Coco Martin. Screengrab from his Instagram / Batang Quiapo
Now it can be told. The characters from “Batang Quiapo” are based on some personalities who are close to Coco Martin, among them family members and friends.
Martin made the revelation during the grand mediacon of the primetime teleserye last May 3, saying that several leading characters including that of Tanggol, which he plays in the show, would undergo a major character development in the new season of the show, and most of them are inspired by real people in his life.
“Every time na gumagawa ako ng character ko, kumukuha ako ng pieces doon sa totoo kong buhay, doon sa totoo kong pagkatao para hindi ako maliligaw. Lalo na ngayon, sa dami ng ginagawa ko, iniisip ko, kailangan mayroon akong parte ng buhay ko o pagkatao ko na nilalagay doon sa character ko, sa character ni Tanggol,” Martin said. (Every time I make my character, I get pieces of its character from my real life, on my personality so that I won’t veer away too much from the role. More so that I have wo many things to do, so many things to think about, there’s a need that I have part of my life or part of my character to be included in my character, as in the character of Tanggol).
At this point, Martin pointed out that some of the things that Tanggol has been though in the series, were almost the same as what he had experienced in real life, or what had happened to his acquaintances.
“‘Yung kuwento ko mula elementary hanggang college, ‘yung barkada, trouble, lahat ‘yan na-experience ko kaya alam na alam ko ‘yung milieu ng buhay ko. Pati ‘yun sa tatay at nanay ko, ‘yung dynamics. Actually, ‘yung mga character namin, character ‘yan ng buong pamilya ko at ng mga kalugar ko,” he revealed. (My story from elementary to college, the peers, troubles — all of that I have experienced, and I know the milieu of my life, including the dynamics of my parents. Actually, our characters, that was the character of my entire family and those who live near me).
Martin said allowing his real life experiences to seep into his work would make it easier for him to remember the personalities of each character.
“Doon sa buhay ni Tanggol ay napakalaking bahagi noon ay totoong pagkatao ng buhay ko,” he said. (A big part of Tanggol’s personality is a reflection of my own life.)
Martin said the public may expect the transformation in Tanggol’s character when the show enters its new chapter on May 8. EDV