In a forest setting, up against stormy weather and through the mud that could be dangerously slippery, the cameras rolled for "FPJ’s Batang Quiapo" in its recent episode, which featured Tanggol (Coco Martin)'s team saving Tindeng (Charo Santos) from Pilar (Celia Rodriguez)'s abduction.
“Kahit umuulan, ano man ‘yung panahon ngayon na pinagdadaanan ng buong Pilipinas, tuloy pa rin ang taping,” said Coco from their location in Antipolo. "Honestly, nahihirapan kami kasi ang ulan hihinto, bubuhos, tapos napakadulas ng location kasi nando'n kami sa gubat, maputik at medyo delikado tapos tirik 'yung mga location na para siyag bangin talaga na malalim," he shared in a behind-the-scenes reel uploaded by CCM Film Production.
In the clip, Coco is seen in the middle of the forest with castmates like Kim Domingo, navigating the slippery terrain. At one point, he even slid down the mud himself. The dirt covering the cast members wasn’t just makeup, but the real thing. This level of commitment has been Coco’s trademark in his action series and it’s one of the reasons viewers remain hooked on "FPJ’s Batang Quiapo" after all these years.
"Dahil hangad natin ay mabigyan natin ng magagandang eksena ang ating mga manoood kaya ginagawa lahat ng 'Batang Quiapo.' Para masiguro natin na may maganda tayong ipapalabas gabi-gabi para sa lahat ng mga manonood," he said.
Coco isn't afraid of the elements. He's more than willing to brave the wind, dirt, and mud if it means delivering a powerful scene. And this flexibility and spontaneity have undoubtedly served him well, cementing his place as one of the most beloved stars and directors in teleseryes.
The Primetime King shared that creating an episode is always a long process, starting with intense meetings and the search for the perfect location, followed by ocular visits to study the area firsthand. This ensures they can maximize the space and translate all the brainstormed ideas and scenes seamlessly into the actual physical setting.
He also mentioned that the team, including stuntmen and actors, trains once a week to make sure everyone knows exactly what they’re doing in each sequence, which helps prevent injuries. "Nandito tayo sa genre ng action, dapat talaga pinaninindigan natin," he added. "Every taping, sa bawat eksena na kinukunan, 'yung panganib hindi nawawala kaya dapat lagi tayong handa."
In another video, Coco’s hands-on approach is on full display as he both directs and acts alongside veterans Charo Santos, Christopher de Leon, Cherry Pie Picache, and Juan Rodrigo. He's seen giving instructions while everyone listens intently. We could tell his dedication as a leader inspires his co-actors to fully commit even if it means looking dirty and bloodied for the sake of gritty, physical scenes.
In the recent episode, Tanggol and Ramon (Christopher de Leon) infiltrated Pilar's hideout, where she was keeping Tindeng (Charo Santos) and Alfredo (Juan Rodrigo) hostage. The clash between the Montenegros and Doña Pilar’s forces grew more intense until Tanggol and Ramon found themselves trapped as they closed in on the captives. Outnumbered and overpowered, they were disarmed and brutally beaten, left bloodied and too weak to fight back despite their determination to protect each other.
Despite Ramon telling her to stay in the car for her safety, Marites (Cherry Pie) defied orders to look for Tindeng herself. Along the way, she stumbled upon Ramon and Tanggol being mobbed by enemies, with one attacker poised to stab her unconscious, badly wounded son. Acting on instinct, she pulled the trigger, killing several of the goons and scattering the rest. After the nail-biting fight, Tanggol's group was able to free Tindeng and Alfredo, leading to an emotional reunion.
Don’t miss an episode of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” weeknights at 8 PM on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWant, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL). Viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV.