Six months after the iconic action-drama series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano ended its prolific seven-year run, Coco Martin is now back on primetime as he’s poised t to fill our weeknights with action and inspiration through the upcoming TV adaptation of another Fernando Poe Jr. classic film Batang Quiapo.

And prior to its premiere this February, Coco and his newest leading lady Lovi Poe, daughter of the “Da King,” talked about what made them agree to do this project during the story conference. For him, he implied that it’s apparently the majority pick among the people he got to talk to. Besides, it has an extensive narrative that features the rich culture and relatable lives of everyone in Quiapo, and, at the same time, one of the most well-loved movies of FPJ and Maricel Soriano.

While for her, it’s her most favorite movie of her Papa. She further related how she never expected nor imagined that she would remake a project of her late dad, as well as how amazed she is of Coco as a co-actor and director, which make her proud to be part of it.

With regards to his choice of the Supreme Actress to be his love interest, Coco said that since it is the legacy of her dad, it’s really special if she is going to be part of it. And just in case you do not know yet, he’s also one of its producers and creators, apart from being the director and the lead actor.

“’Yong pagpro-produce, pagcre-create, pagdi-direct, saka pag-arte, alam ko na napakalaking obligasyon sa napakalaking proyekto. Alam kong mahirap, sobrang [stressful], pero bahala na. Alam ko namang hindi ako pababayaan ng Diyos e,” he stated.

Based on the 1986 film with the same title starring “Da King of Philippine Movies” and the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano, it follows the story of Baldo (FPJ), a former pickpocket who have relinquished his criminal lifestyle after spending quite sometime in jail. As he returned to Quiapo, he met a young thief named Maria (Maricel), who asked him to become her mentor. Since he’s already reformed, he instead tries to take her on the right path.

This is the third FPJ masterpiece that Coco has remade, following the teleserye Ang Probinsyano, which ran from 2015 to 2022, and the movie “Carlo J. Caparas’ Ang Panday,” which was a 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry.

“Malaking bagay ‘to na napapalabas namin ang kanilang mga pelikulang nagawa dahil nakakapagbigay kami ng magandang kuwento at inspirasyon sa lahat ng mga Pilipino,” Coco said on his motivation in remaking the iconic works of the one and only Da King.