20 scenes where Primo, Amanda and Berting stepped in to protect, guide Tanggol in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”

Tanggol (Coco Martin) may have struggled to find the guidance he craved from his own parents in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," but fate had other plans. He found a second family in Primo (Lito Lapid), Amanda (Lorna Tolentino), and Berting (Joey Marquez)). From life lessons to moments of tough love, these three became the guiding lights that Tanggol could rely on, well, until his stubborn nature got the better of their friendship.

Now in a phase where he’s chosen independence over their well-meaning concerns, Kapamilya Toplist presents all the times when these characters showed up for him, offering the support he needed, whether he wanted it or not.

The trio’s concern for Tanggol deepened further when they learned that he had fully entrusted the priceless Star of Venus diamond to the seemingly cunning businesswoman, Amanda (Rosanna Roces). They wanted nothing more than to protect Tanggol from falling victim to deceit, knowing that the diamond’s value could make it an easy target for someone with hidden motives. Their apprehension grew to the point where clashes with Amanda became inevitable, as they sensed something off about her intentions. With years of experience dealing with all sorts of people, both good and bad, they could tell when someone isn’t entirely trustworthy, and Amanda just felt too good to be true.

Primo was cautious, hoping that joining Amanda’s illegal business ventures wouldn’t end in regret. “Sana huwag nating pagsisihan ang desisyon na ‘to,” he warned, sensing that something wasn’t adding up. Berting, on the other hand, bluntly added, “Sana nga lang, huwag tayong lokohin,” echoing Primo’s suspicions. But instead of considering their advice, Tanggol took it the wrong way. He became defensive, standing up for Amanda and insisting she only wanted to help, especially with all her generous gestures like giving them a house and nice clothes. To him, her actions were proof of her goodwill—an interpretation that Primo, Amanda, and Berting couldn’t quite share. Their reminders, driven purely by care, were met with Tanggol’s frustration as he brushed aside their warnings, unwilling to question Amanda’s true intentions.

“Ang daling mauto,” Amanda remarked, frustration evident as she watched Tanggol and his friends enjoying their time exploring the island said to belong to Divina. She couldn’t help but feel exasperated seeing how Tanggol didn’t even pause to consider their point of view.

In another scene, Primo, Amanda, and Berting discussed Divina’s tactics, agreeing that she was dazzling Tanggol with her wealth to win him over. Amanda voiced her suspicions, confident that Divina was the type who’d appear generous and friendly at first, only to deceive when least expected. Sharing the same gut feeling, the three decided to keep a close watch on Tanggol, determined not to let him be blinded by what they believed was Divina’s calculated “kindness.” They were committed to protecting him, even if it meant going against his trust in her, because in their eyes, Divina’s actions felt like an elaborate setup to eventually betray him.

While Tanggol’s friends were thrilled by their sudden wealth and the luxurious gifts Divina showered upon them, Amanda, Primo, and Berting couldn’t help but feel uneasy. They reminded everyone not to be too dazzled by Divina’s generosity, with Amanda pointing out, “Sa buong buhay ko, wala pa akong nakitang sobrang bait na walang kapalit.” Her words implied that Divina’s kindness felt suspiciously perfect, but instead of heeding the caution, Tanggol reacted with anger, dismissing their concerns once again.

However, their suspicions seemed to come true when Divina arranged a meeting with a supposed buyer of the Star of Venus diamond. She brought only Tanggol and his friends, intentionally excluding Primo, Amanda, and Berting’s faction. The transaction turned out to be a setup and they narrowly escaped getting caught by the police. Despite the close call, Tanggol brushed it off, claiming it wasn’t a big deal since they managed to get away. He even scolded Primo for doubting Divina and insisted she shouldn’t be blamed for what happened. To him, the incident was a minor setback, but to the trio, it was a glaring warning sign that Divina’s influence was leading Tanggol into dangerous territory.

“Mukhang tatraydurin tayo balang araw,” Berting remarked during one of their secret conversations, a sentiment Amanda fully agreed with. They grew more concerned when Amanda persuaded Tanggol to partner with her on a shady business deal—convincing the indigenous community to sell gold bars, without revealing that the bars were actually fake. But this time, their persistent warnings managed to break through to Tanggol, and he himself confronted Divina about the deceit.

It seemed like Tanggol was finally beginning to see the wisdom in his mentors' guidance, especially after he and his friends narrowly escaped death in a trap set by Don Facundo (Jaime Fabregas). They reminded Tanggol of their earlier warnings about Don Facundo, with Amanda and Berting underscoring the real problem: Tanggol’s stubbornness and his tendency to trust people too easily. They cautioned him that not everyone who offers work or assistance has good intentions. Primo, however, reassured Tanggol that as long as the three of them were by his side, they’d always be there to guide him, ready to step in whenever he needed their support, even if he didn’t always listen.

When Tanggol returned to the hideout with Madonna (Kim Domingo), a former loyalist to Facundo, the three immediately warned Tanggol to be cautious about trusting her, given her past alliances.

Initially, Tanggol sought their advice on his plan to take over Don Facundo’s abandoned drug syndicate and hidden properties. Amanda advised him to keep this plan a secret from Divina, cautioning that involving too many people would only invite chaos. But Tanggol’s stubbornness got the best of him once more, and he disregarded Amanda’s advice, sharing his plans with Divina instead. He insisted they were all part of a group and should operate openly. The trio, while disappointed, continued to stand by Tanggol, hoping he’d soon realize the wisdom of their guidance and learn the dangers of misplaced trust.

Things reached a breaking point when Divina demanded a hefty 50 percent share in the profits from the planned drug syndicate. This bold request didn’t sit well with Amanda, Primo, and Berting, who were now certain Divina had ulterior motives. But, despite their objections and suspicions, Tanggol remained unmoved. He even defended Divina, turning his frustration toward Amanda and accusing her of potentially being the one to betray them, citing her past betrayal of Primo. This marked the final straw for the trio, who decided to leave Tanggol to his own choices.

In a later conversation among the three, they agreed that Divina was shady and feared that Tanggol’s gullibility would lead him to disaster. Primo, with a heavy heart, admitted that as much as they cared about Tanggol and feared for his safety, they needed to step back. Only by experiencing the consequences firsthand might he find enlightenment and, ultimately, learn the lessons they had tried so hard to teach him.

Don’t miss an episode of “FPJ's Batang Quiapo,” weeknights, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z.