It’s not just the season of giving—it’s also the perfect time for remembering. This holiday, Coco Martin looks back on the lessons he’s learned from his career, opens up a about his dynamic with Julia Montes and his creative process as the “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” torchbearer, and names a few actors he truly considers outstanding.
Holidays with Julia
In between a schedule that rarely lets up, Coco marks only five dates in the holiday season—December 24, 25, 26, and December 31 to January 1—as sacred, because those are the only days he gets to slow down and show up fully for his family. During those days, he turns into just another family-oriented guy who cooks for his loved ones.
When Coco says he cooks, he really means it. The Primetime King finds it a grounding experience each time he returns to the humble holiday traditions of his childhood, where home-cooked food was a love language he shared with family. Until now, his favorite part of Christmas is the joy of preparing Filipino meals (kare-kare and kaldereta are his top Pinoy Noche Buena dishes). "Hindi ako gaanong mahilig sa mga extravagant na pagkain na sobra-sobra. Kasi nga, galing ako sa hirap, eh," he said in an interview with Rico Hizon on ANC.
While most people get wrapped up in gift shopping, Coco and longtime girlfriend Julia Montes don’t wait for Christmas to practice gift-giving, because they pay such close attention to each other that whenever one of them sees something they know the other would love, they just go ahead and buy it even with no occasion. Besides, when the holidays come around, they focus more on giving back to their families, which makes perfect sense considering both of them grew up in broken households.
"Feeling namin iisa na kami. 'Yung para bang laging pamilya ang iniisip namin dahil pareho kami lumaki sa lola at pareho kami broken family. Laging ang [goal] namin, bumawi at kung paano namin mapapasaya 'yung pamilya namin," shared Coco.
When asked what he plans to give himself this holiday season, Coco paused because he believes he already has everything he ever wished for and more. “Sa sampung hiniling ko sa Diyos, lagpas 15 ang binigay niya,” he said, and he said it with humility. He doesn’t have any specific resolutions for the New Year either, as he feels so blessed with what’s already in front of him.
FPJ's Batang Quiapo
As early as now, Coco's 2026 is already looking promising, with two films lined up alongside his ongoing teleserye. Keeping it all the more exciting is that he’ll finally get to collaborate with two of his dream directors, Erik Matti and Jerrold Tarog. Just the thought of juggling everything at once can be daunting, but he believes everything falls into place when you pour your heart into what you do.
That passion (which gets him up at 2:30 a.m. and keeps him energetic on set through the day) doesn’t burn out easily because it’s rooted in years of waiting, “Ang tagal ko kasi pong hinintay ito, itong pagkakataon na ito.” It came from a long, hard climb that taught him success is best when shared, “Kahit sa pamamagitan ng kwento lang, sa salita lang, malay mo may mabago akong buhay.” Coco didn’t have financial backing when he was starting out, but he had wisdom, which he still carries with him today as he pays forward the same opportunity he once fought hard to receive.
This is most evident in how he assembles his cast. He handpicks his actors to open doors for them, especially for veterans who, at one point, had been 'forgotten' by the industry. "Nakikita ko po 'yung sarili ko sa kanila. Alam naman natin dito sa Pilipinas, kulang sa opportunity." He knows one day, he’ll be in the same position.
"Ngayon pa lang, as early as peak ng career ko, pinaghahandaan ko agad 'yung paglaos ko. Alam ko na, hindi ko dine-deny 'yan. Alam ko na mangyayari't mangyayari 'yan," he said matter-of-factly. Coco knows the industry rarely offers second chances and that opportunities are hard to come by, which is why he uses his platform, like “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” to help others be seen, whether it’s a veteran actor looking for a return or a newcomer hoping for a break.
"Bakit ko ipagkakait 'yung isang opportunity kung kaya ko naman ibigay? Kung magiging ito 'yung paraan para makatulong, bakit ko hindi gagawin? Kasi d'yan ako galing, at alam ko 'yung pakiramdam," said Coco, having worked as a waiter, janitor, and dishwasher before he found his spot in showbiz.
