Anna Marie Lukban

Kokoy De Santos shares why he loves doing theater now

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Even as he capped off his acting projects in 2025 with his role as Onyx in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry <em>Rekonek</em>, actor Kokoy de Santos shared with PUSH ABS-CBN that he had an unforgettable year. It included an unexpected milestone in acting after being handpicked to star in playwright Vincent de Jesus’s one-act play <em>Ateng, </em>a production that<em></em> was co-produced by Boy Abunda and had limited shows from November to December 2025. </p><p>“Actually, that year ang daming nangyari. First time ko mag-theater, which is yung <em>Ateng, </em>t<em></em>hanks to Tito Boy and Vince. First time ko ring rumampa sa runway, kay Bang Pineda naman. Ang daming nangyari. Actually for 2025, sobrang naging thankful ako. Andito ako ngayon sa part ng buhay ko na labas talaga ako sa comfort zone ko. Hindi ako yung tipong laging nakasanayan ko na. Kasi baka may mapulot ako na ay, kaya ko pala ito, ganun,” he told PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTpNy8ID_lf/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%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A22325741.89999999%2C%22ls%22%3A3874608.399999991%2C%22le%22%3A3874942.700000003%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="900" 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><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/2025/12/29/exclusive-kokoy-de-santos-reveals-his-real-personality-off-camera-hindi-naman-ako-showbiz-1913"><strong><u>READ: Kokoy de Santos reveals his real personality off-camera: ‘Hindi naman ako showbiz’ </u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-13" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DR9d7-uEu8b/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%3A13%2C%22os%22%3A22325750.89999999%2C%22ls%22%3A3874608.399999991%2C%22le%22%3A3874942.700000003%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-13" 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>Before officially doing theater, Kokoy talked about how he made sure to be fully ready to do live performances. </p><p>“Kasi sa mga hindi nakakaalam, kapag nag-pe-prepare ka physically sa entablado, sa pelikula, or sa harap ng camera, akala nila madali kasi buhat ka lang, ganyan. Kailangan mentally prepared ka din. Kasi siyempre hindi lang naman yun ang gagawin mo araw-araw, meron ding sumasabay na ibang errands, ibang trabaho. So commitment talaga siya. So sa awa ng Diyos, bago pumasok yung <em>Ateng</em>, nag-sa-start na ako mag-prepare na sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Bakit ako nag-wo-workout? Wala naman akong pinaghahandaan.’ And thankfully, biglang pumasok yung <em>Ateng</em>. So lalo kong pinush. At least meron pa akong motivation para mag-workout,” he explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-14" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7Fz0hDxTx/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%3A14%2C%22os%22%3A22325755%2C%22ls%22%3A3874608.399999991%2C%22le%22%3A3874942.700000003%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="796" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-14" 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><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/12/18/kokoy-de-santos-talks-about-growing-up-with-an-ofw-father-thanks-to-social-media-updated-siya-1843"><strong><u>READ: Kokoy de Santos talks about growing up with an OFW father: ‘Thanks to social media updated siya!’</u></strong></a></div><p>The 27-year-old actor also shared that after that experience, he has definitely become more open to considering theater offers in the future.</p><p>“Sabi ko nga eh, hindi ito yung last. First ko ito, pero definitely hindi ito yung last. It’s more of kung tutugma sa schedule lang din. Kasi siyempre yung rehearsals and all, matagal talaga. And hindi ako nagrereklamo kasi every time na may rehearsal kami, ni-lu-look forward ko siya. Hindi ako yung tipong pag natapos yung rehearsal ngayon, ay rehearsal na naman bukas. Hindi eh. Parang naiinip ako. Kasi every show nakaka-excite talaga. Every rehearsal iba yung matututunan mo at iba yung makikita mo na kaya mo palang ibigay at ibigay sayo ng co-actor mo,” he said. </p>

<p>Talented actor Kokoy de Santos looks back on finally making his stage debut last year in the one-act play 'Ateng' and why he looks forward to doing more theater projects starting this year.</p>

Talented actor Kokoy de Santos looks back on finally making his stage debut last year in the one-act play 'Ateng' and why he looks forward to doing more theater projects starting this year.

EXCLUSIVE: Kokoy De Santos shares why he loves doing theater now: ‘Kasi every show nakaka-excite talaga!’

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EXCLUSIVE: Kokoy De Santos shares why he loves doing theater now: ‘Kasi every show nakaka-excite talaga!’

Rhea Manila Santos,

Push Team

Published Feb 15, 2026 03:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Kokoy de Santos

Ateng

theater

Vincent de Jesus

Boy Abunda

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