Anna Marie Lukban

McCoy de Leon signs off as David Dimaguiba, shares lessons from his 'Batang Quiapo' journey

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750900391209McCoy-de-Leon-signs-off-as-David-Dimaguiba,-shares-lessons-from-his-&#x27;Batang-Quiapo&#x27;-journey-.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>McCoy de Leon already has one character under his belt that will forever be attached to his name, and that’s David Dimaguiba of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><strong><u>&quot;FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo,&quot;</u></strong></a> who wouldn’t have been this ‘nakakagigil’ and iconic if not for the way he portrayed it with depth and conviction. </p><p>But as much as it’s a blessing for any actor to create a character that sticks, it can also get a little complicated, especially when you’ve been playing that role for so long that people start seeing you as the character. In McCoy’s case, after almost three years of portraying David, he admits it feels overwhelming at times. <em>“Hindi mo maiiwasan na &#x27;yun na &#x27;yung magiging tatak mo. Kahit pag-uwi mo o lalabas ka sa ibang lugar, &#x27;yun na ang itatawag sa&#x27;yo. Mas marami pa &#x27;yung tawag na &#x27;David&#x27; sa akin kaysa sa totoo kong pangalan. Kaya &#x27;yung feeling na gano&#x27;n, hindi ko maiwasan na hindi talaga pumasok sa katawan ko,”</em> he confessed. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLT1AlTTdmC/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%3A2537901.600000024%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" 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>And yet, every time that happens, he reminds himself where to draw the line. Once he steps out of the set, he knows he is no longer David. <em>“Kahit mahirap, hindi pwedeng pumasok nang buong-buo sa katawan ko kasi nga sobrang samang tao ni David,”</em> he explained. And his way of keeping that boundary clear was through prayer. <em>“Huwag kalimutan &#x27;yung totoong buhay sa outside nitong fictional story na ito,”</em> he said. </p><p>McCoy has learned so many lessons from his time on the “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” set, <em>“Parang naging eskwelahan, tahanan ko na rin ang ‘Batang Quiapo’ tuwing taping.”</em> Among his biggest takeaways from the story is to never lose sight of family, to remember where you came from, and to hold on to the goodness that lives within you.</p><p>That kind of goodness revealed itself in the final chapters of David’s journey, when he had a change of heart upon realizing that no matter how complicated his relationship with his half-brother Tanggol (Coco Martin) had been, he could not bring himself to take his own brother’s life, even if that was what their enemies demanded. For the first time, we heard David call Tanggol &quot;Kuya&quot; with sincerity as he lay there, asking for forgiveness with what would be his final breath.</p><div><br/></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABbFu8-gifvzoq0o"></script></div><div><br/></div><p>From the very beginning, McCoy had made a conscious decision that David would never call Tanggol &quot;Kuya&quot; because of the deep hatred his character carried, and that he would only say it in a scene he knew would mark a real turning point. <em>“Sa script, palaging may nakasulat na &#x27;Kuya&#x27; pero binabago ko &#x27;pag may eksena kami. Sasabihin ko lang, &#x27;Tanggol.&#x27; Tinanim ko talaga &#x27;yun na pag sinabi kong &#x27;Kuya&#x27; sa susunod, ito na &#x27;yung pinakaimportanteng eksena namin, na hindi ko alam na ito pala &#x27;yung magiging last ko rin na &#x27;Kuya,&#x27;”</em> he divulged. McCoy is glad that viewers pick up on details like that because it shows how invested they are.</p><p>Another lesson he took to heart from portraying David is that evil intentions will never win. <em>“&#x27;Yung pagiging gahaman ay hindi talaga nagiging magandang dulot sa isang tao. Pangalawa, ang inggit, hindi talaga maganda ang epekto,”</em> he mused. <em>“Sana matutunan din ng manonood na dapat &#x27;yun ang iwasan.”</em></p><p>Looking back, McCoy shared that one of his most memorable scenes was the pivotal moment where David was ordered to shoot Tanggol but found himself unable to pull the trigger. <em>“Ang hirap i-execute ng eksena na &#x27;yun,”</em> he revealed. <em>“Kailangan kong mag-create ng something, story, bubog o saan dapat pinanggagalingan, saan ako huhugot. Ang ginawa ko na lang, tumalon na lang ako sa bangin, para maramdaman ng isang taong dating masama at isang kapatid na maawa sa nakita niya sa Kuya niya.” </em></p><div> </div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABauSNXXYdSDAIBz"></script></div><div> </div><p>And he felt gratified that people noticed and appreciated the depth of that scene, and he was able to deliver the message that blood would always be thicker than water. <em>“&#x27;Yung pamilya mo, kahit hindi mo kasundo, ang sarap sa pakiramdam lalo na &#x27;pag galing kayo sa hindi pagkakaunawaan tapos nagkaroon kayo ng pag-unite o pagsasama ulit,”</em> he reflected. <em>“&#x27;Yun ang parang miracle ng isang Nazareno o ng Diyos, na kahit anumang problema mo sa mundo, mangingibabaw pa rin &#x27;yung pagmamahal mo.”