Dannyka Manangan

Coco Martin reveals the moment he almost doubted himself as an actor: ‘Baka hindi pa ako enough’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>With the recent announcement of the collaboration between Coco Martin and his CCM Productions with award-winning director Erik Matti and Dondon Monteverde of Reality Entertainment, the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><em><strong>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</strong></em><strong> </strong></a>star revealed during their presscon last October 15 that he has actually been a longtime fan of their action films.</p><p>“Actually, para sa akin napakahabang kuwento nito kasi nung araw, nung napanuod ko yung<em> OTJ (On The Job) </em>at <em>Buy Bust</em>, sabi ko, sino bang lalake o artista ang hindi papangarapin na gumawa ng ganung klaseng proyekto at makatrabaho si direk Erik Matti at si sir Dondon? Nung i-na-analyze ko siya noon, siyempre bilang artista, naghihintay ka na sana mapansin ka, mabigyan ka ng pagkakataon, at ma-consider ka nila sa isa sa mga project nila (laughs). Honestly, lahat naman nung mga kasamahan ko na artistang lalake talagang nung pinanuod namin yung <em>Buy Bust </em>at <em>OTJ</em>, actually nung napanuod ko yung <em>Buy Bust</em>, ni-require ko yung buong production ko. Nanuod kami sabay sabay. Ganun talaga. Sa UP Town (Center) pa nun, pinanuod talaga namin. Kaya noon sabi ko sa sarili ko, sana mapansin nila ako,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPx1G-ZEnRi/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A201361.3999999999%2C%22ls%22%3A200908.69999999995%2C%22le%22%3A200912.69999999995%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="781" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPx0iMSkgtg/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A201383.29999999993%2C%22ls%22%3A200908.69999999995%2C%22le%22%3A200912.69999999995%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPx8jyCk8PF/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A201400.29999999993%2C%22ls%22%3A200908.69999999995%2C%22le%22%3A200912.69999999995%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/10/9/julia-montes-reveals-she-will-star-in-dream-project-with-coco-martin-soon-1743"><strong>READ: Julia Montes reveals she will star in dream project with Coco Martin soon</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>With the first <em>On The Job</em> film released in 2013 up until its second installment in 2021, Coco admitted he had almost doubted his capabilities as an actor when he did not receive any offer to be cast in a role.</p><p>“Hindi nila ako tinatawagan. Gumawa na sila ng <em>OTJ 2.</em> Dumating na sa pagkakataon na sabi ko sa sarili ko talaga, na baka hindi pa ako enough. Baka siguro, sa mata ko, kaya ko papaano makapag-action, makapag-drama, maka-arte ng konti. Pero siguro kanya kanyang panlasa eh. Sabi ko baka sa panlasa ni direk Erik at ni sir Dondon, baka hindi pa ako enough. Tahimik lang ako tapos sabi ko sa sarili ko, kung hindi talaga nila ako na-ko-consider, biruin mo sila iniisip ko, sila hindi nila ako iniisip (laughs)? Sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Kung hindi nila ako nakikitaan ng potential o ng kakayanan o maging part ng movie nila, sabi ko bakit hindi ako na lang ang gumawa ng isang proyekto para baka sakali makagawa rin ako ng mga ginagawa nila,” he admitted. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP4CBdcEnDj/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A202894.09999999998%2C%22ls%22%3A200908.69999999995%2C%22le%22%3A200912.69999999995%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2024/12/18/coco-martin-recalls-experience-as-a-commuter-push-tv-1733"><strong>WATCH: Coco Martin recalls experience as a commuter | PUSH TV</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Coco shared how he vividly recalled finally getting an invitation from Matti and Monteverde to discuss possible projects. “Dahil sa sobrang busy ko sa <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><em><strong>Batang Quiapo</strong></em></a>, parang dire-diretso lang, trabaho ng trabaho. And then, isang araw, sabi ng sa akin ng producer ko, ‘Coco, gusto ka daw makausap ni sir Dondon at direk Erik. Baka puwede kayo makapag-lunch.’ Kinilabutan na ako nun. Siyempre honestly, hindi ko sinasabi na ang tagal kong hinintay ito. Ang tagal kong pinangarap na makatrabaho sila. And then after that sabi ko sige, kahit sobrang busy ko talagang ginawan ko ng  time,” he recalled. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP1dMEzElbS/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A203070.19999999995%2C%22ls%22%3A200908.69999999995%2C%22le%22%3A200912.69999999995%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>It was during that initial meeting when the director and producer discovered that Coco was already a big fan of their work, which made him perfect for the role of the young Tatang (played by Joel Torre in the original 2013 <em>On The Job </em>film).</p><p>“Nagku-kuwentuhan kami, ganun Inamin ko. ‘Alam niyo sir Don, aaminin ko sa inyo, ang tagal ko ng inintay na sana ma-consider niyo ako sa mga projects na mga ginagawa niyo.’ Kasi hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo, talagang na-a-appreciate ng mga tao yung mga ginagawa ng mga Pilipino. As in napakahusay at napakatalented talaga ng mga Pilipino. At pinagdaanan ko rin yan before nung nasa indie films pa ako.</p><p>“Tapos ngayon na andito na ako sa mundo ng mga teleserye, ng action, siyempre nangangarap ka na makagawa din ng isang pelikula na alam mong mapagmamalaki mo. Nung nagkukuwentuhan kami, may mga projects sila na gusto i-pitch sa akin na iba. At nakinig naman ako. Honestly, ang gaganda ng project na pini-pitch nila sa akin. Pero habang nag-ku-kuwentuhan kami, sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Alam niyo sir Don, ang totoo lang, hinihintay ko lang na tawagan niyo ako eh. Kasi sobra akong fan ng <em>OTJ </em>at <em>Buy Bust</em>,” he added.</p><p>Coco is set to star as Mario “Tatang” Maghari in <em>On The Job: Maghari</em> which is set for release in 2026. </p>

<p>'On The Job: Maghari' star Coco Martin talks about finally fulfilling his dream of working with director Erik Matti and producer Dondon Monteverde on two exciting new films.</p>

'On The Job: Maghari' star Coco Martin talks about finally fulfilling his dream of working with director Erik Matti and producer Dondon Monteverde on two exciting new films.