MANILA, Philippines — Tessie Tomas, Nonie Buencamino, Jaime Fabregas and Elijah Canlas give more star power to the nightly action-drama "Batang Quiapo" as it enters its second year.
In last night's episode, the Coco Martin starrer teased its viewers with the new characters coming in to bring more havoc and chaos into the life of its central character, Coco's Tanggol.
Tessie has already been introduced earlier in the week as Bettina Caballero, the mysterious rich woman visiting Quiapo Church who almost got killed by a petty thief if not for Tindeng (Charo Santos) rescuing her.
Last night, viewers finally saw more of Bettina as it is revealed that she is wife to Jaime Fabregas' character, an owner of a ranch farm.
Contrary to viewers' initial impression that might have them place Bettina as a relatively good character, the preview saw her as the rich wife who lashes out at her househelp.
Tindeng leaves the house of her daughter Marites (Cherry Pie Picache) after her spat with the latter's husband Rigor (John Estrada) and tries to find work in another place. She ends up working in the Caballero's ranch.
Fresh from his popular portrayal of Archie in the recently concluded teen thriller "Senior High," Elijah is introduced as one of the Caballero's grandsons.
It is implied that the Caballeros and Montenegros, the biological family of Tanggol whom he has yet to meet, are business partners.
David (McCoy de Leon), Tanggol's half-brother who has connived with Olga Montenegro (Irma Adlawan) in passing as Tanggol, clashes with Elijah's character in a club. They would presumably discover that they are to work together as the presumed heirs of their families.
David's secret was almost discovered by Ramon Montenegro (Christopher de Leon) if he had not pulled the trigger on Ramon's henchman, Severino (Dindo Arroyo), who discovered that he was faking himself as Tanggol, Ramon's long-lost son.
Tanggol, meanwhile, faces a new chapter in his prison life as all hell broke loose with the inmates waging war inside prison, resulting in the presumed death of jail warden Espinas (Jaclyn Jose).
After the chaos, Tanggol has decided he wanted to escape prison, and meets a new character played by Nonie Buencamino. The last of the preview shows them in the recognizable orange inmate shirt breaking out of prison.
Apart from them, new cast includes Malou Crisologo, Renz Fernandez, Ara Davao and Dan Alvaro.
"Batang Quiapo" premiered in February 2023, marking Coco's return to primetime after the end of his other starrer "Ang Probinsyano" in 2022.
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