Action genre not dead

Coco Martin — who’s portraying the title role in the soap opera remake of Fernando Poe Jr.’s Ang Probinsyano (a film the late King of Philippine Movies released in 1997) — says he can never hope to equal or surpass what FPJ achieved both as an artist and even more so, as a human being. Coco never met FPJ, but he’s heard enough stories about him to realize that there is — and will be — only one Fernando Poe Jr. “As a viewer, I admire him for the characters he portrayed. Pero bilang isang tao, sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, siguro alam nating lahat kung gaano siya sa kanyang mga katrabaho, sa kanyang kapwa, kung paano niya tinutulungan ang mga tao,” says Coco. “He was the type of person who would help others voluntarily; pero di na niya kailangan ipagsabi, ipagyabang, o i-announce. Sobra akong bumibilib sa kanya bilang isang tao. (People) saw his sincerity.”

He would hear stories from other veteran actors like FPJ’s wife Susan Roces, or from Anita Linda with whom he worked on an indie film. The latter once mentioned that she enjoyed watching television, and the next thing she knew, she received a brand-new TV. People who needed help of any kind were always welcome. Susan would often say, “Ang hirap maging asawa ni FPJ, napakaraming kahati sa kanya” although it was not meant as a complaint, but more a statement of fact, because FPJ really was a helpful person.

So as part of channeling FPJ for his latest TV assignment, Coco tries to emulate the values that the late actor-director left behind. It’s actually something he’s been trying to do ever since his life and career improved and he was able to afford a better life for himself and his family. But he doesn’t want to just give money or material things to the people he helps. Coco explains: “As much as possible, I would like to help the people around me. I want to give them the opportunity to earn for their living, just like how people helped me when I was starting in showbiz. I cannot recall anyone who just kept on giving me money, but I remember that there was a person who taught me how to stand on my own feet. That’s what I learned and I want to share it to others.”

Coco sets no conditions for the help he gives. He looks for only one thing: “Kung alam ko na may pupuntahan at ikaaayos ng buhay nila, at yun ang magiging simula ng pagiging maayos ng buhay nila, ng tao at ng pamilya nila, nandoon po ako para sumuporta.”

And yet there is one thing that FPJ did that Coco says he isn’t too enthusiastic about doing, and that’s going into politics. FPJ ran for the highest office in the land; Coco has no such plans. He’s been asked before, but he always says he’d rather be doing something else.

He believes politics is not his destiny, in 2016, or any time soon. “Honestly, it never crossed my mind. As far as I know, there were people whose lives became complicated when they entered the political arena. We each have our own destiny. Siguro may tao talaga na nilaan para sa gano’ng pamamaraan at gano’ng aspeto ng buhay, ako siguro kung nandito man ako ngayon, siguro eto ang binigay ng Diyos at isa sa pamamaraan ko bilang artista, ginagamit ko din ito para makatulong sa aking kapwa. As an actor, I am able to do my part and that is to make the viewers happy. I believe many viewers were encouraged through the roles that I have portrayed.”

Speaking of roles, this role in Dreamscape Entertainment’s Ang Probinsyano is special to Coco, not only because of how he identifies with FPJ, but because he had creative room to play around in. Coco, as an actor and creative consultant in some of the projects he’s worked on, enjoys the whole process. In Ang Probinsyano, he and the creative team added characters to flesh the story out more.

Thus, the version that people will see onscreen when the series debuts is not exactly the same as the film. “We have added new characters in the series that were not included in the original story. We did it to make the story more endearing to the viewers,” he explains, and adds: “And we also know how to catch the televiewers’ interest in telenovela, kaya sabi nga namin ang laki ng potensyal. In the soap, the scenes are somewhat physical; isa pa ‘yan na aabangan ng mga manonood. We all know that FPJ movies were action-packed.”

Indeed, the action genre is not dead. It lives on through Coco, even as he says there can only ever be one King of Action Films and King of Philippine Movies. “Sabi ko nga never natin mapapantayan, pero sana magustuhan ng mga manonood.”

Healing Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes located along N. S. Amoranto Ave. cor. Kanlaon St. Quezon City will hold Healing Masses every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. starting in November.

In the Philippines and among Catholics all over the world, Our Lady of Lourdes is venerated. In Borongan, Eastern Samar, The Nativity of Our Lady The Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated Sept. 8. Legend has it that a white lady believed to be Mama Mary, appeared at a place called Hamorawon and it is said that the Hamorawon spring water had healing power.

For more info on the Healing Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes, call 731-9306 or visit www.nsollqc.com.