PNS — COCO Martin is our busiest film actor this year. He has nine completed films all waiting to be released: “Nars” with Jennylyn Mercado where he plays a gay nursing student, “Pitong Tagpo” where he has a love scene with Cherry Pie Picache, “Ataul for Rent” where he’s Irma Adlawan’s son, “Tirador” for Director Dante Mendoza (who megged him in the award-winning “Masahista”), “OFW” with Nadine Samonte, “Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan” with Iza Calzado, “Box Office” for new director Raya Martin, “Condo” for Directors Aloy Adlawan and Martin Cabrera, and “Tambolista” of ABS-CBN directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. (who also megged him in “Nars” and “Batanes”).
“After ‘Masahista’ two years ago, I joined my father in Alberta, Canada and I was away for nine months,” he says. “But I got so homesick I decided to come home and resume my career. In January, we filmed ‘Tirador’ during the fiesta of Quiapo and in one scene, I joined the procession of the Nazareno and touched His hand. Since then, biglang nagsunod-sunod ang offers sa akin.”
Now managed by Noel Vera, Coco turned 23 on November 1. He has a love child with Katherine Luna but he’d rather not talk about the baby. “Kasi tahimik na. If I’d talk about her, baka gumulo na naman, so I’d rather make it private.”
He’s happy to be part of “Tambolista,” an entry in the third annual Cinema One Originals. The title role is played by Jiro Manio, a 14-year-old boy who’s obsessed with having his own drum set. Coco plays Jiro’s older brother. “In the story, nagkaproblema ang character ko when his girlfriend gets pregnant at gusto naming ipa-abort,” says Coco. “Because of this, we get involved in a crime that we later on regret doing. Playing our parents are Ricky Davao and Susan Africa.”
“Tambolista” is one of the five entries in Cinema One with Ronald Arguelles as executive producer. The others are “Altar” starring Zanjoe Marudo directed by Rico Ilarde, “Maling Akala” with Victor Basa and Jodi Sta. Maria directed by Veronica Velasco and Pablo Biglang-awa of “Inang Yaya”, “Prinsesa” starring Romnick Sarmenta directed by Lawrence Fajardo, and “Confessional,” a political thriller by musical director Jerrold Tarog. The films will be shown from November 29 to December 2 at Trinoma and Glorietta 4, with awards night at the Renaissance Hotel Ballroom on December 1 at 7 p.m.