Following the highly successful TV adaptation of the 1996 Fernando Poe Jr. masterpiece Ang Probinsyano that ran for seven years since 2015 until its remarkable finale in August 2022, ABS-CBN, through Dreamscape Entertainment and CCM Productions, once again offers a new teleserye inspired by another work of “Da King” – FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.

While we’ve already gotten a glimpse of its cinematic production and promising storyline in the two trailers published on ABS-CBN Entertainment, there’s actually more to it that we should be excited about and below are among the five reasons.

It marks “Primetime King” Coco Martin’s return to action

Just when we thought that it will take us a long time to see Coco again in a teleserye following the remarkable and record-breaking finale of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, avid fans and Kapamilya viewers were surely delighted when it was confirmed in December 2022 that he will headline, helm, write, and co-produce another notable FPJ masterpiece – Batang Quiapo.

Prior to FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Coco was able to already showcase his skills in action, drama, and even romance and comedy in the previous series that he starred in, such as Tayong Dalawa (2009), Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla Presents: Tonyong Bayawak (2010), Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (2011), Walang Hanggan (2012), Juan Dela Cruz (2013), and Ikaw Lamang (2014)

First-ever team-up of Coco Martin and Lovi Poe

Since it’s a television adaptation of another FPJ masterpiece, there is arguably no better actress to be Coco’s leading lady in Batang Quiapo than the daughter of the one and only “King of Philippine Movies,” Supreme Actress Lovi Poe. She might not be able to take part in his previous project since she just transferred to ABS-CBN in 2021, but everything apparently just fell in the right place and at the right time, not to mention that Lovi considers “Batang Quiapo” as her all-time favorite movie of her late dad.

Since it’s their first time to work opposite each other, we couldn’t help but be excited to see them together on-screen as a loveteam. Just on their scenes shown on the trailer, Coco and Lovi were able to immediately excite us with their palpable chemistry as Tanggol and Mokang and we cannot wait to see more of them once the series premieres on February 13!

New ensemble of powerhouse cast

Aside from Coco and Lovi, a mix of veteran, seasoned, young, and newbie actors comprise the ensemble cast of Batang Quiapo.

The powerhouse cast include top-caliber veteran thespians, such as Charo Santos, Christoper de Leon, Irma Adlawan, Tommy Abuel, Cherry Pie Picache, John Estrada, Susan Africa, Ronnie Lazaro, Pen Medina, Benzon Dalima, Dindo Arroyo, Lito Lapid, Lou Veloso, Jojit Lorenzo, and Mark Lapid.

Meanwhile, talented artists Marlo Mortel, Ejay Falcon, Karl Medina, Lara Quigaman, and Miles Ocampo are going to play special roles in the flashback episodes as they depict the younger versions of some of their respective characters.

There are actually more actors not mentioned here, so you better watch the series once it premieres to find out who they are and the roles they’re going to play in the life of our extraordinary hero Tanggol. With how stellar this enormous ensemble cast is, we are certain that FPJ’s Batang Quiapo is going to give us one hell of a ride every weeknight.

Expect new faces as social media influencers and vloggers become actors

From spreading good vibes on the internet through their vlogs and social media posts, witness your favorite social media influencers and vloggers crossover to acting as Coco tapped them to play interesting supporting roles in this series, which comprise the community that Tanggol and Mokang belong to.

The group is comprised by Mark “Big Mac” Andaya, Sugar Ray “The Mammoth” Estroso, Baby Giant, Marlon “Tourette” Fuentes, Elyson “Ghost Wrecker” Caranza, real-life couple vloggers Lovely Jimenez-Dela Peña and Norvin Dela Peña, and controversial influencer Toni Fowler.

They were formally introduced during the grand media conference held last February 8, wherein Coco revealed that they are actually his handpicks. He got acquainted to them through watching random videos on YouTube during his leisure time and got amused by their personalities.

He disclosed, “Sinusubaybayan ko sila at talagang kilala ko sila. And then no’ng nagbubuo ako ng community, naghahanap ako ng mga totoong tao. Alam ko sa pamamagitan nila, makaka-relate ang maraming tao, ‘yong mga taong nangangarap.”

While he commends them, especially Marlon, for their effortless acting skills, he also reminds them that the most important for him is professionalism when it comes to work. “Hindi importante sa akin ‘yong mahusay, kasi ‘yang husay na ‘yan later on matututunan n’yo ‘yan. Kaya ‘thank you’ dahil nakita ko naman sa kanilang lahat ‘yong mga pinag-usapan namin – ‘yong pagiging on-time, respeto sa kapwa-artista.”

Aside from the aforementioned vloggers and social media influencers, a few flip-top artists and rappers will also join the enormous cast, led by rappers-turned-actors Ludivino "Bassilyo" Ignacio and Bryan "Smugglaz" Lao who were also part of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. They will comprise the group that will be dubbed “Batang Tondo”.

The interesting and promising storyline

Loosely based on the 1986 action-comedy film of the same title starring FPJ and the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano, Batang Quiapo will follow the journey of titular character Tanggol, played by Coco. But since the actor-director clarified that they only took inspiration from the movie, we can expect a lot of scenes and story arcs that we may only going to see for the first time in this teleserye.

While we could infer from the trailers that he is this arrogant guy who always gets embroiled in brawls and poke fun at his friend-slash-love interest Mokang, but what lies beneath his tough façade is a respectful son to his family and, a loyal and reliable friend, and a dependable member to their bustling community. With how willing he is to help people in need and how he cares so much towards others, these are probably the reasons why he is called “hindi pangkaraniwang tagapagligtas.” And that could be the same values that they wish to inculcate to the viewers while watching the series.

Brace yourselves for action-packed weeknights anew beginning on February 13, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5.