Coco Martin and Julia Montes. Images: FILE PHOTOS
Coco Martin and Julia Montes’ reel-to-real relationship didn’t come as a shock to many outsiders, as they have been close to each other for quite some time. But after years of speculations, the “Batang Quiapo” star publicly confirmed it this month.
Many insiders are aware of Martin and Montes’ relationship from way back; they have also been spotted together on multiple occasions.
But despite keeping their romance private, the actor couldn’t help but express his love for his partner during the screening of “Unbreak My Heart,” saying, “Napakasarap ng pakiramdam namin dahil 12 years na kaming magkasama, pero pareho pa rin tulad ng dati.”
Take a trip down memory lane as we show a complete timeline of CocoJul’s relationship:
2008: Coco and Julia cross paths
Coco and Julia first met on the set of the 2008 show “Ligaw na Bulaklak,” in which the former starred as kontrabida Ronel Alegro.
Meanwhile, Julia briefly appeared in the teleserye as the teenage Jennifer, whose grown-up version was played by Ara Mina. It can be noted that the show aired in the same year that the former graduated from “Goin’ Bulilit” with batchmate John Manalo.
March 2011: Coco and Julia get linked
Speculations of Coco “wooing” Julia came about via ABS-CBN News in March 2011, which the actor vehemently denied during an interview on the now-defunct “Showbiz News Ngayon.”
“Hindi, hindi, hindi. Si Julia magkakilala na kami dati pa. Nakakaisang soap opera pa lang ako sa ABS-CBN. Sa ibang channel pa lang nagkakatrabaho na kami,” he was quoted as saying.
January 2012: ‘Walang Hanggan’ goes on air
Coco and Julia were launched as the CocoJul love team in the melodrama “Walang Hanggan,” which is based on the 1991 film “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit” and the 1847 novel “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë.
Pre-production for the drama kicked off in 2011; it premiered months later when Julia was 16 years old and Coco was 30 years old.
The actors took on the roles of best friends-turned-lovers Daniel and Katerina, until their passionate love affair met a tragic fate. Their characters were eventually reunited in the afterlife.
February 2013: ‘A Moment in Time’ hits theaters
The CocoJul loveteam starred in their first film, “A Moment in Time,” a follow-up to the success of “Walang Hanggan.”
The film revolves around Patrick Javier (Coco Martin) who fell in love with Jillian Linden (Julia Montes) at first sight. But their budding love story comes to a halt when Patrick discovers that Jillian was the one who accidentally killed his mom in a car accident.
March 2013: Coco becomes Julia’s debut escort
Coco was tapped by Julia herself to be her escort at her debut, which is akin to the titular debut scene in “Walang Hanggan,” where their characters confessed their feelings for each other.
The invitation came up during the press conference for “A Moment in Time,” where the actress asked her leading man to be her escort. “I’m asking you,” she said while turning to him.
Coco Martin and Julia Montes during her debut. Image: Facebook/Nice Print Photography
The actress said that she had always wanted to ask the actor although she was afraid that he might turn her down. “I was really going to ask him. I was just concerned that he might turn me down because of his hectic schedule,” she said.
A visibly elated Coco “hoped” that she would ask him. “It would hurt if she asked someone else—ibig sabihin basted! But she asked me; this probably means extra points—we could end up together after all,” he was quoted as saying.
March 2014: Coco and Julia work together in ‘Ikaw Lamang’
Coco and Julia reunited in the period soap opera “Ikaw Lamang,” in which they starred as best friends Samuel and Mona. The teleserye, which also included Kim Chiu, Jake Cuenca, KC Concepcion, Joel Torre, Amy Austria and Christopher de Leon, revolves around different love stories that ended tragically.
In the drama, Mona had an unrequited love for Samuel—whose love for Isabelle (Kim Chiu) never wavered. But their characters ended up tying the knot after one drunken night.
Unfortunately, Julia’s character was killed in an ambush during the 1980s.
March 2015: Julia admits she has a crush on Coco, who says she’s ‘girlfriend material’
Fans were sent abuzz after Julia admitted she had a crush on Coco at a press conference for “Yamashita’s Treasures.” At the time, the blushing actress admitted that it was hard not to fall in love with him.
“Nakaka-in love ‘yung, paano ba? Hindi kasi, ‘yung character ni Coco walang babae ang hindi mai-in love lalo na kapag nakilala mo siya,” she said.
During the same event, the actor admitted that he was very protective of the actress, saying he had seen her mature through the years. “Nakita ko yung maturity niya as an actress and siyempre nakita ko na siyang nagdadalaga na, paganda nang paganda. Pinaramdam ko sa kanya na hindi siya pwedeng magpaligaw kasi bata pa eh,” he said.
