Recently on “FPJ's Batang Quiapo,” the beloved character Noy, played by veteran actor Lou Veloso, was killed off by the most hated mistress of the year, Lena (Mercedes Cabral). Now, let’s take a moment to pay our respects at Noy’s wake—but what really goes on behind the camera to create an intense scene like this, with Lou himself lying in the coffin?
As Tanggol (Coco Martin) comes home to grieve the death of his lolo, the scene is also packed with action thanks to the gripping three-way brawl between the universally hated Rigor (John Estrada) and his sons, Tanggol and Santino (Ronwaldo Martin).
Read on to discover what it takes to pull off a cinematic masterpiece like this.
Team Batang Quiapo truly delivered in capturing the distinct vibe of a Pinoy lamay or wake, complete with a ‘sugal’ setup featuring talents enjoying bingo and card games, as well as overflowing pika-pika—biscuits, kornik (corn snacks), and butong pakwan (dried watermelon seeds).
In a behind-the-scenes video shared by CCM Film Productions, we got a rare look at the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to make every episode come to life, from the audio men to the production staff and cameramen.
As we toured around the set, we gained a better understanding of how the taping process unfolds. There’s an intricate director’s system outside the actual set where the director oversees everything. For this particular episode, it was Direk Malu Sevilla at the helm. Seated in front of her monitor, Direk Malu had the complete viewer’s perspective of the entire scene. If she spots anything that needs adjusting or refining, she’d immediately give instructions through her microphone.
In this episode, Tanggol and Rigor cross paths at Noy’s wake, setting the stage for tension that quickly escalates into an intense physical brawl as Santino jumps in, unable to hold back his anger toward their father.
Before the cameras rolled, John admitted he was feeling nervous, as it had been a few weeks since he and Coco shared a scene together. Still, he was excited, saying, “Parating masaya ‘pag kasama mo ‘yung boss mo at ‘yung hari. Na-miss ko rin kasi matagal kami hindi nagka-eksena ni Coco.”
In the next video, we get a front-row seat to the intense preparation for the gritty brawl at Noy’s wake. The rehearsal process was nothing short of meticulous. Coco himself took the lead, giving instructions to his co-actors. The entire team made sure that every punch, line, and movement was perfectly choreographed, with each hit carefully practiced to land exactly as planned.
But once the cameras stopped rolling, the actors broke character, hugged, and checked on each other. John was even caught asking Ronwaldo if his back was fine after being flipped over during the scene.
Adding a lighthearted twist to the intense moment, Lou slowly sat up from the coffin, drawing laughter from the cast and crew. Moments like these highlight the teamwork and dedication that bring “FPJ's Batang Quiapo’s” most unforgettable scenes to life.