On March 28, actor Coco Martin recounted experiencing countless rejections from television networks because of his roles in indie films.
At the premiere night of ‘Apag,’ which LionhearTV covered, Martin remembered how he got continuously rejected for TV roles.
Martin narrated, “Kasi marami akong rejection noon dahil nga noong nagsisimula ako sa indie films, ‘yung ginagawa namin ni Direk Dante, ‘yung first movie ko, Masahista, tapos medyo matured–hindi namin tinitignan kung ano man. Kumbaga basta may ginawa lang kami sa proyektong ginagawa namin. Dahil si Direk Dante talaga ang mindset noon abroad, talagang competition eh, lumaban sa abroad.”
He revealed, “Ang tingin sa akin ng network, ang tingin talaga sa akin noon, bold actor, sexy star, ‘yun talaga ang ano nila sa akin.”
Martin shared that he was supposed to be in the love triangle of Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz’s pairing. He was also meant to be in a project with Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, but he was rejected.
Another incident he recounted was when a few months later he was asked to do a role to be the “gay” friend of Judy Ann Santos. It did not push through since he was already labeled a “sexy actor” and TV viewers at that time were conservative.
Martin admitted that the rejections hurt his feelings and made him apprehensive about TV projects.
“Honestly na-hurt ako doon, na kasi sabi ko sa sarili ko, ang taas ng tingin ko sa trabahong ginagawa ko. Hindi ko siya tinitignan na itong proyektong ‘to, kasi gagawin ko ‘to, maghuhubad ako, magpapakita ako ng katawan kasi gusto ko sumikat, hindi ‘yun. Ginagawa ko ang isang role, o ‘yung project na ‘yun dahil naniniwala ako sa respeto ko sa trabahong ginagawa ko. Kahit ano pa yan.”
He highlighted how much he valued his indie filmography.
The actor revealed, “Kung ayaw nila sa akin okay lang naman. Dito na lang ako sa Indie. Hindi man ganon kalaki ‘yung kinikita ko, pero nararamdaman ko ‘yung respeto.'”
However, thanks to Jaclyn Jose and director Andoy Ranay, he finally got a role on mainstream TV.
He shared, “Sabi sa akin ni Mommy Jane , ‘Anak pag-bigyan mo na ako. Isa na lang– kapag hindi pa natuloy ‘tong project na ‘to, huwag ka ng magTV kahit kailan. Pagbigyan mo na ko, isa na lang.’ Tapos ‘yun tinanong ko ‘yung sinabi sa akin ni Mommy Jane na ‘yung project ‘yun. Tapos noong tinanggap ako, doon ako nag-start. Doon ako napansin na binigyan ako ni Direk Andoy Ranay ng pagkakataon, doon ako napansin ng Channel 2 na magdere-deretso ‘yung trabaho ko sa Network, sa ABS-CBN.”
Now Martin is one of the leading stars of the Kapamilya Network, with him starring and directing the longest-running action drama series to date, FPJ’s ‘Ang Probinsyano.’
Magdayao felt surprised to learn Martin had a role alongside her before.
“Hindi ko po talaga alam. Sa dinami-dami ng kinuwento ni Dodong, ‘yun po ‘yung nakalimutan niya. Hindi po niya kinuwento,” she said.
Martin’s next project is the film ‘Apag,’ directed by Brillante Mendoza.
Shaina Magdayao, Gladys Reyes, Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz, Carlos Canlas, Lito Lapid, Mark Lapid, Gina Pareo, and many others also appear in the film.”
‘Apag’ will be released in theaters on April 8 as part of the Metro Manila Summer Film Festival.
