JM de Guzman’s latest kontrabida teleserye role as Victor “Tigre” Zafra may see him leading the biggest gold-smuggling syndicate in the world of “Coco Martin’s Sigabo,” but behind his character's rise to power are his formidable parents, Deborah and Mariano, portrayed by veteran actors Chanda Romero and Efren Reyes Jr., respectively.
Avid viewers got an initial glimpse of the Zafra family's dynamics in the July 2 episode, where it was revealed that the couple each has a favorite among their two children. As the panganay or eldest son, Victor has earned more of Mariano’s trust and confidence, particularly when it comes to managing their business and handling their clients and partners. Meanwhile, his younger brother Lucas (Ronwaldo Martin) appears to be the one favored more by Deborah.
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As Mariano advised Lucas to always be obedient to his kuya in order for him to learn the ropes of their business, Deborah quickly came to their youngest son's defense. She insisted that Lucas already knew the ins and outs of the operation since he had been involved in it for a long time. All he needed was for Mariano to believe in him as well.
While they may appear intimidating onscreen because of the characters they portray, both seasoned thespians are actually warm and gracious off-camera, as seen in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video recently uploaded by CCM Film Productions on social media.
When asked how it feels to be part of “Sigabo,” Chanda enthused how “very exciting” it has been for her to take on Deborah Zafra, whom she described as the head of the empire of syndicates.
“Alam mo kapag Coco Martin, parang wala kang karapatang mag-expect eh kasi everyday bago mo pa i-expect ‘yon meron na silang mga bagong ibibigay sa’yo. There's always something exciting everyday, every scene. Nakaka-challege kasi you just have to make it work,” she related.
She was also asked about her thoughts on Coco being hailed the “Hari ng Aksyon sa Ating Henerasyon.” For her, the esteemed actor-director is “really the true heir” and is “deserving of that title,” emphasizing that Coco has steadily proven himself through his performances and unwavering dedication to his craft.
“Kasi consistently naman, nagagampanan niya talaga ‘yong role na ‘yan eh. And his dedication, hindi mo matatawaran. Talagang nandoon ‘yong puso niya, ‘yong utak niya. Nandoon, I think, his whole being,” she expounded.
Meanwhile, Efren takes pride in playing Mariano Zafra, a former police official who’s able to amass wealth and build a powerful syndicate that eventually crosses paths with Gabo.
Also asked about his reaction on Coco being bestowed the “Hari ng Aksyon sa Ating Henerasyon” title, the veteran actor said that the time has come for a new king to emerge as the heir of action films and series in the Philippines. Efren stated, “He’s a perfect embodiment of a new king for the new generation. Kasi may mga nakalipas tayong mga hari—syempre, ‘Da King’ Fernando Poe Jr—eh no’ng panahon namin ‘yan.”
At the same time, Efren expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue working at this stage of his career and to collaborate with actors from younger generations. Despite having portrayed a wide range of characters over the decades, he imparted that he still gets excited every time he takes on a new role, as each one challenges him to develop a distinct personality and remain true to that character from beginning to end. For him, that is what acting is all about.
Aside from the exclusive interviews with Chanda and Efren, the video also featured snippets of their behind-the-scenes moments on the set of “Sigabo,” along with some lighthearted interactions of Coco with his co-stars and fans off-camera.
Are you as excited as we are to see what’s next for the Zafra family? Will their gold-smuggling empire continue to thrive, or will Gabo and the NCIA finally bring about their downfall? Let’s all find out in the upcoming episodes “Coco Martin’s Sigabo,” weeknights at 8:00 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), or stream anytime on iWant!
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