And while his compassion is evident, it’s also clear he runs a tight ship. Coco may offer people opportunities, but he’s also known for being strict on set. "Mahigpit po talaga ako. Sabihin na nilang corny, sabihin na nilang terror, o whatever, masama ugali," he related. "Pero 'pag hindi natin pinagbuti, 'pag hindi natin sineryoso itong trabaho ito, 'pag bumagsak ang show natin o itong company natin, lahat tayo mawawalan ng trabaho... Oo, masungit ako. Bakit? Kasi seryoso ako sa buhay ko. Seryoso ako sa trabaho ko.”
In an era where being laid-back is often celebrated and being “too serious” is branded as uncool, Coco stands firm in his standards, believing that respect can only be earned when you say what you mean and mean what you say, “'Pag hindi ko pinanindigan, hindi ako rerespetuhin." With the success and position he now holds, he could easily afford to slack off or act "mayabang" but he chooses not to. Instead, he holds himself to a higher standard, which is why on his set, cellphones, smoking, vaping, and gossiping during work are strictly not allowed.
When asked what happens to rule-breakers on his set, "Tanggal," he replies bluntly. And that applies to everyone, from cast to crew. "Dalawa na 'yung natanggal ko," he shared honestly; one was a makeup artist who was stirring tension through gossip, and the other, a production staff member he caught watching online videos during work hours. “Gano’n ako kaklaro. Bago ka pumasok sa akin, alam mo na 'yung rule. Kapag ginawa mo pa rin 'yan, alam mo na 'yung ibig sabihin—hindi tayo swak. 'Pag hindi ko kasi pinanindigan at hindi ko ginawa 'yung sinabi ko, hindi ako rerespetuhin,” said Coco.
With over 700 episodes of "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" under his belt, Coco still finds himself in awe of his creative process. “Hindi ko alam eh,” he laughed, recalling how he used to shrug off the idea of being gifted with storytelling. "Sabi ko, 'Ano ba yun?' Pero no'ng na-experience ko na talaga siya, na nakikita ko na talaga, na pumupunta kasi ako sa set or pupunta ako ng meeting na wala akong idea pero 'pag dinala mo na ako sa location, doon naglalabasan lahat," he explained. "Ni hindi nila naiintindihan kung pa'no ko naiisip 'yun."
But if there’s one thing he's sure of, it’s that his creative instincts were sharpened during his indie film days, when instead of chatting with co-stars in a tent, he’d spend his free hours with the cameramen, watching how the set operated. “Hindi ko alam, natututunan ko na pala lahat. Parang nag-aaral ako.” So when finally given the chance to direct and produce, he felt prepared because everything he observed back then had already been stored in his mind. It's close to magic.
A life made for the movies
And maybe that magic extends behind the scenes. Coco can light up any room with his warmth. He smiles at everyone. With a life story that feels almost cinematic, he is living proof that reality can be just as magical as the movies.
So when asked who he’d choose to portray him in a biopic, Coco named none other than Christopher de Leon, his on-screen father in "FPJ’s Batang Quiapo" and whom he deeply admires. “Kaya kong sabihin na in love ako sa kanya,” he said, referring to the veteran actor’s unwavering professionalism and the dedication he pours into every scene, no matter how big or small. “Sana balang araw, 'pag tumanda ako, kahit papaano, kahit kaunti, may makuha akong katangian niya bilang artista.”
As for the younger generation, Coco sees plenty of promising talents who could take on the role of his younger self—Joshua Garcia and Kyle Echarri among them. “Marami talagang magagaling ngayon,” he added. On who might portray Julia in this imagined film, he mentioned Barbie Forteza, praising her for her charm and bubbly energy.
Even with the rise of digital, Coco remains a firm believer in the enduring power of television, especially in places where it’s still the most reliable source of entertainment. But beyond platforms and formats, his biggest hope is for genuine institutional support. He’s seen world-class work created with minimal resources, and it pains him to know how much more could be achieved if only the government truly backed the industry. "Nangangarap lang ako," he mused, "sana mayroong tao na umupo at sumuporta sa industriya in all aspect."
*Photo credit to Real Coco Martin FB