It had been a couple of years since the last time that we'd seen Zanjoe Marudo Cristine Reyes in Kapamilya teleseryes, with their stint in the 2016 afternoon soap opera "Tubig at Langis" as, probably, their most notable work together. Ten years later, the two made an unexpected onscreen reunion in "Coco Martin's Sigabo," portraying the loving parents of the teleserye's lead protagonist in a series of flashback scenes.
For sure, many were surprised to see them in the teasers shown in the previous episodes of "Sigabo" leading up to the July 28 episode, where they delighted viewers with their portrayals of the young Rudy Magtibay and his deceased wife Belinda, as the present-day Rudy (Joey Marquez) recounted their beautiful yet ultimately tragic lovestory he shared with Belinda to their only son, Gabo (Coco Martin).
WATCH | Ang kwento sa likod ng pag-iibigan nina Belinda at Rudy | Sigabo
According to Rudy, it all began when he fell deeply in love with Belinda the first time that he saw her at the beerhouse where she worked as an entertainer, while he came as a customer. Since he couldn't at least get her attention yet at the time, he vowed to build his fortune by searching for the gold treasures left behind by his late Japanese boss.
Despite the exhaustion he had endured and the slow progress of the search, Rudy's determination and faith never wavered until he finally discovered what he had been searching for: two treasure chests filled with gold bars and coins. His meteoric rise to success gave him the confidence and financial means to return to Belinda and ask her to become his wife. Having seen Rudy's genuine kindness and unconditional love, Belinda did not take long to accept his proposal.
After getting married and building a home of their own, Rudy and Belinda were eventually blessed with a child named Gabriel, who would later grow up to become the strong-willed yet compassionate Gabo.
WATCH | Ang kinagisnang buhay at pamilya ni Gabo | Sigabo
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes interview with CCM Film Productions, Zanjoe Marudo and Cristine Reyes shared their experiences portraying the younger versions of Rudy and Belinda. They expressed their excitement about being part of "Sigabo" and having the opportunity to work with its lead actor-director, Coco Martin.
Although he really didn't get to share any scene with Coco, but with his younger counterpart, Gian Luca Geroue, Zanjoe still proudly shared that this was actually the first-ever project that he got to do with him.
"Excited ako, syempre, kasi nga matagal na akong hindi gumagawa ng teleserye," he shared when asked about his experience working with the aforementioned production unit. "Of course, 'tong team na 'to, sanay na sanay and tuloy-tuloy sila sa paggawa, may pressure kahit papaano dahil hindi ko alam kung paano ako makikisabay sa takbo o sa sistema ng paggawa nila ng mga action scenes at saka ng mga eksena."
When asked for his expectations, Zanjoe expressed his belief that the series would be watched by many Filipino viewers, as productions headlined by Coco Martin over the years have consistently attracted strong viewership, particularly among the masses. Given how the "Hari ng Aksyon sa Ating Henerasyon" has been admired not only for his expertise in action sequences but also for his ability to portray romantic storylines and heartfelt moments, he believes that this story envisioned by Direk Coco will be well received further by audiences.
Furthermore, what makes "Sigabo" a worthwhile watch for him is its promise of more intense action sequences and a wider variety of new fight scenes, while also showcasing elements of romance and comedy beyond its action-packed storyline.
Cristine, on the other hand, was surprised to receive a call from the team, offering her a role in the series. She related, "I was surprised because I didn't expect na they would call back and ask if I can do a mom role for the young Coco. It's quite [surprising] but also happy and blessed that they considered me."
At the same time, she was surprised when she found out that Belinda wasn't just a mother but a beerhouse dancer, too! She liked the experience, nonetheless, as she felt well taken care of on the set. Since her appearance on the show was very limited, Cristine hoped that this wasn't going to be the last time that he would work with Direk Coco.
Watch out for more thrilling action, kilig romance, lighthearted moments, and gripping drama in the next episodes of "Coco Martin's Sigabo." Catch it 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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