In a separate interview with The Buzz, the actor admitted that the “Doble Kara” star was “girlfriend material,” although he pointed out that he was focusing on his acting career. “We are not yet in a relationship. Having a relationship is not yet my current focus.”
April 2015: ‘Yamashita’s Treasures’ goes on air
The CocoJul loveteam reunited in “Wansapanatym’s Yamashita’s Treasures,” in which they starred as Yami and Tanya, respectively.
August 2015: Julia says Coco is her ‘inspiration’
Julia said that Coco was the guy she felt closest to, and admitted at a “Doble Kara” press conference that the actor was her “inspiration.”
“Coco is my inspiration to work hard. I know about his journey from indie actor to ABS-CBN star. He persevered to achieve what he has now. I’m happy for him. I also like that he’s family-oriented,” she said, although she admitted that romance was not her priority at that moment.
“I have other priorities. If love comes, I will accept it. Coco always gives me sound advice, which I know I should follow,” she said.
November 2015: Vice Ganda teases Julia about her relationship with Coco
Vice Ganda, known as Coco’s best friend, teased Julia about their relationship in an episode of “Gandang Gabi Vice,” sharing that the “Ang Probinsyano” star had revealed that they were a couple. “Wala, close kami. Super close,” Julia said in response.
“May nagsabi sa’kin na jowa mo na raw siya, si Coco mismo. Best friend ko ‘yun. ‘Yung totoo, sabihin mo na,” he said. “Gaano kayo ka-close? Text kayo every day, gan’un? Hindi naman ako magtataka kung magustuhan ka ni Coco sa ganda mong ‘yan.”
December 2015: Coco chooses Julia over Bella, Maja
A month later, Coco was then put on the hot seat on “Gandang Gabi Vice” when he was asked who among Julia Montes, Bella Padilla and Maja Salvador he would want to give him a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Coco eventually chose Julia, to which Vice Ganda said in response: “Parang ang sincere ng sagot mo.”
April 2016: Julia says she never stopped communicating with Coco
2016 marks the year when Julia and Coco went their separate paths in show biz. Despite this, romance rumors continued to hound the pair, which the former neither confirmed nor deny.
“I’ve known him even when he was still Rodel Nacianceno. I’m grateful to him because he was my partner in all my successful projects,” she said at a “Doble Kara” press conference. “I can say that if there’s anyone whom I respect so much in this business, it’s Coco. Of all the guys I know, I’m closest to him.”
February 2017: Julia’s turn to choose Coco over Sam, Enchong
Vice Ganda continued to tease Julia about her relationship with Coco, asking her to rank Sam Milby, Enchong Dee and the “Ang Probinsyano” actor in terms of closeness.
Julia then admitted that she was closest to Coco, although she laughed off any romantic involvement between them.
“Everybody deserves to be happy. We will support your happiness. We will fight for your happiness. Your happiness is my friend,” Vice Ganda said, hinting at his closeness with Coco.
November 2017: Julia greets Coco on his birthday
The time when Julia publicly greeted Coco on his birthday for the first time marked a significant time for the actress’ supporters.
January 2018: Julia reveals she’s neighbors with Coco
Julia noted during an ambush interview that her “closeness” with Coco might have played a role in persistent speculations about their romance.
However, the actress sent fans abuzz after she revealed that their houses were located at the same subdivision in Quezon City.
April 2019: Julia hounded by pregnancy rumors
Showbiz insiders speculated that Julia welcomed her first child at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center a month prior, and Coco was said to be the father.
Both actors, however, didn’t confirm or deny the rumors.
July 2019: Yassi Pressman involved in ‘love triangle’ rumors with Coco and Julia
Yassi Pressman, who starred as Coco’s wife Alyanna in “Ang Probinsyano,” vehemently denied “love triangle” rumors with Coco and Julia, although she noted that her chemistry with her leading man might have played a role in them.
“I think, feeling ko po, nadadala sila sa kwento po namin, at masaya kami kung yun ang nararamdaman nila, at para po sa akin that’s a good thing,” she said.
March 2021: Coco and Julia spotted getting cozy in Boracay
It seemed that Coco and Julia didn’t mind being seen together in public as photos of them being cozy with each other in Boracay circulated on social media.
July 2021: Coco and Julia are reported to reunite in upcoming project
Reports of Coco and Julia reuniting in a Brillante Mendoza-helmed film emerged in July 2021, after photos of them being toured by Pola mayor Jennifer Mindanao Cruz circulated on social media.
The project was said to be set in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, although details have yet to be disclosed as of this writing.
Also in the same month, a CocoJul exclusive detailing Coco and Julia’s bond through the years was uploaded by ABS-CBN on its official YouTube channel. The video was said to be a teaser on the actress’ appearance in “Ang Probinsyano.”
