He presented the creative team of “Juan de la Cruz” to talk about the show: creative head Rondell Lindayag, headwriter Shugo Praico, creative manager Dindo Perez, production manager Emerald Suarez, executive producer Aila Garcia, and director Malu Sevilla.
Deo says the project was conceived in January of last year yet. “Ma’am Charo Santos wants a series about the triumph of the Filipino spirit, modern day heroes, a value laden, family oriented series. The title is ‘Juan de la Cruz’ as it refers to all of us as there’s a hero in all of us. It’s not just an action-fantasy but the journey of an ordinary Filipino mixed with local folklore. Sana isasali ito sa last Metro filmfest but we pulled it out para gawin munang TV series shot in HD camera kaya parang pelikula. This will be a franchise. It’ll end in June, then isasali sa December filmfest ang film version.”
Coco Martin plays the title role. “He’s the only choice. Bagay kasi Pinoy ang hitsura niya and he has endeared himself to the masses. Sa story, humans and aswangs used to co-exist, but when the Spaniards came with Christianity, the aswangs were killed with a special cross na may tagabantay. Sa present time, the bantay is Mylene Dizon. The leader of the Aswangs, Albert Martinez, seduces her to get the cross but seriously falls in love with her. Coco is their son. But Albert also has an aswang wife, Zsa Zsa Padilla, who thinks their son, Arron Villaflor, a cop, is Albert’s rightful heir without knowing na anak niya si Coco. When Mylene dies, the young Coco is raised by a priest, Jaime Fabregas. When he grows up, he goes to Manila and eventually gets hold of the cross that turns into four various weapons: espada ng katapangan, pana ng karunungan, latigo ng katarungan at sibat ng kagitingan. His sidekick is Neil Coleta. His love interest is Erich Gonzales, whose dad, Joel Torre, is a vigilante who hunts aswangs. The main conflict here is in Coco himself. He has both good and evil elements in him, so which side would he choose? That’s where he’s being a true hero will come out.”
No doubt “Juan de la Cruz” will further boost Coco’s popularity after it zoomed to higher heights in “Walang Hanggan”. Aside from this he’s also in the film “One Moment in a Time” with Julia Montes that will compete on Valentine’s Day with Richard Gutierrez’ “Seduction”.
