The launch of "FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano" back in September 2015 introduced audiences not only to action-packed storytelling, but also to the touching bond and adorable chemistry between Cardo Dalisay and his pint-sized sidekick, Onyok.
Xymon Pineda shot to stardom as Onyok, the lovable kid whose cuteness, acting skills and rapport with Coco Martin made him an instant fan favorite. Their unlikely tandem, which paired the no-nonsense cop with the energetic and witty kid, gave some of the series’ most wholesome and tear-jerking moments. A decade later, their throwback photos compiled in this gallery still capture the magic of those early Probinsyano days.
During its seven years on air, the teleserye became home to several child stars, but Onyok was undoubtedly one of the most memorable young characters on the show. He may have been tiny, but he carried the heart of a true defender of the weak, just like his Kuya Cardo.
The two met when then-SAF trooper Cardo joined an outreach at the orphanage where Onyok had grown up after being left as an infant outside the facility. Seeing the child bullied by older, bigger kids, Cardo stepped in and taught him to never let anyone push him around.
When the orphanage caught fire and Onyok was stuck inside, Cardo charged through the flames and saved him. From that rescue, their closeness deepened and remained even when Onyok moved in with a loving adoptive family in an indigenous community.
Cardo was the neighborhood hero to the folks in Botolan, always first to help and quick to protect. Then life flipped when he headed to Manila and assumed the identity of his twin brother, Ador, who had been killed by a criminal syndicate. To keep the mission going without tipping off the bad guys, Cardo lived Ador’s life in the city. As Cardo adjusted to this new world, Onyok ached for his presence and eventually set out to find his Kuya Cardo, and that reunion ended with Cardo taking him in for good.
Some of their most unforgettable scenes were the tender ones in Botolan, where Onyok would wake up early to prepare breakfast and even wash his Kuya Cardo’s clothes, while Cardo would make sure Onyok got to school safely.
The two also proved themselves true partners in the thick of action-packed adventures, like the time they jumped off a ship to escape the authorities. There was even a point when Cardo landed in jail and Onyok managed to sneak inside just so he wouldn’t be separated from his Kuya, which led to their daring escape together. And because Onyok admired Cardo so much, he once helped him capture the thieves who were stealing livestock from the townspeople in Botolan.
It may have been a decade, and nothing shows the passage of time more than the fact that Xymon a.k.a. Onyok has already graduated from elementary in 2023 with honors, but fans still remember the mischief, funny scenes and heartfelt moments of the CarYok tandem—relive it all in this gallery of throwback photos.