Aside from veteran and returning actors and talented rappers, avid viewers and chronically online people have probably noticed that a number of content creators, social media personalities, and even ordinary people have also been cast in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” taking on supporting roles.
Among them are Marlon “Toret” Fuentez and Rodolfo “Opok” Ramirez, who amused us with their portrayals of Marlon and Opok, the two dependable and loyal minions of Nita and Marsing, played by screen legends Susan Africa and Pen Medina. And since this was the case, we’d also witnessed the demise of their characters on the same episode wherein the notorious couple was killed, as they attempted to help and save them from the henchmen of the Guerreros who were running after them.
As they had also signed off from the series, CCM Film Productions caught up with Marlon and Opok via these two separate interviews, in which they talked about how they made it to “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” and how being part of it has changed their lives.
For those who do not know him, Marlon is a TNVS (transport network vehicle service) driver who gained popularity on social media for his vlogs that aimed to raise awareness about the inborn neurological disorder he has been diagnosed with called Tourette Syndrome, as well as to inspire others, especially people with disabilities like him. Opok, on the other hand, had already worked with Coco in two previous projects, namely, the 2007 indie flick “Tirador” and the long-running teleserye “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”
In his three years in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” Marlon conveyed that he’d been happy with his experience because he was given the rare opportunity to work with people from different walks of life and with personalities whom he had never expected to at least see or meet in person.
When asked how he became part of the show, he recalled being contacted by someone from the production after Coco got to watch his vlogs online. He admitted to having doubts about it at first and even assuming that it might be a scam, which, as we all know, has been prevalent in recent years. However, after doing a little research about the person who reached out to him and finding out that he indeed is connected with Coco and the series, he was already convinced.
He recounted not being able to sleep well that night out of sheer excitement, more so when he was summoned to meet with the “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” staff somewhere near ABS-CBN to talk about his participation in the series. It made him realize how nothing is truly impossible when it’s God who already moved in our behalf.
Marlon then went on to impart how Coco and “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” have helped him big time, especially when it comes to their finances. He also gained more popularity, as attested by how people get to easily recognize him as one of the actors in the series almost everywhere he goes.
“Hindi gano’n kalaki ‘yong pangalan ko dati sa social media at hindi naman din ganoon ka pinapansin ng mga tao. Pero noong napasok ako sa ‘Batang Quiapo,’ parang doon ko nakita na parang nag-iba ‘yong level ng buhay ko, nag-level up ako. Talagang nabago ‘yong pagtingin sa akin ng mga tao mula noong mapasok ako sa ‘Batang Quiapo’,” he related.
Furthermore, he also shared that the people who personally know him, and even those who used to make fun of him, have also become proud of him for being able to get into television, which is something he never imagined happening to him, either.
Thus, it makes him happy to think that there are other people who are glad about what he has already achieved in life. At the same time, he also feels that his late parents are surely one of those who are cheering for him every time he appears on TV, if only they were still alive.
"Sa mga kagaya ko na PWD, ano man ang pinagdadaanan mo sa buhay, matuto ka lang lumaban sa buhay mo. Huwag mong ikulong ang sarili mo, huwag mong itago ‘yong sarili mo, huwag kang matatakot sa sinasabi ng ibang tao. Ipakita mo kung ano ‘yong magagawa mo. Huwag mong iisipin ang sasabihin nila, ang isipin mo kung ano ‘yong kaya mo dahil kung nagawa ko, mas magagawa mo,” he stated when asked for his message to his fellow PWDs.
He may not be able to directly say it to them, but he hopes that he was able to impart that message to him through his appearances on “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.”
While it was Marlon’s first time working on TV and with Coco, Opok, on the other hand, had been in the industry for years now and had the chance to work with the esteemed actor-director in the past years.
According to him, it was during their taping for the 2007 indie film “Tirador” somewhere in Mandaluyong City when he first met Coco. Their paths once again crossed on the set of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” when he worked as a personal assistant for an actor who seemed to be part of the ensemble cast. Coco was able to remember him, so he asked him to audition right away, and Opok got accepted on the spot and was offered the role as one of the henchmen of John Estrada’s character in the series.
They eventually met anew on the set of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” when he was just passing by one of their taping locations. And just a few weeks later, one of the staff contacted him to tell him that he would be part of this series, too, which absolutely got him overjoyed. His first scene was with veteran actor Pen Medina, as their characters begged for money in front of Quiapo Church.
Similar to what happened to Marlon, Opok said that being part of the series had also immensely changed his life because aside from gaining popularity and more opportunities, it had also boosted his self-esteem. Besides, the income he got from this project helped him so much as a single parent in funding the education of his child, who’s currently in his/her fourth year as a criminology student.
Salute, Marlon and Opok!
Don’t miss an episode of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” weeknights at 8 PM on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, iWant, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).
*Photos credit to Marlon Tourette Vlog FB