Dannyka Manangan

Coco Martin on playing Andres Bonifacio in new hero biopic: 'Sisiguraduhin natin na magmamarka ito'

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>After officially announcing his partnership and upcoming film projects with award-winning director Erik Matti and Dondon Monteverde of Reality Entertainment earlier this month, Coco Martin could not hide his excitement at being asked to bring to life the role of national hero Andres Bonifacio in his first ever major biopic <em>May Pag-Asa: The Battles of Andres Bonifacio</em>, which is slated for release in 2027. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHjmt7oTLfU/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A198126.59999999986%2C%22ls%22%3A197602.59999999986%2C%22le%22%3A197607.09999999986%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" 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><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>The 43-year-old actor, who is also set to headline direk Erik Matti’s <em>On The Job </em>prequel Maghari next year, talked about his admiration for national hero stories, citing director Jerrold Tarrog’s 2015 biopic <em>Heneral Luna</em> as one of his favorite films. During his recent presscon, Coco talked about how the Andres Bonifacio project came to light after one of his initial meetings with direk Erik and Dondon. </p><p>“Fan din ako ng <em>Heneral Luna</em>. Nakaka-proud kasi kaya na natin gumawa ng mga ganun eh. Yun pala may project din sila na Bonifacio. Pumapasok lahat ng napapag-kuwentuhan namin. And then after that, nag-present sila ng mga project pero mas umangat yung concept nila ng OTJ at saka Bonifacio siguro dahil sa itsura ko, sa kakayanan ko, at saka bilang ako na batang kalye. Normal na tao, normal na Pilipino. Mas suma-swak sa akin yung mga character nung OTJ, ni Mario Maghari, at saka si Bonifacio.”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP4CBdcEnDj/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A198153.59999999986%2C%22ls%22%3A197602.59999999986%2C%22le%22%3A197607.09999999986%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" 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><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/10/17/coco-martin-reveals-the-moment-he-almost-doubted-himself-as-an-actor-baka-hindi-pa-ako-enough-0848"><strong>READ: Coco Martin reveals the moment he almost doubted himself as an actor: ‘Baka hindi pa ako enough’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPy1LBnEvdL/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A215885.7999999998%2C%22ls%22%3A197602.59999999986%2C%22le%22%3A197607.09999999986%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" 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><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>When his participation for the two films was confirmed, Coco admitted that despite his hectic schedule with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><em><strong>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</strong></em></a>, he had also been steadily focused on making sure his big screen comeback would be worth seeing.</p><p>“After that, yun na po. Nag-flow na siya ng nag-flow na parang every week nag-mi-meeting kami, nag-ki-creative. Every time na nagkikita kami nag-di-develop ng nag-di-develop yung projects until finally napag-desisyunan namin na ito na, gawin na natin, and then after that, ang iniisip namin paano palalakihin yung project, hindi na para sa buong Pilipinas kundi paano natin ipi-prisinta yung gawang Pilipino sa global. Kaya sabi nga naming tatlo, kung gagawa tayo, sisiguraduhin natin na magmamarka ito hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo. Kasi minsan lang yung pagkakataon na ito eh,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPx0iMSkgtg/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A198179.09999999986%2C%22ls%22%3A197602.59999999986%2C%22le%22%3A197607.09999999986%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" 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><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPx8jyCk8PF/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A200360.69999999995%2C%22ls%22%3A197602.59999999986%2C%22le%22%3A197607.09999999986%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" 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><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Coco is also extremely proud of the talented team he will be working with for the first time on these projects, which includes award-winning screenwriter Michiko Yamamato, whose credits include films like <em>Magnifico, On The Job, Honor Thy Father, </em>and <em>Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros. </em></p><p>“Sabi ko nga, ang ma-co-contribute ko lang diyan yung pagiging professional. Kasi every time na mag-mi-meeting kami, talagang sinusubukan ko kahit sa production ko na maiambag ko yung kung paano yung pagiging maayos at mabuting trabahador o taga-sunod o bilang artista. Sabi ko nga sa sobrang tiwala ko kay direk Erik at sir Dondon, sabi ko sila na bahala sa film. Hangga’t maaari, nakalikod lang ako ganun kasi gusto kong matuto sa kanila.</p><p>“At sobrang proud ako na ang magsusulat nito si Michiko Yamamoto na matagal ko na ring pinangarap na makatrabaho, nandun pa ako sa indie films. At ngayon na nakatrabaho ko na silang lahat. Kaya ito ay sagot sa matagal ko ng hinihintay na dasal kaya very proud at nagpapasalamat ako,” Coco said. </p>

<p>Actor and director Coco Martin talks about taking on one of his biggest roles yet, as the star of director Erik Matti’s Andres Bonifacio biopic set for release in 2027. </p>

Actor and director Coco Martin talks about taking on one of his biggest roles yet, as the star of director Erik Matti’s Andres Bonifacio biopic set for release in 2027.