Just when we thought that he would finally stick by Tanggol’s (Coco Martin) side for good this time after previously turning his back at him following the the tragic deaths of their friends Primo (Lito Lapid) and Amanda (Lorna Tolentino), avid viewers of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” were shocked by the unexpected demise of Ben (Mark Lapid) and his wife, Gina (Sue Prado), as seen in the February 6 episode.
As we all know, it was Ben himself who brought danger upon himself and his wife when he decided to make a deal with Miguelito (Jake Cuenca) in his pursuit of taking revenge on Tanggol and his companions, as well as to claim the large reward being offered by the mayor. Unbeknownst to Tanggol and group, Ben had betrayed them by going to the city hall and personally reporting to Miguelito that they were staying at his house.
Although Miguelito had promised during their discussion in his office that he would ensure both his and his pregnant wife’s safety before carrying out his plan to annihilate the group, that promise was unfortunately broken as the cunning mayor ignored Ben’s desperate plea to escort Gina out of the house before the police began firing. Miguelito fatally shot her as she attempted to reach Ben, which prompted the enraged Ben to retaliate, only to be gunned down by Miguelito.
Following the departure of both their characters on the show, Mark and Sue couldn’t be any thankful and glad for the short yet significant stints that producer, director, and lead actor Coco Martin had given them in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”—as they stated in their separate exit interviews that CCM Film Productions had uploaded across its social media and YouTube platforms.
Mark hoped that the viewers had enjoyed seeing him again on the series—around a year after Ben first bade farewell alongside Berting, the character played by veteran actor Joey Marquez. He also invited the viewers to stay tuned and keep their eyes on the upcoming scenes because he guarantees that they are going to be even more exciting.
At the same time, he took this chance to convey his deep gratitude to Coco for the incredible opportunity he had given him to be part of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” once more, as well as for entrusting him to portray the well-crafted and remarkable character of Ben. Mark wished Coco well and for him to be able to continue supporting actors and other hardworking people in the industry they’re in.
When asked about his biggest takeaways from his time in the series, Mark said that it would be the importance of helping others, of working hard, and of never giving up despite life’s challenges.
Seasoned thespian Sue Prado, on the other hand, revealed in her exit interview that being part of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” as Gina felt like a reunion for her since she finally got to see so many colleagues there that she hadn’t seen or worked with in a long time.
“Coco, salamat ulit nakatrabaho kita. It’s always a joy working with you,” she enthused when asked for her message to him, whose being grounded and down to earth she truly appreciated. She also sincerely thanked CCM Film Productions for looking after her and making her time working with them both enjoyable and unforgettable. Furthermore, she’s also thankful to the loyal viewers of the show, wishing them to continue supporting her and the team in their future projects.
Behind-the-scenes clips of Mark and Sue were also featured in their respective interview videos, including moments from their last taping day when the staff and crew surprised them with delectable cakes.
How will Ben and Gina’s deaths affect Tanggol and his group? Let's find out by not missing an episode of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, ALLTV2, A2Z, iWant, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).