The movie in Coco’s mind has come true

Coco Martin said that he and his family would watch MMFF movies and dreamed of starring in a movie with Vic Sotto. Now, they are together in the MMFF entry Jack Em Popoy: The Pulis Credibles

MANILA, Philippines — Coco Martin says working with Vic Sotto in the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Jack Em Popoy: The Pulis Credibles is a dream come true for him.

“In the past, every Christmas, me and our family would all watch his entries in the Metro filmfest together,” he says. “I saw his Enteng Kabisote movies and when I joined showbiz and did Juan de la Cruz, I thought of a project combining Enteng and Juan in one movie. I talked to him but since we belong to different networks, hindi natuloy. Then I had another concept and I presented it to him and to (APT Entertainment producer) Mr. Tony Tuviera and they liked it. And Mr. T suggested: Why not include Maine Mendoza in the cast? I really felt overwhelmed kasi naging napakalaking project nito. It might not happen again, so I told my team, let’s give our best for this very special movie. So when you watch, it’s really a crowd pleaser as everything is in it: Romance, action, comedy, drama, family movie. The script was revised several times to make sure we’ll come up with a movie that everyone will find entertaining.”

According to Coco, the film is a combination of the cast of GMA 7’s Eat Bulaga and ABS-CBN’s FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. “Pero pinagbaligtad namin. Mga kasama ko as sidekicks are people from Eat Bulaga like Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros. Kasama naman ni Bossing Vic ang co-stars ko sa Probinsyano like Mark Lapid, Arjo Atayde, PJ Endrinal and Lito Lapid. It’s really a new combination of actors. We made the movie fun from start to finish to make sure pamasko talaga ito.”

In the story, Coco as Jack, Maine as Em and Vic as Popoy all belong to the same police station. Coco is the more aggressive cop while Vic is the one who’s more by the book. They will join forces in a special dangerous mission involving villains played by Tirso Cruz III, Ronald Valdez and Ryza Cenon.

“Ako yung sugod nang sugod dito,” says Coco. “Si Bossing is the more mahinahon type. Maine is his daughter and she also did her own action scenes without a double. Our goal is to surpass the action scenes we do in Probinsyano because this is for the big screen. And we did. Nagtulong-tulong ang director namin, si Mike Tuviera and Lito Lapid, who handles the action sequences, for us to come up with buwis-buhay fight sequences and stunts that are really breathtaking.”

Vic says Coco is very exacting in all their scenes together. “Now I know why he’s so successful. He truly deserves whatever success he’s enjoying now because he’s very hardworking. Hindi puede sa kanya yung okay na yan, puede na yan. He’s a perfectionist. I saw his hard work, his passion to be good in his craft. At napakahusay niyang makisama sa lahat ng tao.”

With Jack Em Popoy director Mike Tuviera (leftmost), producer Tony Tuviera (rightmost) and cast members Wally Bayola, Mark Lapid, Jose Manalo, Arjo Atayde, PJ Endrinal, Ryza Cenon, Ronaldo Valdez, Tirso Cruz III, Baeby Baste, Ryzza Mae Dizon and Cherry Pie Picache

And what can Vic say about their lone leading lady? “Maine is a natural actress. I’ve always believed that she has the talent at tamang himas lang, lalabas ang talent niya. She has great timing be it comedy or drama. It’s so nice to see an actress who develops herself while working with you. E nakita ko siya when she started na nagda-dubsmash pa lang siya. We’re now also working together in the sitcom Daddy’s Girl and I can see she has bloomed and is really talented. She used to be very shy also but now, makapal na. Sobrang dami na ng fans niya and I can now see she really enjoys what she’s doing.”

Meanwhile, how does Maine feel working with both Vic and Coco in one movie? “It’s really a big honor,” she says. “I feel so blessed because not all actresses are given this rare chance.”

This is her first movie without her perennial love team partner, Alden Richards, proving her detractors wrong when they chided her that she might not have a career after the AlDub love team has waned. “My career was really helped by being paired with Alden, so hindi na maaalis yun. But it’s time for us to move on and cultivate our own careers. Nauna na siya in Victor Magtanggol, di ba? I’m just so happy to do Jack Em Popoy kasi marami akong naging bagong experiences and met a lot of new people while doing this film. Marami talagang bago. I did action for my role as a policewoman. Malamya nga, e! But I enjoyed it all and I’m really proud of this movie. I’m excited for people to see it on Christmas Day.”

How does she find Coco?

“I was really surprised because I thought he’d be intimidating, but he turned out to be so approachable, very much a gentleman, mabait talaga. When it comes to work, he’s very meticulous with the scenes kaya maganda talaga lumabas ang movie namin. He never treated me like the newcomer that I am and someone from the other station. I really enjoyed working with him and hopefully, I could work again with him in the future.”

It’s been said that it was while working with Arjo, who plays a villain role in Jack Em Popoy, that romance bloomed between them. So, what’s the real score? Are Arjo and Maine really playing beautiful music together? “We are just friends,” she says.

But they’ve been seen going out together several times. “We’re dating as friends. We’re in the stage that we’re getting to know each other.  Siempre, paano mo naman makikilalang mabuti ang isang tao if you don’t talk to each other. That’s all.”