COCO MARTIN has mixed feelings of sadness and joy at the farewell presscon of “Juan de la Cruz” which ends in three weeks after airing for nine months. “Sad kasi mami-miss ko lahat ng kasama ko rito, pati staff and crew, pero happy rin kasi grabe ang pagod namin dito,” he says at the solo presscon for him. “We tape 5 to 6 days, inaabot ng 7 AM up to hanggang hapon pa the next day, pero masaya kami sa set kasi maganda bonding ng lahat. Barkada na kami. I’m so proud of this project kasi halos lahat ng soaps ko, sinama na dito. Action-drama ito, may comedy rin, love story, fantasy, talagang isa sa pinakamahirap pero pinakamagandang shows na nagawa ko. Yung nine months nito, hindi ito basta inextend o pinahaba kundi malaman talaga ang kuwento. I learned so much from my character, lalo sa pagtulong sa kapwa. Dito ako nagkaroon ng special advocacy project na Juan Fun School Day giving school supplies sa mga eskwelahan. Apat na ang natulungan namin and we’re now in the process sa pagtatayo ng isang bagong school. I want to be an inspiration to young people na sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ko bilang artista at bilang tao. Hindi ko rin malilimutan ang mga nakasama kong artista rito, lalo si Tito Eddie Garcia at si Tito Albert Martinez as I learned so much from them about life and career. Si Tito Eddie, sa edad niya (84), darating sa set ng 7 AM at nandun pa hanggang the next morning, pero wala kang maririnig na reklamo. Hindi sumisimangot. Kaya ako, wala karapatang mag-complain kahit pagod na rin ako. Si Tito Albert naman, nagbo-bonding kami sa Subic o Eastwood pag walang taping. Napakatalinong tao. You can ask him about anything at may payo siya. Naging tatay at kuya talaga siya sa’kin.”
So what’s next for him? Will they really make “Juan de la Cruz” into a movie? “Sana nga. Movie raw ang next project ko pero hindi ko pa alam kung ano. For my next soap, sabi, may Book 2 ito, pero naghahanap muna ako ng bagong material for variety.”
After the death of his half brother Arron Villaflor, this week sees the death of his dad, Albert, making Zsa Zsa Padilla truly angry with him. In the finale, Coco will be facing a very extraordinary opponent, his evil alter ego complete with horns on his head. “Marami pang mangyayari,” he says. “Abangan nyo kung sino pang mamamatay para matigil ang kasamaan ni Diana Zubiri as Peruja. Makikita rin kung anong mangyayari kay Shaina Magdayao at kung magiging happy ang ending ng love story namin ni Erich Gonzales.”
How come it’s said he and Shaina are now playing beautiful music together? “Maganda lang ang bonding namin pero walang ligawang nagaganap. Sobrang grabeng busy ang schedule ko kaya on hold muna ang mga ligawan.”
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