It had been quite a long time already since that last time that we saw our primetime hero Tanggol (Coco Martin) in full action in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo. And in last week’s episodes (October 16 to October 20), we finally got to see him hold a gun and figure in a nail-biting skirmish again as he and Bubbles (Ivana Alawi) team up to carry out their first-ever mission together.

The previous week commenced with Marsing (Pen Medina) and Nita (Susan Africa) giving Roda (Joel Lamangan) a taste of his own medicine when he confronted at their old house where he’s seeking refuge after his abode got engulfed by fire. They reminded him how he gravely insulted and harassed not only their family, but every people who loaned money from him.

Even though Marsing was really keen on hitting back at him, he still heeded to his plea of letting him live in their cherished house, yet they left him with no furniture and clothes. The couple gave away their stuff to their former neighbors as their way of sharing their blessings. They then paid a visit to their former stall near Quiapo Church, where they had a chat with Tindeng (Charo Santos), Marites (Cherry Pie Picache), and Noy (Lou Veloso), as well as informed them about their moneylending business.

It was also through that conversation that the Dimaguibas learned that their daughter Mokang (Lovi Poe) is already married, which really hurt Marites and Tindeng since Tanggol did everything that he could in order to help her and her family, which eventually led to his and his friends’ incarceration.

And speaking of Tanggol, he was still hesitant if he could really accomplish the mission that Chief Espinas (Jaclyn Jose) had entrusted to him. But Bubbles continued to encourage him that he could definitely do it as she personally witnessed how a great fighter he is, while her grandfather Celso (Soliman Cruz) enumerated to him the perks that he could enjoy as Chief Espinas’ trustee – a cut from her earnings from every mission and a chance to get out of jail.

The dangerous duo of Tanggol and Bubbles arrived at the city hall through the motorcycle that they carnapped on their way to fulfilling their first-ever mission together. Bubbles told Tanggol to deal with the bodyguards protecting Congressman Sevilla (Jong Cuenco), while she took care of the politician, who fell into her trap after she seduced him with her hypnotic beauty.

Bubbles attempted to shoot Cong. Sevilla while they were inside a room, but failed to gun him down. A nail-biting skirmish ensued between the bodyguards and the Tanggol-Bubbles tandem along the hallways of the city hall, which made Tanggol suggest to Bubbles for them to retreat since they’re obviously outnumbered. But Bubbles was really determined to accomplish their mission that day and not fail Chief Espinas anew.

Tanggol once again told Bubbles for them to step back when the police came, but she was really persistent in finishing what they’d already started. He suddenly went out of the edifice without any word, which made Bubbles assume that her partner had gone coward. Little she did know that Tanggol singlehandedly fought the authorities outside and looked for a motorcycle that they could use as their getaway vehicle – much to her surprise. In the end, they were able to kill Cong. Sevilla.

It wasn’t only Tanggol and Bubbles who succeeded in their mission, but also Primo (Lito Lapid) and his friends. By putting on disguises and with the help of Berting’s (Joey Marquez) friend who works as a cook there, it became possible for them to easily enter the hospital. Since their faces are already familiar to the authorities, Yolly (Deborah Sun) volunteered to be the one to check on Amanda (Lorna Tolentino) inside her room and delivered the news that Primo is still alive after the ambush. She also promised her that they would be back to rescue her from Augustus (Julio Diaz).

Meanwhile, David (McCoy De Leon), who pretends to be Tanggol, accepted the invitation of Don Julio (Tommy Abuel) and Ramon (Christopher de Leon) for a meeting in order for them to give him a glimpse of their aviation business. Ramon told David that aside from having the liberty to use any of the aircrafts whether it be for business or leisure, the company could possibly be bequeathed to him when the time comes that he’s already prepared to manage it.

In his and Olga’s (Irma Adlawan) attempt to further convince Ramon that he’s truly his long-lost son, David told Ramon that becoming a policeman like his adoptive father Rigor (John Estrada) is really his ambition. Ramon tried to quash it by saying that he would earn more money easier when he becomes a businessman rather than a policeman, but “Tanggol” firmly told him that he’s not actually after the money, but of the opportunity for him to serve and protect the public.

Ramon and David then had a father-and-son date at a firing range, wherein the former taught the latter the proper way of holding and firing a gun. David had a heart-pounding moment during their bonding session after Ramon pointed a gun close to his chest and ferociously asked him if he’s really his legitimate son. Just when David thought that the times he’s been dreading has finally come, it turned out that it was Ramon’s way of testing him and teaching him a lesson when it comes to handling a gun. That made him demand Olga to pay him P500,000 immediately.

The past week capped off with the thrilling, intense car chase between the Tanggol-Bubbles tag team and the authorities along the bustling highways of Manila. In the end, it was our beloved main characters who triumphed in the end.

Comments from netizens

Going through the comments of netizens on social media, many apparently rejoiced when the highly anticipated bakbakan scenes of Tanggol and Bubbles were finally shown in the past week’s episodes of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.

