Anna Marie Lukban

From Halloween-themed to ‘kanto’ hangout: If Coco Martin’s characters threw birthday parties, here’s what they’d look like

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

<p>November 1 isn’t just All Saints’ Day, it’s also Coco Martin Day! The Primetime King is turning a year older, and what better way to honor him than by revisiting the unforgettable teleserye characters he’s brought to life? </p><p>From fearless heroes in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2024/11/26/throwback-juan-dela-cruz-2012-0152"><strong><u>&quot;Juan dela Cruz&quot;</u></strong></a> and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano/articles-videos/all-the-times-cardo-escaped-death-in-fpjs-ang-probinsyano-17432"><strong><u>&quot;FPJ&#x27;s Ang Probinsyano&quot;</u></strong></a> to lovestruck farm boy in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/walanghanggan/articles-photos/throwback-coco-and-julia-in-walang-hanggan-14383"><strong><u>&quot;Walang Hanggan,&quot; </u></strong></a>Coco has played it all.  So we imagined what it would look like if some of his iconic roles threw their own birthday bashes, complete with the perfect themes that would totally fit the many worlds of Coco.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Halloween-themed birthday for Juan</strong></div><p>When you spend your days (and nights) fighting ‘aswangs,’ as Coco’s character Juan dela Cruz did in the fantasy series of the same name, it only makes sense that your birthday theme comes with fog, fangs, and flickering candles. A true vigilante, Juan was always out to help people in need and was fiercely determined to wipe out the aswangs, not knowing he was actually half-aswang himself.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WNOkWQcYM50" title="Juan goes to the island of ghosts | Juan Dela Cruz" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>We imagine the &#x27;Banal Na Krus&#x27; (which he used to fend off monsters) as the centerpiece. As for the guest list, expect fairies and a few brave mortals who helped him protect humans from &#x27;aswangs&#x27; along the way. It&#x27;s giving spooky-meets-Pinoy folklore. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Ramon&#x27;s rebel revelry</strong></div><p>If Ramon Lecumberri of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-the-cast-of-tayong-dalawa-2009-14409"><strong><u>&quot;Tayong Dalawa&quot;</u></strong></a> ever threw a birthday party, it would look straight out of a noir film. As the story’s resident bad boy and the older half-brother of David &quot;JR&quot; Garcia (Gerald Anderson), Ramon lived a life steeped in crime. He ran a syndicate, pulled off dangerous deals, and made choices that shook the lives of everyone around him. </p><p>So naturally, his party would be just as intense as his reputation. There&#x27;d be low lights, leather jackets everywhere, jazz music humming in the background, and guests entering through a secret backdoor— password required, of course, because everyone on the list would be strictly invitation only. And we all know who would take over the planning—Lola Gets (Gina Pareño). She&#x27;d bring the cake and remind everyone that under that tough exterior is still her favorite &quot;apo.&quot;</p><div> </div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/efV-haYrsuk" title="JR, Ramon, and Dave&#x27;s encounter | Tayong Dalawa" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><div><strong>Wine and rustic romance for Daniel </strong></div><p>For <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/walanghanggan/articles-photos/throwback-coco-and-julia-in-walang-hanggan-14383"><strong><u>“Walang Hanggan’”s</u></strong></a> Daniel Guidotti, no birthday bash would be complete without a touch of romance. The farm boy-turned-heir whose love for Katerina Alcantara (Julia Montes) made us believe in forever would definitely celebrate in an outdoor garden surrounded by petals, candles, and soft music. Every detail would reflect his romantic soul, from the handwritten place cards to the floral arrangements that match his &quot;wagas na pag-ibig.&quot; </p><p>And as the successful wine connoisseur and businessman he became, his guests would go home tipsy and happy after being treated to nothing less than the finest bottles from his own collection.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FABSCBNnetwork%2Fvideos%2F565292117466191%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><div><strong>Operation: Birthday Bash</strong></div><p>After years of chasing criminals and dodging bullets, Cardo Dalisay from <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano/articles-videos/all-the-times-cardo-escaped-death-in-fpjs-ang-probinsyano-17432"><strong><u>&quot;FPJ&#x27;s Ang Probinsyano&quot;</u></strong></a> deserves a mission that’s purely for fun—celebrating his birthday. Picture a venue styled like a police precinct complete with “WANTED” posters and a jail booth where guests could actually take mugshot selfies. His grandma Lola Flora (Susan Roces) and his wife Alyanna (Yassi Pressman), who once ran their family&#x27;s eatery, would make sure no one leaves hungry. His Task Force Agila brothers would, of course, be in charge of the &quot;inuman.&quot; </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V1IjieAHCIY" title="Cardo gets promoted as the Police Captain | FPJ&#x27;s Ang Probinsyano (With Eng Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Not to be killjoys, but since this is a Cardo Dalisay party, we’ve got a strong feeling some chaos might break out once a few bad guys try to crash the celebration. But we’re not worried. The man’s survived shootouts, explosions, and every teleserye plot twist imaginable. So even if danger shows up uninvited, we’re pretty sure Cardo’s got it covered and that nothing can stop him from having many, many more birthdays to come. Get it? </p><div> </div><div><strong>Kanto-style birthday for Tanggol </strong></div><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><strong><u>“FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’s”</u></strong></a> Tanggol, the ‘laking-kalye’ hero who grew up in the bustling streets of Quiapo would never trade his roots for anything fancy. After all, Quiapo is where he found brothers for life and fell in love with Mokang (Lovi Poe). So for his birthday, he would definitely want to celebrate in the streets that raised him. </p><div> </div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=AA0ztECXRRlvgdi2"></script></div><div> </div><p>His ‘tropa’ would take over the &#x27;tagay,&#x27; with &#x27;ihaw-ihaw&#x27; and &#x27;balut&#x27; as the ultimate &#x27;pulutan.&#x27; There&#x27;d be servings of his favorite &#x27;chicken pastil&#x27; from Quiapo. The ‘videoke’ machine wouldn’t stop all night, and anyone brave enough from the neighborhood could grab the mic.</p><p>On Coco’s birthday, we celebrate not just the icon he’s become, but the stories that shaped him and the audiences he continues to move. Happy Birthday, Coco, our Primetime King!</p>

<p>For his birthday this November 1, we imagined how Coco Martin’s iconic characters would celebrate.</p>

For his birthday this November 1, we imagined how Coco Martin’s iconic characters would celebrate.