</em></p><p>Throughout the series, McCoy had many characters he considered his favorites at different points in the story, starting with Rigor, portrayed by John Estrada, who was the first to believe in David, followed by his experience at the Montenegro mansion where sharing scenes with drama icon Christopher de Leon brought a different kind of challenge, as well as his tandem with Irma Adlawan as Olga, which he described as truly one for the books.</p><p>Of course, no list of unforgettable characters would be complete without mentioning Marites, played by Cherry Pie Picache, and Tindeng, portrayed by Charo Santos, because of the on-cam dynamic he was able to build with these two power actresses.</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLUCBkVTr7a/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%3A2537908.199999988%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> </div><p>McCoy spoke with deep gratitude for Coco Martin, the show’s lead actor and director, who stood as a real Kuya to him on set and trusted him to take on the role of David, which, as McCoy revealed, Coco personally chose him for because of how convincing they would look as brothers given their resemblance. McCoy would like to tell Coco, <em>“Alam kong kulang ito, lahat ng mga sinasabi ko, itong video na ito, pero thank you so much. Simula Day 1 sinabi mo sa akin na gusto mo ng kamukha mo tapos hindi ko akalain na higit pa doon &#x27;yung trabaho, &#x27;yung role na aabutin ko ngayon dito. Hanggang sa huli, binigyan mo ako ng magandang istorya sa karakter ko bilang David.”</em></p><p>He went on to say, <em>“Kuya, Direk Coco, I love you so much! Sana lagi kang mag-ingat at marami ka pang matulungan,”</em> and shared how thankful he is for the opportunity to work with the entire team, hoping that he had been a good and easy person to collaborate with. He also expressed his appreciation for everyone behind the scenes, from those who prepared the food and set up the tents, to those who handled the props, and guided him as directors, namely Malu Sevilla, Richard Somes, and Darnel Villaflor, all of whom, as he put it, stretched him as an actor, <em>&quot;Kumbaga, iba&#x27;t ibang flavor ang binigay n&#x27;yong pagdidirek sa akin.&quot;</em> He then encouraged other artists who might get the chance to join the show to grab the opportunity right away because they will be in good hands with the people working behind the camera.</p><p>McCoy expressed his deep gratitude to the supporters and viewers of the teleserye as well. <em>&quot;Hindi n&#x27;yo kami iniwan. Simula noong una hanggang ngayon, nand&#x27;yan pa rin kayo, kitang-kita at naramdaman namin,&quot;</em> he told fans. <em>&quot;Huwag po kayong mag-alala, lahat binibigay po talaga para mapasaya kayo at mabigyan ng magandang-magandnag istorya... Inaalay namin lahat kasi walang saysay itong mga talento amin kung wala ‘yung mga suporta ninyo.&quot; </em></p><p><em>“Binibitawan ko na ang karakter ni David,”</em> said McCoy, his voice tinged with sadness, before thanking the show’s avid followers and the Man above, ending with words that marks the close of a long chapter, <em>&quot;David, now signing off.&quot; </em></p><p>The June 25 episode of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><strong><u>“FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo”</u></strong></a> drew a staggering 665,182 peak concurrent viewers across Kapamilya online platforms, as audiences witnessed the raw outpouring of emotion from Rigor when, to his shock and devastation, he discovered that the body waiting for him at the crime scene during a police operation was that of his favorite son, David. </p><div><br/></div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABbJZSjRyXx6KY9C"></script></div><div> </div><p>The episode also showed the moving exchange between Marites and Tanggol as the latter broke the painful news about David’s fate. </p><div> </div><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABbJby-9vmNF35Z7"></script></div><div> </div><p>Viewers now wait to see where the quest for justice and revenge over David’s death will lead the story of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><strong><u>&quot;FPJ&#x27;s Batang Quiapo,&quot;</u></strong></a> airing weeknights, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), TV5, and A2Z.</p>

<p>McCoy de Leon reveals the story behind David calling Tanggol 'Kuya' for the first and last time before his character's death.</p>

McCoy de Leon reveals the story behind David calling Tanggol 'Kuya' for the first and last time before his character's death.

McCoy de Leon signs off as David Dimaguiba, shares lessons from his ‘Batang Quiapo’ journey

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

TV

McCoy de Leon signs off as David Dimaguiba, shares lessons from his ‘Batang Quiapo’ journey

Liezel Dela Cruz

Published June 26, 2025 09:13 AM PHT

Read More:

McCoy de Leon

David imaguiba

FPJ's Batang Quiapo

Batang Quiapo

Batang Quiapo David

Coco Martin

Tanggol

John Estrada

Rigor Dimaguiba

Cherry Pie Picache

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.