Discovering Onyok and Makmak like striking gold, says Coco

MCNEAL Briguela as Makmak

“It’s hard to find a child actor who is gifted. We’re lucky to have two in the show,” said Coco Martin of his protegés, Simon “Onyok” Pineda and McNeal “Makmak” Briguela, in the top-rating program, “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”

“It’s like we struck gold when we found them. When they started, they knew nothing about acting or camera blocking,” Coco recalled. “We trained them. Since they’re fast learners, we just let them do their thing now because they’re already good at delivering lines.”

Coco said 4-year-old Simon once dared his coactors by saying: “Kapag nagkamali magpapa-pizza, ha? (The person who bungles his lines will treat everyone to pizza.)”

“He would also complain if he thought his lines were too short. I never expected he’d become this good,” Coco added.

He said McNeal, 12, was naturally good at drama. “I remember when we were rehearsing his big ‘gay coming-out’ scene, I told him not to worry about his lines and just look into my eyes so he’d feel the emotion. He did what he was told and was able to turn up an amazing performance. He had other dramatic scenes after that, and he was able to deliver a sincere portrayal.”

SIMON Pineda as Onyok

Asked what he thought made the program click with its audience, Coco said in Filipino: “There’s always a lot to learn from watching it. Also, the characters are not at all different from the personalities in their own neighborhood.”

The show aims “to help the police force win back the public’s trust,” said Coco, who plays the noble policeman Cardo. Another goal is to expose situations in the Philippine National Police.

“We want the audience to know that, while there are law enforcers who are corrupt, there are also those who work hard to uphold justice,” he said.