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Mercedes Cabral shares what she appreciates the most about Coco Martin

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Mary Ann Bardinas

Avid viewers of “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo</a>” surely abhor her character Lena because of how an overbearing, annoying, manipulative, and cruel woman she is, not to mention that she&#x27;s the mistress who further destroyed the already dysfunctional Dimaguiba family.But contrary to how she’s perceived onscreen, award-winning actress Mercedes Cabral is actually endearing in real life. And we’re able to witness the likeable facet of hers that many of us probably haven’t seen yet during her guesting in Luis Manzano’s online talk show, “Luis Listens,” where they talked about her experiences in working for the series and alongside her brilliant co-stars.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wx4JvIUo7uU" title="LUIS LISTENS TO MERCEDES CABRAL (Hindi ko nire-represent ang mga kabit!) | Luis Manzano" width="1250"></iframe></div>Among her castmates in “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo</a>,” it’s Coco Martin, whom she’s known for a long time. Not many people probably know, but they actually worked together in a couple of films during the early years of their respective acting careers in indie, namely “Serbis” (2008) and “Kinatay,” which both turned out successful and highly controversial.And it took almost a decade before they got reunited, which happened when she took part in the long-running primetime series “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano" target="_blank">FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano</a>” as the guest character Aurora Dumaguit. While she had known him as an exceptional actor, she was delighted to be given the opportunity to work with him now that he’s dabbled in filmmaking as well.“Ang galing eh, kasi pansin ko sobrang bilis niya ring mag-isip. And sa akin, naisip ko, paano gumagana ‘yong utak nito na ikaw na nagcre-create ng lahat, ikaw pa nag-iisip ng lines ng lahat, ikaw nagblo-block ng lahat, at ikaw nagdi-direct [at] nagbibigay ng instructions sa lahat, tapos kasama ka pa sa eksena?” she enthused.Mercedes went on to express how she’s in awe of Coco, especially every time she sees him work on the set diligently and do everything so well and systematically. When asked to describe her co-stars or share any trivia that fans probably don’t know yet about them, the award-winning actress regards the Primetime King as “generous” not just as an actor and director but as a person in general. She also expressed her concern about his being a “workaholic,” so she advised him to take some rest as she and their colleagues care for him so much, like the way he always takes into consideration their welfare.“Naa-appreciate ko na kinukumusta niya kami lahat. Sinisigurado niya na komportable ka rin naman, kasi syeympre may mga eksena na hindi naman nila alam kung komportable ka gawin or not. So, dino-double check nila lagi kung okay kang gawin ‘yon or not,” she related.The episode concluded with Luis and Mercedes having an impromptu “Lena Acting 101” workshop and with the actress expressing her gratitude to everyone who continuously supports “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</a>,” and even her character despite how annoying Lena can be.“Gusto ko lang po magpasalamat sa pagmamahal at suporta sa show po namin. Kahit kinaiinisan n’yo si Lena, sinusuportahan n’yo pa rin siya at nagpapasalamat po ako sa inyo,” she stated.

Watch as Mercedes Cabral talks about working with Coco Martin as co-actor and director in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” in “Luis Listens”. 