Coco: Idol ko si Da King

MANILA, Philippines - Coco Martin is paying tribute to Fernando Poe Jr. or popularly known as FPJ by starring in the TV remake of the latter’s cop movie Ang Probinsyano, which will air sometime this month on ABS-CBN. He is giving the original dual role with a “quadruple” twist. Kapamilya viewers will not simply see Coco double. “Actually, I’ll be playing four characters because there are some points in the story where I  disguise myself in every character,” he shares. “This is not something new to me because I’ve done a dual role in Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin. Yung pagpapanggap-panggap ng isang tao at lilipat ka sa isang tao ay medyo nahirapan po ako, lalo na sa Probinsyano na medyo physical ang mga eksena (I find it quite challenging shifting from one character to another, plus the fact that the show is physically demanding). As we all know, an FPJ movie requires high level of action scenes. I tell everyone that we cannot equal or even surpass (FPJ’s) work in the movie. Sa akin ay kahit paano ay may maibahagi tayo sa manonood na magugustuhan nila.”

Essaying an iconic FPJ role on the small screen is not just an opportunity but a privilege for Coco, an FPJ fan, who can thrive in intense dramatic and adrenalin-pumping scenes.

“I would watch Tagalog movies when I was a kid,” he recalls. “My grandmother is a fan of FPJ. I watched almost all of his movies.”

By following one FPJ movie after another, Coco had grown a natural admiration for the action star who has become a symbol of a man for others. This is the same reason why Filipinos including Coco idolize Da King.

“As a moviegoer, I admired him through the characters he had played,” he says. “I liked the way he worked, how he dealt with people and helped those people who worked for him. Siya yung klase ng tao na tumutulong na hindi niya kailangang ipagsabi. It’s one aspect of his persona that I find really admirable.”

The actor also shares an insight about FPJ that his Tita Susan Roces once told him, “Ang hirap (daw) maging asawa ni FPJ, marami kang kahati sa kanya. Sabi niya (si FPJ) ay open sa lahat. He is the type of person who will do everything to help. Hinangaan ko siya di lang bilang isang artista, hinangaan ko din siya bilang isang tao.”

This FPJ trait is what Coco tries to live by — to share his blessings and be a blessing to others.

“Sana yung ibang tao na kagaya ko na sinwerte sa buhay, sana makapag-share man lang sa pamilya at sa mga tao na nakapaligid sa kanila (For those who have so much in life, they should share their blessings with their family first and then with those close to them),” he says. “The kind of help I want to give them (my family) is the opportunity to improve their lives. Ang pagtulong sa akin ay hindi materyal na bagay, ito ay oportunidad. I remember those who helped me before, they didn’t give me money but they taught me how to stand on my own feet. That’s the opportunity I’m talking about.”

What are the twists and turns the young once and the young ones can expect from the TV adaptation of Ang Probinsyano?

“Napakalaki kasi ng potensyal ng kwento, napakaraming pwedeng puntahan ng kwento, napakaraming pang pwedeng ipasok na character para mas lalo pang mapaganda yung takbo ng kwento,” replies Coco. “We’ve added new characters to generate more interest in the story, at alam naman natin yung hinahanap ng mga manonood sa isang telenovela.”

The remake of Ang Probinsyano started with the suggestion from ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio for Coco to do a soap opera that focuses on policemen. Then, the 1997 movie came into his mind. “I couldn’t get over him (FPJ) playing dual roles or twins in the movie. I remember I was really entertained watching it,” recalls Coco. Aside from Ang Probinsyano, the Kapamilya star wishes to do other FPJ movies like Kalibre .45, Batang Lansangan, Asedillo and Ang Panday, which Jericho Rosales had a TV version years back, “(Ang Panday) is one of the dream roles of (male) stars. Isa siya sa mga naging hero ko. (If the West has) Superman, we have Panday. I hope this remake will open doors or inspire others to remake Filipino movies through the format of telenovela — para yung mga kabataan ngayon ay makita nila ang ganda ng mga pelikula noong araw.”Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.

“Sa ngayon, wala akong naiisip na ganun,” says Coco. “I’m happy and content with my work. I think we each have our own destiny.”

If there’s one thing that he is all eyes on, it will be the chance to become a role model to viewers.

“Ang bawat artista ay may responsibilidad sa kanyang manonood,” Coco says. “That’s why I’m very careful with what I post (on social media) because some audiences (especially the young) are impressionable and they may think it is right.”

(Ang Probinsyano is a joint venture of Dreamscape Entertainment Television and FPJ Productions, and features Albert Martinez, Susan Roces, Agot Isidro, Maja Salvador, Arjo Atayde, Bela Padilla and Jaime Fabregas. Malu Sevilla and Avel Sunpongco direct the ABS-CBN Primetime Bida show.)