Where Coco Martin is happiest

Coco Martin is acknowledged by many as one of the most brilliant actors of his generation — others even go as far as calling him the Nora Aunor of this era based on his phenomenal rise to TV superstardom. Stardom has not dragged him out of the place. We heard it from reliable sources that he is building a new home for his family from his hard-earned money in Fairview, some 10 minutes away from his Novaliches place where his childhood friends and neighbors are safely nestled. He is proud of his Novaliches neighborhood, the place where he grew up.

Coco doesn’t want to stay away from the place where he is Rodel, the boy who had big dreams to be an actor. He knows that he will always be embraced by this place, he called home all his life, especially in times when show business becomes terribly messy or when the spotlight would have dimmed on him.

Coco knows that nobody stays on top forever but he knows that it is possible for anybody who’s been there to be happy and content by being true to his core. He impishly enjoys stardom but is not obsessed by its trappings. He’s painfully shy and seldom grants interviews, which partly add to his sexiness. He has a countenance that is so kind you can mistake him for St. Lorenzo Ruiz. He has a boyish grin that can disarm a suicide bomber. He has a pair of eyes that are intense and eloquent. He consistently keeps a comfortable distance from the contraptions of stardom to have a better view of his craft as an actor.

A month before he starts on a project, he studies the material and his role. He lives it. He reports to the set in character. Coco admits that it’s difficult to snap out of a role because of his intense involvement with the characters he plays. “Matanong po ako sa director. Sinasabi ko ang opinion ko.”

It was not easy to get to where he is now. He’s been on the wings for a long time, waiting for his turn on centerstage. He did indies and did more indies, learning everything he could. He worked in Canada for a year thinking that there was no future in doing indies. He snatched a couple of awards for the indies as he continued doing more, sharpening his skills in the process. And then there was nowhere else to go — but the big time.

“Phenomenon” is how Cherie Pie Picache describes Coco.

“He is one of the best, if not the best of this generation,” enthused Gerald Anderson.

Director Trina Dayrit commented that his sincerity as a person crosses over to his roles while director Jerry Sineneng observed that, “Coco blurs diverse social status, age gaps among people who adore him. Coco is here to reign.” Inarguably, Coco is one of the biggest stars in Philippine entertainment today.

But up to now he still stays with his lola. He has over 20 dogs whose names are taken from the teleseryes he has had made.

How is he at home? “Tatay na tatay. Ordinaryo. Nakapambahay. Inaalagaan ang mga pamangkin at buong pamilya.”

It is here where the brilliant, phenomenal Coco is happiest. This to him is the true meaning of “walang hanggan.”

Ladlad holds  fun run

Ladlad partylist, the world’s first and only political party for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Filipinos, will stage the country’s first LGBT fun run. With Pep Squad Events and Marketing Services as co-organizer, the fun run billed Rainbow Run, A Colorful Run to the Finish, it is a celebration of equality and diversity. It will be held at Venice Piazza in McKinley Hills, Taguig City on Jan. 29.

“The fun run can include family and friends, not just LGBT. Our goal is to promote healthy living and fitness in the LGBT community and bridge runners and walkers across all sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI),” said Bemz. There will be 3K, 5K and 10K races and Ladlad will be giving away the special awards Most Original Runner, Most Fasyon and Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa.

For details, visit www.rainbowrun.pepsquadevents.com or call 519-7010 or 519-8980.