“Nauna pa dito,” laughed newly-engaged couple Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles as they talked about playing husband and wife in the trending series “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.” Their characters, Ima (Kim) and Ato (Jerald), made their debut in the September 5 (Thursday) episode, alongside seasoned actor Joel Saracho as Apo Manuel. They were introduced as local dwellers of an island said to be owned by Divina (Rosanna Roces), the businesswoman recently encountered by Tanggol (Coco Martin) and his group.
In the episode, Tanggol and Divina met with the islanders for a business proposal. Apo Manuel and his fellow ‘katutubo’ were wary at first, fearing that getting involved with these outsiders could only bring more harm than good, but Tanggol’s kindness helped Divina convince the community. With tension brewing, viewers are left eager to see how this ‘connection’ unfolds in the coming days.
Jerald and Kim are beyond excited to be part of the trending action-drama serye, especially since they had previously worked with Coco in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” Other than the physical transformation to ensure they look like authentic island locals, there wasn’t much else needed to dive into their roles. The real preparation was more about embracing the excitement. Kim and Jerald, or KimJe to their fans, were thrilled to be back working with the production team behind “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” which is largely made up of the same crew they worked with on “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” For them, it felt like a reunion with family.
Kim is especially looking forward to being part of the teleserye, not only because she enjoys the role but also because the show is a favorite of her parents, who are based in Saudi Arabia.
Jerald shares the same enthusiasm, considering it a badge of honor to be seen by his relatives on the series, especially his mom, who is a big fan. He takes immense pride in working with Coco again, fully aware of how much the public loves everything Coco makes.
“Ako po ay isa sa mga nag-aabang sa mga palabas ni Direk Coco Martin. At saka, ang maganda dito sa ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,’ kahit hindi mo abangan, ‘pag oras na niyang pinapalabas siya, maririnig mo, masisilip mo kahit sa mga cellphones ng maraming Pilipino,” Jerald shared, expressing his admiration for how Coco’s work naturally draws people in and becomes a part of Filipino households.
Catch Kim and Jerald in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” weeknights, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z.