"Sa awa ng Diyos, buhay pa naman ako," McCoy de Leon quipped when asked how intense the hate comments have become due to his infuriating portrayal of David Dimaguiba in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo."
It’s not just online bashing anymore as he even gets 'gigil' reactions in person or at events. But McCoy takes it all as validation that he's doing his job well. "Natutuwa pa rin ako kasi alam kong tumatangkilik sila sa palabas at natutuwa sila sa palabas kaya apektado sila," he said in an episode of Kapamilya Chat. He also enjoys seeing fan theories and posts online, as well seeing the show's high viewership because it makes all the effort worth it. If people are hating David, it means he’s nailing the role.
Playing David has been a game-changer for McCoy, a complete 180-degree shift from his usual charming boy-next-door roles. Of course, it was tough at first, but he eventually got the hang of it. Asked how he loads up on emotions before a take, McCoy revealed he doesn't have a specific warm-up routine apart from making sure that he understands David's core as the greedy and money-hungry liar fueled by his intense hatred for Tanggol (Coco Martin).
He must knit David's core into his own flesh so it's easier to figure out how his character would react to a situation since they don't really follow a script. "’Pag sinabi sa'yo 'yung eksena na gagawin, kami mismong mga actors na magde-determine kung paano namin iaatake 'yun. Hindi na kami sinasabihan ng direktor na, 'Ganito dapat.' Kaya 'yun ang first step mo, alam mo kung ano nangari before nito o ano mangyayari after."
And after two years, the character already feels ingrained in him, "Automatic na, eh, kusa na lang lumalabas." And that, he believes, is the key to a convincing portrayal—keeping the character so close, it feels like a part of his soul.
McCoy describes working on “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” as a rewarding experience that’s really helped him grow as an actor, both through the camaraderie on set and the test of trusting his instincts. While the actors are given the freedom to shape their characters, the directors and cast members are also very open to collaboration. It was big adjustment for McCoy at first, though, since he’s used to working with a set script. But in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," most of the dialogues and actions are improvised since they usually don’t have one to follow.
"Natuto na lang din ako na tinatanong nila kung ano ang dapat kong gawin. Ako naman, siyempre, nakikita ko sa mga beterano na binibigay nila 'yung best nila. So, ako, mag-iisip ako ano bang pwedeng gawin ni David," shared McCoy, who also stars in the upcoming move “In thy Name.”
His work on "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" is definitely hectic, but what keeps him going each day is the thought of heading home and spending even just a little time with his partner, Elisse Joson, and their daughter, Felize. Even if it's just a quick bonding moment before taking a rest, he makes sure to be with Felize before recharging for another day of taping.
"FPJ's Batang Quiapo" has become McCoy's routine for the past two years. And just like the viewers eagerly waiting for David’s lies to be exposed, he, too, is looking forward to it. "Napapagod na rin akong magpanggap sa totoo lang," he said, flashing his chinito smile. "Hindi n'yo lang siguro alam. Ako, napapagod din ako kung ano pa 'yung mabibigay kong iba sa bawat eksena."
One of the most challenging scenes McCoy had to do recently was when David had to jump from a window and roof to escape after Ramon (Christopher de Leon) confirmed through Marites (Cherry Pie Picache) that David is an imposter, who stole Tanggol’s identity. McCoy recalled that this sequence was shot around midnight, and he had filmed for another project just before that. He was already feeling dizzy, and even the show’s medical team came over to check if he was fine. But he chose to push through with the taping and instead used that exhaustion to fuel his performance and make David’s acting feel more authentic.
"After ng take, hingal na hingal talaga ako... So ang nararamdaman ko nu'n, bahala na kung anong mangyari... Binibigay namin 'yung pinakahuling lakas talaga namin para mapaganda 'yung ekena," he said.
Viewers should definitely keep an eye on what happens next to David, especially the karma and punishment that await him in the coming scenes. Don't miss an episode of "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," weeknights, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z.