Primetime King Coco Martin may be known for his versatility as an actor, director, producer, and creative head—but he openly admits there is one thing he still struggles with: speaking English.
In a candid interview with Bianca Gonzalez on her YouTube channel, Coco revealed that despite mastering countless roles on-screen, the English language remains a personal hurdle.
Coco shared that even back in school, English was the subject he repeatedly failed.
He recalled a moment from his student days when he and a classmate were required to present a report in English. Instead of going through with it, they walked out and chose to fail.
He said he still feels “natatakot at ninenerbiyos” whenever someone begins speaking to him entirely in English.
Because of this, Coco usually avoids taking on characters that require long English lines, admitting that it affects his confidence and performance.
Coco shared that his former manager once enrolled him in personality development classes to help him improve—English included. While he did show progress, he eventually felt that the changes were pulling him away from the version of himself the public first fell in love with.
“Minahal naman ako ng mga tao na ganito. Sabi ko, hindi naman ako nagpe-pretend. Dati hindi ko kailangan mag-pretend,” Coco said.
He explained that staying true to who he is matters more than appearing polished.
“Mas gusto ko kung saan ako komportable. Kung ano ako bilang tao, ‘yun ako. Para hindi ako mahirapan,” he added.
This humility, he believes, is one of the reasons his supporters continue to love him.
During the interview, Coco also spoke about his childhood, his favorite comfort food—especially lugaw—his early struggles in showbiz, and how he balances his demanding work schedule with family life. But it was his honesty about his insecurities, including his fear of speaking English, that resonated the most with fans.
Despite his achievements, Coco embraces his flaws openly—a trait that makes him all the more relatable.
Catch Coco Martin weeknights on ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live.
