Guerreros from their unscrupulous deeds, and find out the truth behind the questionable results of the latest elections.
As we look forward to seeing if they’re going to succeed in their personal and joint endeavors, let us first look back on how their growing connection began via this Kapamilya Toplist feature.
For sure, avid viewers can recall that their paths first intertwined during the Quiapo police’s mission against the Montenegros. Unfortunately for her troop, they failed to take hold of Tanggol and his friends not just during their battle that transpired at the Montenegro mansion, but also at the hospital after Tanggol and his friends attempted to take Ramon (Christopher de Leon) away.
Ponggay may have had the opportunity to arrest them during their unexpected visit at their abode after helping her father, Mauro (Richard Quan), in fighting the group of men who attacked him, but she was stopped by her family as they saw how genuinely kindhearted Tanggol seemed to be.
The two once again crossed paths by chance when he saved her from being almost sexually assaulted by the man whom she suspected was the culprit behind what happened to her stepsister, Dimples (Criza Taa). Tanggol might have failed in his original mission at the time of carrying out his revenge scheme against his former ally and Rockyboy’s mother, Divina (Rosanna Roces), yet he succeeded in getting Ponggay out of harm and helping her escape from the predator and his minions who attempted to kill her.
Although bringing her into their hideout could have jeopardized the safety of their group, Tanggol still took her there. An exchange of hilarious and snarky remarks ensued between them as soon as they arrived at the shipyard, which continued until they reached the view deck, where they had an absolutely serious conversation.
She confessed how she rooted for him in the last elections and how her faith in him instantly faltered during their mission against his family wherein they recovered a whopping amount of cash and drugs. Meanwhile, Tanggol opened up about his life that only a few people know, as well as the struggles that he’d gone through that brought him to that path.
In spite of Ponggay’s warning that she would go against him in their next encounter, Tanggol implied that he wouldn’t do the same. He told her that he completely understands that she’s just doing her job and trusts her enough to share his story with her. While his words might have been enough to melt her heart, it was his gesture of offering his jacket to her since she was still clad in her sexy angel costume that got her further touched.
Tanggol may be the type who doesn’t easily submit to anyone, but it’s apparently a different case when it comes to Ponggay, as he immediately went to their house to personally apologize to her following the heated argument that transpired between them when she attempted to assail them all by herself.
But instead of listening to him and to the pleas of Mauro and Lola Florie (Perla Bautista), Ponggay insisted that they’re supposed to be enemies since she’s a policewoman while he’s a criminal. Thus, before he left, Tanggol threatened to treat her the same way in their next face-off.
After her family talked sense into her, she realized that they could be right about Tanggol being innately good, so she heeded their request for her to chase him and say sorry to him. He played hard to get at first by making her follow him but instantly stopped upon hearing her yell his full name. Ponggay expressed her apologies to him and reiterated how much she actually idolizes him, so what she has been asking from him is nothing but truth.
In their next rendezvous, they had another serious conversation about the Guerreros and the next possible moves that they could carry out in order to prove how wickedly corrupt they are and that they manipulated the last elections. Now that she had already infiltrated the Guerreros, Ponggay assured Tanggol that she would do everything she could to further get to know them.
Unlike the first time that they had an intensive discussion, Tanggol and his friends accompanied Ponggay on her way home to make sure that nobody would dare harm her. As they walked, he thanked her for her effort to personally relay her news about her new duty as Miguelito’s close-in bodyguard, as well as telling her how much he trusts her. In return, Ponggay reiterated her promise to help him gather evidence about the Guerrero family’s corruption, bad deeds, and manipulation of the elections.
And lastly, Ponggay seemed to find it hard to conceal her kilig upon seeing the reaction of her family, who was obviously delighted to see them together. They also thanked him for paying them a visit and for saving Mauro from the group of men who harassed him.
In the world that yearns for organic encounters, Tanggol and Ponggay are proof that it’s indeed still possible!
Now that they’re certified allies, let us watch out for more kilig moments of Tanggol and Ponggay in the next episodes of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” weeknights at 8 PM on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWant, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).