Czarina Faith Abuso

Behind the scenes of the action-packed Ramon vs Wating encounter in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<p>“<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><strong><u><em>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</em></u></strong></a>” has indeed already brought us a number of exhilarating, nail-biting, and action-packed scenes throughout its more than two years of airing on primetime—and last week’s encounter between Tanggol (Coco Martin) and Ramon (Christopher de Leon) was definitely not an exception. </p><p>In pursuit of Tanggol’s intention to stop the flow of illegal drugs in Manila, which has been part of his advocacy regardless of his fate in the elections, he asked for the help of his friends in foiling the transaction of his father, Ramon, with their foreign supplier. </p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgB_d_DXxY2-qox"></script></div><p>Wating, as their group is called, may have succeeded in seizing the suitcases of money and drugs, yet they failed to completely escape from them, as Ramon and his henchmen were able to follow them to their hideout, which resulted in their suspenseful chase and explosive battle between the two groups.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgH-tvomBMVQPs2"></script></div><p>And during their bloody encounter, it was not only Ramon’s troop who got diminished but also Tanggol’s as well, as two of his comrades were fatally shot by his father, which led to deaths on the spot—Raul (Raymond Ronquillo) and Madonna (Kim Domingo). </p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgH-5i7tmXH1tYc"></script></div><p>The sequence may have only run for several minutes, yet it actually took the “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u><em>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</em></u></strong></a>” team more than one week to prepare for it, as revealed in this special CCM Report presented by one of its cast members, Ryan Martin, who plays the role of Dolfo. The video uploaded across the social media platforms of CCM Film Productions has given avid followers glimpses of what happened off-cam while they were filming one of the biggest scenes ever of the well-loved teleserye. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOTbzmsky7O/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=521&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3048869.100000143%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1125" 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><p>One of its unit directors, Richard V. Somes, described the process they went through as “<em>complicated</em>” since it was quite huge, with a lot of actors and requirements involved, not to mention that they had to do it with supercars and choppers and in a highway.</p><p>Aside from making sure that every scene was done well, the safety of the cast and crew was also ensured by attaching harnesses to them as they stood at or hung onto moving vehicles.</p><p>Among those who were spotted giving instructions to everyone was Unit Assistant Director Karlo, who related, “’<em>Yong preparation nito, sobrang tagal. More than a week kami na nagre-ready para dito. Siyempre ‘yong logistics, pati na rin ‘yong safety.</em>”</p><p>While ardent viewers probably know him only as a trusted right-hand of Divina (Rosanna Roces) and a valuable member of Wating, Raymond Ronquillo, who played the role of Raul, revealed that he has been a rotary pilot for about 15 years already, so he can be considered as an expert in flying helicopters. </p><p>“<em>Actually, excited ako at gustong-gusto kong ginagawa ito dahil noong bata ako, pangarap ko talagang mag-ganyan—‘yong mga action scene, ‘yong mga pagpapalipad ng helicopter. So, ngayon siyempre rito sa ‘Batang Quiapo,’ nagkaroon kami ng chance na maipakita rin sa buong mundo, maipakita sa buong Pilipinas na kaya rin ng mga Pilipino ‘yong mga nakikita natin na mga pelikula sa Hollywood at sa iba’t ibang mga lugar,</em>” Raymond stated.</p><p>Coco, who is the lead star and one of its directors and producers, was also seen meticulously giving instructions and doing demonstrations on how each scene must be executed. </p><p>“<em>Almost everyday talagang pinagsusumikapan namin na pagandahin [at] palakihin ang bawat eksena, talagang pinag-uusapan namin, mini-meeting namin ‘yan sa creative kung paano namin gagawin lahat ng eksena. Nakita naman natin na talagang pinipilit natin i-elevate o i-angat ‘yong mga action scene natin, na kahit papaano makapagbigay talaga tayo ng saya at inspirasyon sa bawat gabi sa ating mga manonood</em>,” he stated. </p><p>The Kapamilya Primetime King then added, “Kaya sigurado ako na magugustuhan nila ito dahil talagang matinding bakbakan ito. Hindi lang barilan, kundi pati ‘yong mga car chase at saka ‘yong revelation na ang grupo pala ni Tanggol at si Tanggol pala ang nagwa-wating o ang naghihinto [na maipagpatuloy] ang pagkalat ng droga sa Maynila&quot;.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgH_QhxrdJV-a2R"></script></div><p>He further described how challenging the sequence was for the entire production—from the directors and writers to the staff and crew—confessing that they were actually so nervous before and while filming. They were well aware how dangerous it was to do it, particularly having two helicopters hovering over a set of racing sports cars, which was a first-time experience for him.</p><p>“<em>Ninenerbiyos kami habang ginagawa namin ‘to. Talagang kumakapit na lang talaga kami sa Diyos na sana walang maaksidente at magawa namin ng tama. Pero sinisiguro namin na maganda ang kalalabasan nito dahil hinahandog namin ito sa lahat ng mga Pilipino</em>,” he related.</p><p>Coco was also asked the million-dollar question, “<em>kadugo o prinsipyo</em>,” to which he didn’t have to think long to answer “<em>prinsipyo</em>” —just like what his character Tanggol will likely do.  </p><p>“<em>Kasi bata pa lang si Tanggol, kaya nami-misunderstood siya ng mga kalugar niya, ng pamilya niya, kasi lagi niyang pinaglalaban ‘yong prinsipyo niya o ‘yong pananaw niya sa bawat bagay lalong-lalo na ngayon sa pagtakbo niya bilang Mayor. Syempre prayoridad niya ay ang mga tao at ang buong bayan</em>,” he explained. </p><p>He continued, “<em>Kaya kahit na hindi sila magsang-ayon o hindi sila magkatugma ng kanyang tatay at lolo sa kanilang mga prinsipyo at pananaw sa buhay, hindi kayang lunukin ni Tanggol ‘yong mga bagay na alam niyang mali. Kaya gagawin lahat ni Tanggol para ipaglaban niya kung ano ‘yong tama</em>.”</p><p>Now that they have already been caught by Ramon already, what will happen next to Tanggol and his friends? Let’s find out by not missing an episode of “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo"><strong><u><em>FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</em></u></strong></a>,” weeknights at 8PM, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, TV5, and <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/dFR6MWHAcVb"><strong><u><em>iWant</em></u></strong></a>.</p>

<p>Get a glimpse on some of the happenings behind the scenes of the nail-biting chase and suspenseful war between Ramon and Wanting in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.”</p>

Get a glimpse on some of the happenings behind the scenes of the nail-biting chase and suspenseful war between Ramon and Wanting in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.”