Of course, we already know how adept Direk Coco is when it comes to executing action scenes in the previous projects that he did, making him the “Action Drama King” of Philippine showbiz at present. His fans are truly delighted to witness him do death-defying stunts that many of us have probably missed seeing.

However, it is with Ivana to whom we’re so astonished and thrilled the most, as she absolutely slayed all the stunts she did. Taking on this kind of femme fatale character may be something new to her, but she pulled it off with utmost perfection. She’s able to showcase her versatility as an actress, proving to us that she’s not only for drama and comedy, but she can also keep pace in the action genre.

Thus, many viewers are indeed looking forward to see more of Tanggol and Bubbles action scenes together on FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.

Here are some of the comments from netizens that we’ve spotted on social media:

Mabuti nga sayo Roda para ka ginahasa diyan pag hubot hubad ka eh dahil kay Don Marsing eh 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Dasurv ka diyan che #FPJBQLabas pic.twitter.com/BRO3owYWZN

— Rainier G. ❤️💚💙🌈💗 (@iamrainier23) October 17, 2023

Ramdamin mo ang mga ginawa mo sa kapwa mo Roda ano ka ngayun!! #FPJBQLabas

— tess fernandez (@tessrutchu) October 16, 2023

Hindi maganda ang epekto ng "pagyaman" kina Mang Marcing at Aling Nita. Maghihiganti. Yumabang!#FPJBQLabas

— Cathellya⁷ ☆★|🐳💜 (@katpurrincess) October 16, 2023

ako din mama galit naramdaman ko charez hahahaha
Si Augustus di ko maintindihan din minsan. Magagalit ke mama pero pag masaktan si Amanda, stress malala 😭 HAHAHA cute cute but still nakakagigil 💆‍♀️#FPJBQPautang pic.twitter.com/XjtxuPaujI

— rona (@rona_marabella) October 17, 2023

Teka, si Congressman Sevilla din ba yung nambastos kay Mokang sa club noon? So may dahilan na pala si Tanggol para patayin sya kung ganon. 😲 #FPJBQDiPwede

— Pookie Pie 🍭 (@pookiepay) October 18, 2023

@IvanaAlawi pwede ka nang isabak sa action movies! Galing mo! Yung gigil talaga ni Tanggol sa mga kalaban oh!#FPJBQDiPwede

— JeffOliGarTV (@JeffOGarcia47) October 18, 2023

👍👏👏👏 kahit may kaDouble/stuntman na ginamit ang ganda ng execution. Good Job editing crew at stunt/choreo crew hindi puchu pucho ang ACTION SCENE. #FPJBQDiPaTapos
❤️💚💙🌐

— Rahfa XiV 😘 (@itsmerahfa14) October 20, 2023

Nakakaloka ang intensity ng aksyon! In fer to Ivana, palaban din! #FPJBQDiPaTapos

— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) October 19, 2023

Yes! Yan yung hinahanap namin#FPJBQDiPaTapos

— PRIMETIME KING IS BACK | Cardo Dalisay (@JrockerEm) October 19, 2023

I really love and appreciate the skills of @IvanaAlawi doing some action stunts. Sexy star nga siya, action star pa siya! Hehe! I love you, Ivana!! Pls keep up the good work!!! 🙌👏👏👏🔥💕 #FPJBQDiPaTapos

— Naomi Torres (@naomitorres08) October 19, 2023

Tanggol and Bubbles are the modern-era Bonnie and Clyde.

Glad they're also doing the action sequences that we see in Iron Heart!#FPJBQDiPaTapos

— Inigo Sim 🇵🇭 (@inigo_sim) October 19, 2023

Grabe ka ivana. Pang action din ehh. Level up. #FPJBQDiPaTapos https://t.co/wdYJogcxqF

— Bjay (@beejhay22) October 20, 2023

Ang galing talaga ni Idol Coco Martin sa action, tapos sinamahan pa ng Ivana Alawi! Pasabog talaga ang Batang Quiapo! #FPJBQDiPaTapos

— 😎 (@sndwqio) October 19, 2023

Ang galing talaga ni Idol Coco Martin sa action, tapos sinamahan pa ng Ivana Alawi! Pasabog talaga ang Batang Quiapo! #FPJBQDiPaTapos

— 😎 (@sndwqio) October 19, 2023

Galing ni ivana bagay action👏🏻 #FPJBQDipatapos

— tess fernandez (@tessrutchu) October 19, 2023

Solid ang Bubbles at Tanggol tandem 🥵🔥 More action scenes!!! ❤️‍🔥#FPJBQUnangTrabaho pic.twitter.com/SfU0ivZiZB

— IVANATICS PH (@ivanatics_phxx) October 20, 2023

Impressive @IvanaAlawi here in #FPJBQUnangTrabaho. Kering keri umaksyon. Nakakasabay kay Coco!

— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) October 20, 2023

Will Tanggol and Bubbles once again succeed in their upcoming missions? Well, that’s for us to find out. Better not miss an episode of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5 and A2Z.