"Coco is one man that I salute. I take off my hat."

These were the words of veteran actress Celia Rodriguez as she expressed her admiration for Kapamilya star Coco Martin for his generosity.

In an interview with Ogie Diaz for his YouTube vlog, Celia was all praises for the actor's efforts to provide jobs to actors in the Philippine entertainment industry.

"Nakita mo ba ang Batang Quiapo at saka Ang Probinsyano? All of them are old people, hindi naman sa sinasabi ko na old, thespians, matatagal na mga artista. And they're all there and Coco had been helping them a lot. At sa awa ng Panginoon, kumikita," she pointed out.

The actress shared that she personally experienced the generosity of Coco when the actor extended a hand to the husband of her friend.

"It happened to me once when I needed a help from him for a friend, whose husband was dying. I don't know him (Coco). He knows me as Celia Rodriguez. She was crying all over the phone. 'My husband is dying' lumabas naman siya sa Ang Probinsyano.' ... So tinawagan ko si Coco. I asked the help of Lorna Tolentino. In other words ibinigay sa akin ang telepono," she recalled.

The actress went on: "Tinawagan ko, ring nang ring, walang sumasagot. Tapos 11 o' clock nag-ring. 'Tita, I'm so sorry but I was in Batang Quiapo. I am the director, I'm the actor.' Imagine asking for an apology. Sabi ko, 'it's okay, okay hijo I understand.' Sabi niya, 'Tita what can I do for you?' Sabi ko, 'It's not me.'"

Celia informed Coco about the predicament of her friend's husband and the actor immediately offered help.

The actress recounted: [Sabi ni Coco], 'Ask her to give me the account number sa bangko, papadalhan ko ng pera.' And he did the following day nandoon sa bangko ng kaibigan ko. The husband was dying, the husband died, pero tumulong si Coco nang katakot-takot. He doesn't even know me in person."

Celia commends Coco's selflessness saying: "Doon ako bilib sa tao. He is a young boy and he knows how to share. Kasi alam mo life is sharing. Que multimillionaire ka 'pag hindi ka tumulong sa kapwa, basura ka sa akin. And this Coco is a young boy and I've heard so many stories about Coco helping other people,"

"Kaya sabi ko sa kanya sa sulat ko, sa text ko sa kanya, 'just take care of yourself. The industry needs you.' Sana tularan niyo si Coco Martin, bihira ang ganoon," the actress highlighted.  

Coco is currently headlining the Kapamilya series FPJ's Batang Quiapo. He is also one of the directors of the show.

Julia Montes says that Coco Martin has always been part of her success

Back in January, Coco celebrated the first taping day anniversary of the show.

It can be recalled that the program's first taping day was the same day as the feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo in January 2023.

"Unang Anibersayo para sa #FPJsBatangQuiapo ❤️ Maraming Maraming Salamat po Mahal na Poong Hesus Nazareno sa iyong gabay sa aming lahat!🙏 Happy Anniversary, Batang Quiapo!" Coco posted on Instagram in January.