Emotions were indeed high in the previous week’s (January 15 to January 19) episodes of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo as we witnessed a lot of dramatic moments among its characters that probably tugged the heartstrings of viewers and even empathized with them.

Still mourning the tragic demise of Mokang (Lovi Poe), Tanggol (Coco Martin) remained gloomy and in distraught, which got his friends worried about him. Thus, with a little prodding from Ben (Mark Lapid), who just came back from his court hearing and related to them the good news that he’s already acquitted from the charges against him and set to be emancipated, Enteng (Jojit Lorenzo) finally mustered the courage to check him up.

He was totally dumbfounded when Tanggol told him that Mokang is already dead, and that he blames himself for what happened to her. Their friends were equally shocked and saddened upon hearing it, thus they expressed their condolences to him.

Tanggol told them that he no longer sees meaning in his life and striving to be a changed man has gone pointless for his main source of inspiration is already gone. Thus, his friends advised him to not think that way and to not allow himself to be drowned by immense grief and hatred. But their advice fell on deaf ears as Tanggol was really keen in avenging the death of his one and only love and have whoever he/she killed as well.

Thus, he immediately talked to Chief Espinas (Jaclyn Jose) to ask for a second chance for him and his friends to be given another mission after they failed to accomplish the first one.

Although she told him that she would think about it first, Chief Espinas would not heed his request because she already had a hunch that his real purpose in asking for another mission is to be able to get out and exact revenge against whoever killed his beloved woman.

Unbeknown to them, Bong (Vandolph Quizon) and his group were able to acquire much-needed weapons and allies as they gear up for their escape and attack on Tanggol and his friends.

Despite differences with Amanda (Lorna Tolentino), Lucio (Ronnie Lazaro) agreed to accompany Primo (Lito Lapid) and their group to their mission for one last time. Primo promised him and Yolly (Deborah Sun) a fair share of the whopping amount they’ll get in exchange for their help and sacrifices. During their meeting, Amanda agreed to give them 5 million pesos and reiterated to them not to commit any mistake and to just stick to their plan.

Wanting to cheer up his son and compel him to get back on track, Don Julio (Tommy Abuel) tried to help Ramon (Christopher de Leon) to get over Mokang by bringing girls to entertain him. But that plan only backfired as Ramon continued to drown himself in misery and to search for Mokang and her companions.

Just like Ramon, the parents of Mokang, Nita (Susan Africa) and Marcing (Pen Medina), are also longing for her. But aside from her, they also have to worry about their firstborn Edwin (Ping Medina), who’s currently in detention along with the Batang Tondos after being arrested during the police operation at the sardines factory-slash-drug den.

In their pursuit of taking him out of trouble, Nita and Marcing were compelled to sell all their jewelry to a friend of Roda (Direk Joel Lamangan). Unfortunately, they were only able to sell all of it for the unsatisfactory price of 230,000 pesos. And that wasn’t still enough for the acceptance fee of the lawyer, not to mention that they also have to prepare 10,000 pesos for every hearing and an undetermined amount yet for Edwin’s bail.

While Edwin was hopeful that the lawyer hired by his parents would take him out of trouble, the Batang Tondos were desperate to save themselves. Thus, despite Edwin’s offer of also helping them through his lawyer, they just shrugged it off and went on to plan their escape that night.

As Marites (Cherry Pie Picache) and Tindeng (Charo Santos) were arguing whether to relay to Rigor (John Estrada) about Tanggol’s presumed visit, Santino (Ronwaldo Martin) seconded his grandma in dissuading Marites from doing it as, just like Tindeng, he didn’t want his kuya to get into further trouble.

But whether they tell her or not, Rigor already strongly believes that Tanggol was really part of the group that they encountered at the sardines factory. And he was able to kind of confirm it upon seeing Chief Espinas, who looked like the woman who fired at them when they’re about to catch Tanggol and Bubbles (Ivana Alawi) during their visit at the penitentiary.

While Tindeng and Marites were having a heated altercation regarding Tanggol inside the former’s bedroom, Rigor was having a drinking session with Mando (Allan Paule) outside, wherein he reiterated his vow to not just make everyone behind the huge drug operations and the illegal operations inside the penitentiary pay for their crimes, but to teach Tanggol a lesson or two.

Rigor called David (McCoy de Leon) to check up on him and inform him about his allegations against Tanggol, without him knowing that he already knew about it after Olga (Irma Adlawan) told him that she caught the real Tanggol lurking inside the mansion. Realizing the possibility of it, she immediately called Balatucan (Robert Seña), who didn’t answer at least once as ordered by Chief Espinas.

The previous week capped off with Chief Espinas and his subordinates trying to find, at least, a single flaw of Rigor, so that they can have something to use against him once they return to continue his investigations about them.

Reactions on previous week’s episodes

FPJ’s Batang Quiapo might have taken a rest from action in the past week, but it didn’t fail to provide us with heavy drama scenes that really tugged hearstrings.

Some of those who got to watch on YouTube expressed how they empathize with Tanggol as he still mourns the death of Mokang. Thus, they’re delighted that he has loyal friends who stick by him through thin and thin and still care for him even though it’s already quite exhausting to love him.

Coco Martin nailed his dramatic performance in this scene, as well as the actors who portray his friends, who the viewers found really impressive.

It was revealed that his mother Marites actually feels the same about him as he continues to stir conflict in their family even though he’s not around. We heard it straight from her during her scorching debate with Tindeng about Tanggol. While both of them genuinely love him, their different ways of showing it causes friction between them.
This dramatic showdown between Charo Santos and Cherry Pie Picache is definitely one of the highlights of the past week because of the intensity of their dramatic performance, making us really feel their heart in this scene.

What’s going to happen to Tanggol and his friends in the coming week? Let us all find out ourselves by not missing an episode of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, weeknights after TV Patrol, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5.