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EXCLUSIVE: How Coco Martin got street-vendor sensation Diwata for ‘Batang Quiapo’

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MJ Felipe

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Street-vendor sensation and social media personality Diwata is now a regular actor in Coco Martin’s primetime action-series &quot;FPJ’s Batang Quaipo.&quot; </p><p>Diwata plays cupid between Tanggol (Martin) and Bubbles (Ivana Alawi). He sees the spark between the two and plays the bridge for the two to confess their feelings for each other. </p><p>Martin exclusively told ABS-CBN News how Diwata bagged a role in the series. It all started when Martin had to shoot a scene in an eatery. He had been hearing about Diwata online and thought of inviting him to play a cameo role. And he did. The short clip from the episode went viral. </p><p>“May maliit na eksena na may kakainan kami. Sabi ko try niyo nga ipatawag si Diwata. Kapag pumunta &#x27;to, ibig sabihin para sa kanya &#x27;yung role. Eh nagke-creative ako noon, bigla siyang dumating.” said Martin. </p><p>After that, he had a heart-to-heart talk with Diwata. </p><p>“Alam ko kasi busy siya eh. And noong dumating siya, tinanong ko siya. Sabi ko ‘gusto mo bang mag-artista?’ Sabi niya, ‘gusto po=.&#x27; &#x27;Anong artista, gusto mo lang bang masubukan? O gusto mo talagang maging artista?&#x27; ‘Kahit ano po,’ y&#x27;un ang sagot niya.”</p><p>“Sabi ko, ‘pasensya ka na ha, alam mo naman sa trabaho namin &#x27;pag nagsisimula ka, ganito lang ang buhay.’ ‘Wala pong problema’ sabi niyang ganoon.”</p><p>After seeing and hearing his excitement to be part of the show, Martin had a few reminders to manage his expectations. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C68CIwQJSAD/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A13004638.900000002%2C%22ls%22%3A170926.89999999944%2C%22le%22%3A170930.09999999963%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="756" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>“May committment &#x27;yan, kami nagte-taping ng M-W-F (Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays). Sabi niya, ‘kahit ano po wala pong ano’ kumbaga &#x27;yung dedication nandoon. Siyempre nakikita ko sobrang lakas ng negosyo niya, busy siya, ang dami niyang nakakausap na tao.” </p><p>He added, “‘Sige, &#x27;pag dumating ka sa set titignan ko &#x27;yung kakayanan’. Eh nung nakita ko, in fairness sa kanya sa first scene, kinakabahan. Pero &#x27;yung mga sumunod na eksena, nare-relax na nakikita ko na mayroon, may husay.”</p><p>More than his promise in acting, Martin praised his demeanor on the set, and how driven and determined Diwata was to improve his life. </p><p>“Ang gusto ko sa kanya, kasi dahil galing din sa baba, alam mo &#x27;yung naiintindihan niya &#x27;yung trabaho ng lahat.  Hindi siya nagpapahintay, hindi siya sakit ng ulo. Nandun lang siya sa isang tabi, tahimik. Tapos nililibre pa nga kami, binibiro namin.”</p><p>“Ang bait niya. Nakakatuwa na ang sarap tulungan kasi nakikita mo &#x27;yung tao na gusto niyang iimprove &#x27;yung buhay niya, &#x27;yung sarili niya. At alam niya &#x27;yung puwesto niya. Ang sarap tulungan &#x27;yung mga taong alam mong may pangarap at gustong may mangyari sa buhay.”</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/4/12/-fpj-s-batang-quiapo-ipinakilala-na-ang-karakter-ni-diwata-1921" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ ipinakilala na ang karakter ni Diwata</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/4/11/street-food-sensation-na-si-diwata-mapapanood-na-sa-batang-quiapo-1550" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Street food sensation na si Diwata, mapapanood na sa &#x27;Batang Quiapo&#x27;</a></div><div><strong>Related videos:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/plwNnF_kwoc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9N51nDqruo8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KE0HispFPgs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z87L3X3bVy4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The street-vendor sensation and social media personality Diwata is now a regular actor in Coco Martin’s primetime action-series "FPJ’s Batang Quaipo."</p>

The street-vendor sensation and social media personality Diwata is now a regular actor in Coco Martin’s primetime action-series "FPJ’s Batang Quaipo."