“Noong umpisa, awkward. Malalim ‘yung pinagsimulan namin. Dahil nagkasama kami ni Juls, hindi pa sa ABS-CBN, may iba pang show. Ano pa siya ‘nun, bagets. Mga 13 [o] 14. Mukha naman akong bata [pero] ako mga siguro, 21,” Coco said.
“Tapos ako sa kanya, nagtangkang mambola. Na-reject ako. After that, nagkita na kami nu’n sa ‘Walang Hanggan.’ Dahil na-reject ako before, parang feeling ko, ‘Ah ganun ah.’ Siyempre masungit ako noong una, promo shoot,” he continued.
August 2021: Julia appears in ‘Ang Probinsyano’
Kicking off the “CarMa” pairing, Julia makes her first appearance in the long-running show as the brave Mara, which is notably similar to her birth name, Mara Hautea Schnittka.
November 2021: Julia spotted at beach getaway with Coco
The “Asintado” star sent fans abuzz after she shared a glimpse of her beach getaway with Coco on Instagram.
“Today is a great day to smile and be happy,” she said in the caption.
March 2022: Julia gets surprised by ‘Ang Probinsyano’ cast
Julia welcomed her 27th birthday on a high note, as she was surprised by her “Ang Probinsyano” castmates on her special day, as seen in a video posted on Instagram.
The visibly emotional actress became teary-eyed when Coco and a fellow cast member appeared with a birthday cake.
“Ako ang taong mahilig manurprise pero sobrang iyakin pag ako ang sinusurpresa… isa ito sa napakasayang pagbati sakin at nakakataba ng puso na makita ang lahat nagsamasama… sobrang saya ko na makasama ang buong team ng FPJAP,” she said in the caption.
May 2022: Julia’s ‘Ang Probinsyano’ character gets thrown to the sea
Mara might have met a gruesome end in “Ang Probinsyano,” after her bloodied body was thrown into the sea by John Estrada and Rosanna Roces.
August 2022: Julia and Coco’s ‘Ang Probinsyano’ characters reunite
Months after Julia’s character got thrown into the sea, she appeared to not have passed away after all, as she reunited with Cardo Dalisay (Coco Martin) in the show’s final episode.
October 2022: Julia hounded by engagement rumors
Eagle-eyed fans speculated that the actress might have gotten engaged after she was spotted with what seemed to be a princess-cut engagement ring.
While Inquirer’s Bandera noted that this was not the first time the ring was shown to the public, October 2022 marked the time it was seen in the open.
November 2022: Coco and Julia spotted in Japan
The celebrity couple were spotted in Japan after “Pinoy Big Brother” alum Fumiya Sankai shared a photo of himself posing with the couple.
Coco Martin, Fumiya Sankai, Julia Montes. Image: Instagram/Fumiya Sankai
Coco and Julia, who didn’t confirm or deny the sighting, were said to be walking while holding hands, as mentioned in a “Showbiz Now Na” vlog.
February 2023: Coco admits he wants to give a ‘ring’ to Julia
Coco seemingly hinted at his relationship with Julia after he admitted that he wanted to give a “ring” to her on Valentine’s Day.
“Kasi si Juls, sobrang espesyal sa akin,” he told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
In the same month, the actor also revealed that he had “one longtime girlfriend” during an interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila, although he did not disclose her identity.
“Gusto ko panatilihing pribado ‘yung buhay ko. Kasi mahirap po pag in-all out mo, lahat pakikialaman. Diba parang sa isang magkasintahan, pag nagliligawan kayo, pag nagde-date pa lang kayo, gusto ng lahat magkatuluyan. Pag kayo na, ang daming opinyon hanggang sa magkasira kayo. Bakit ko hahayaan,” he said, explaining why he opted to keep his personal life private.
“Ito nga lang sa ginagalawan ko [sa show biz], ang gulo-gulo na eh. Papapasukin ko pa sila sa personal na buhay ko?” he continued.
May 2023: Coco unintentionally confirms relationship with Julia
The couple made headlines on May 23 after an interview of them with ABS-CBN’s MJ Felipe aired on TV Patrol, in which Coco made a slip of the tongue, accidentally confirming their relationship at a seemingly vulnerable moment.
“Napakasarap ng pakiramdam namin dahil 12 years na kaming magkasama, pero pareho pa rin tulad ng dati. Nilo-look forward namin kapag may project na magkasama kami and then kapag may pagkakataon, nakakalabas kami, nakikita kami ng mga tao pero name-maintain namin ang privacy sa buhay namin,” he said.
While it’s noted that the “Batang Quiapo” star’s “magkasama” remark can be open to interpretation, he and Julia were pressed if their relationship had started back in 2011.
The actors could only laugh in response at the time, with the actor quipping, “Ang galing mo d’un ah.”
This means that the now 28-year-old Montes was only 16 years old in 2011, while Martin, who will turn 42 in November, was 29 at the time. /ra