Maja: Coco is ‘boyfriend material’

“RIGHT now, I just want to focus on work,” says the Kapamilya actress.

My heart is locked, but I know I can’t stop love. My heart will eventually open up but only to Mr. Right,” said actress Maja Salvador when asked about the possibility of falling in love with Coco Martin, her leading man in the new ABS-CBN series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”

Maja broke up with fellow Kapamilya contract artist Gerald Anderson in May. She was last seen with Coco in the 2011 series “Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin.”

The two became the subject of showbiz news when Coco got into a fight with Matteo Guidicelli at the 2011 Star Magic Ball, reportedly because of Maja. Matteo, Maja’s boyfriend at that time, allegedly got jealous of her closeness to Coco.

“Right now, I just want to focus on work. I am scheduled to do a movie this year, as well as a special project that I’m not allowed to reveal yet,” Maja told reporters on Tuesday night.

Her latest drama series “Bridges of Love,” which also featured Jericho

Rosales and Paulo Avelino, aired its finale on Aug. 7.

Action scenes

The 26-year-old actress added: “I don’t think Coco and I will have time for love while working on the series. We’ll be doing lots of action scenes because our characters are members of the police force. Let’s just see what happens.”

She denied rumors that Coco once tried to woo her, though.

Still Maja conceded that Coco could be described as “boyfriend material.” She explained: “He loves his family so much, especially his grandmother. He is also dedicated and passionate about his craft. I admire that he didn’t quit until he was able to reach the top.”

Maja said she was grateful to Coco and to Dreamscape business unit head Deo Endrinal for including her in the cast. “I felt bad that I had to make them wait until ‘Bridges’ ended. They said they really wanted me to be a part of it. I liked the idea of playing a policewoman.”

She added: “I’m excited to work with Coco again not only for myself, but also for the members of CocoJam (fan group). They waited for four years. I’m grateful to them. They supported us even though we didn’t have a project together.”

Maja and Coco first worked together in “Nagsimula sa Puso” in 2009. “I learned a lot about Coco as a person on the set. We became close friends while doing ‘Minsan Lang,’” she recalled. “I saw how Coco embraced his character—that’s why he’s such an effective actor.

Reserved

Maja described Coco, off-cam, as “really shy and quiet. He’s reserved but I’ve learned to bring out his funny side.”

On the news that Maja is the replacement of singer-actress Angeline Quinto, Dreamscape Adprom manager Biboy Arboleda explained: “Maja’s role is very much different from what was assigned to Angeline, whose current work schedule does not permit her to join ‘Ang Probinsyano’ right away. We still hope to have Angeline in future episodes, though.”

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” the TV version of the 1997 film featuring the late Fernando Poe Jr., also stars Susan Roces, Agot Isidro, Bela Padilla, Arjo Atayde and Albert Martinez.

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