Coco Martin ends ‘Batang Quiapo,’ to star in new series with Julia Montes

MANILA, Philippines, February 24 ------ Coco Martin has confirmed that his long-running primetime action series “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” will air its finale on March 13 after a three-year run but will immediately return to primetime with a new series alongside real-life partner Julia Montes.

Martin, who stars as Tanggol and also serves as one of the show’s creative producers, said the character’s story has reached its natural conclusion. “Whenever you tell a story, there is a beginning, a middle and an end. When I felt that Tanggol had already gone through all the elements — up to the point where he even lost the election — I asked myself, what major arc is left to tell?” Martin said in an interview with "TV Patrol" on Friday as translated in Engliah.

He said that after revisiting the story and its characters, he realized there was little more to explore in Tanggol’s journey. “This is probably the farthest I can take Tanggol’s character,” he said.

Martin, who serves not only as lead actor but also as one of the show’s creative forces and producers, admitted the decision was difficult. “It’s hard to say it out loud. I’m part of the team creating it, and we all worked so hard on it. You develop anxiety because for three years you’ve lived and breathed this character, and you work on it almost every single day,” he said. “It’s difficult to accept that it’s coming to an end. It’s hard even to let the words come out — that it’s over," he added.

Meanwhile, Martin teased a new primetime series “Sigabo,” which premieres on March 16 with Montes. “I was waiting for the right project for Julia and me. Juls is training hard — learning gun handling, fighting, riding a motorcycle. We tailored the story to fit us at this stage in our careers. It’s the first time we’ll go lighthearted. We want to bring fun into homes every night,” he said.

He added that “Sigabo” will mix action, comedy, and romance, featuring a strong ensemble of comedians and an episodic format. “Almost all our co-stars are comedians. Each episode has a different story and mission. It’s a new experience every week,” Martin added. "Batang Quiapo" premiered on February 13, 2023 and features an "all-star ensemble" led by Martin, Christopher De Leon, Cherry Pie Picache, Charo Santos-Concio and John Estrada, among many others.

Source: manilatimes.net