McCoy de Leon on working with Coco Martin: ‘Natutuwa pa ako nung binubugbog ako!’

Currently known on primetime for his character as the always angry younger brother David of Coco Martin’s character Tanggol in the hit series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, McCoy de Leon revealed that he did not have any second thoughts about accepting a role that goes against his usual boy-next-door image.

“Yung pakiramdam ko once in a lifetime kasi itong show na ito. Si David iba yung impact sa akin hindi lang sa career ko sa pag-acting kundi pati sa buhay ko. Siyempre yung ganung bagay na ganun. 

“Hanggang ngayon inaaral ko pa rin sa totoo lang. Siyempre sa tulong din ni direk Coco,” he said during the Batang Quiapo press conference held last May 4 in Quezon City.

READ: Coco Martin on doing ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’: ‘Sobra akong proud, ibang-iba siya sa Probinsyano’

With the show only on its third month, McCoy shared that he is still getting used to being around some of the country’s finest veteran actors like Charo Santos, Christopher de Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Cherry Pie Picache, and John Estrada.

“Nung first week talaga, kinakabahan ako kasi siyempre nasa isang table kami nila Ms. Charo , sir John, Ms. Pie. Sabi ko hindi lang yun ang puwede kong maibibigay. Kailangan merong kakaiba. Na dapat may iba,” he added.

Prior to Batang Quiapo, McCoy was last seen in ABS-CBN series like Walang Hanggang Paalam in 2021. He also starred in films like Deleter with Nadine Lustre and Yorme: The Isko Domagoso Story last year where he played the young adult Isko.

WATCH: McCoy de Leon at Elisse Joson, muling nagkabalikan? | PUSH Daily

Until now, netizens are still talking about his big scene with Coco who beat him up inside their family home after it was discovered that he was stealing money from his older brother.

McCoy shared that he did not mind getting hurt in front of the camera.

“Natutuwa pa ako nung binubugbog ako ni kuya Coco (laughs). Ang sakit na ng ulo ko pero sabi ko okay lang kasi gusto ko yung ginagawa ko.

“Siguro yun yung susi. Nasa puso mo yung ginagawa mo at ini-enjoy mo. Kaya naman as an actor. Si direk napakagenerous sa lahat ng larangan sa buhay. Hindi lang sa eksena. Napakagenerous talaga,” he shared.

Now that he is gaining both fans and bashers for his effective portrayal of a very hateful character onscreen, McCoy said his parents are the ones who hoping to see his character stop being a villain.

“Mas natutuwa nga ako ngayon eh. Iba na ngayon eh. Mas natutuwa ako kasi mas nagagawa ko yung trabaho ko ng maayos. Yung magulang ko lang siguro yung medyo hindi (laughs). Yung magulang ko sa totoong buhay, sabi sa akin, ‘Kailan ka ba babait diyan?’ Sabi ko, ‘Ginusto ko ‘to eh.’ (laughs),” he revealed.

During the Batang Quiapo presscon, McCoy also gave a message of gratitude not just to the viewers of the show, but to his co-actors as well. 

“Gusto kong magpasalamat unang una sa poong Nazareno. Siya ang dahilan ng lahat ng ito at siyempre maraming tulong din talaga nabigay ni direk at siyempre sa buong pamilyang Dimagiba na talagang sobrang napamahal talaga ako.

“Ibang iba dun sa character na kinaiinisan ako pero mahal na mahal ko yung pamilya DImagiba. Maraming salamat sa pagtangkilik niyo. Abangan niyo pa. Marami pang mangyayari,” he said.