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What forgiveness means for the cast members of FPJs Batang Quiapo

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

“<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</a>” may have concluded a few weeks ago, but, for sure, the life morals that it imparted continue to resonate—one of which being the value of forgiveness.And just in time for Holy Week 2026, ABS-CBN Studios spoke with several cast members to gather their personal perspectives on forgiveness—may it be forgiving others or seeking forgiveness for our own mistakes—which we collated in this exclusive video.<div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=AB1rjZ_j_mLAA_sW"></script></div>Let&#x27;s begin with Maris Racal, whose character, Patrolwoman Paula “Ponggay” Garcia, was so driven by a fierce desire to bring down the Guerreros after they ordered her father’s killing. She related that for her, forgiveness is deeply tied with peace, expounding, “Forgiveness for me is being able or finally finding that peace within you—and that’s the most important thing. You can forgive a person but still feel anger towards them. But if you feel nothing, you can face this person head on.”Jake Cuenca, who astounded us with his impeccable portrayal of main antagonist Miguelito Guerrero, also believes that forgiveness is essential to attaining peace. As he shared, “In order to be peaceful, you have to learn how to forgive. Even when it’s hard [at] the moment, I still choose to give it because I know it only works that way. To find peace, you have to forgive.”If there’s one person who knows what genuine forgiveness really means, it’s definitely Cherry Pie Picache. On-screen, we also saw her character, Marites Dimaguiba, extend forgiveness, such as to the person who violated her and to her unfaithful husband who repeatedly cheated on and abused her.She referred to forgiveness as “a big sacrifice” and “a big decision”—one that is especially difficult when a person is still in pain. “To forgive is to give second chances because everyone deserves them,” she said. “Whether they appreciate it or not, whether they ask for it or not—when you forgive, you heal. And when you heal, you move forward in life and love better. It’s better for yourself.”Rosanna Roces, whose character Divina, harbored resentment toward Tanggol (Coco Martin) and his friends, couldn’t help but turn emotional as she reflected on forgiveness, admitting that it is often easier said than done.For her, forgiveness becomes especially difficult when the hurt inflicted affects not only herself but also the people she loves. She even shared that she finds it harder to forgive than to love. In such moments, she turns to prayer, entrusting everything to God and asking for a change of heart.Contrary to her character, Olivia, who kept bitterness in her heart on “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/batangquiapo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,</a>” veteran actress Chanda Romero believes that forgiveness is rooted in selflessness. She practices this by pausing in moments of conflict and asking herself a simple question: does she want to be right, or to be happy?Aljur Abrenica, who played PLt. Hector Victorino, views forgiveness as a path to freedom and moving forward. For him, it becomes easier when he remembers how God has forgiven us.For Criza Taa, who portrayed Ponggay’s sister, Dimples, conveyed that the initial step in granting forgiveness is acceptance, as she firmly believes that one has to accept the situation and its outcome first before he/she could say that he/she had already forgiven.Elijah Canlas, whose character, Pablo Guerrero, served as one of the antagonists whom Tanggol refused to pardon after harassing his friend, Bubbles (Ivana Alawi), said that forgiveness goes beyond words because it is something you deeply feel and sincerely believe in.“Kahit hindi mo siya sinasabi doon sa taong gusto mong patawarin, basta alam mo sa sarili mo na natanggap mo na, na nakalagpas ka na, at napapatawad mo na ang taong ‘yon, eh ‘di okay ka na. Syempre, kasama na rin ‘yong forgiveness sa sarili mo. Dapat binibigyan mo rin ang sarili mo,” he stated.While others in this list equate forgiveness to peace, Mark Anthony “Big Mak” Andaya connects it to love, believing that our capacity to forgive stems from the love within us. On the other hand, Ryan Martin, his fellow member of Tropang Tanggol, said that forgiveness is something that we unconditionally give to someone without expecting any explanation from them.John Medina and Smugglaz echo the idea of “forgive but don’t forget,” with the former conveying that forgiveness should come from the heart and it can only be true once a person puts whatever happened behind him/her. The latter, meanwhile, emphasized that forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting the lesson a certain conflict has taught us. Besides, he also believes that forgiving is a form of self-healing, as we do it not just for the people who crossed us but for ourselves as well, so we must learn to let go of grudges.Similarly, Tess Antonio and Atty. Rey Campanilla, also both believe that true forgiveness is not thinking about what the offender has done us wrong in order for us to have peace of mind. Tita Jegs realized as well through her experiences how forgiving her transgressors, regardless of how difficult it is for her to do so, has made her feel lighter and happier. Thus, just like what Geline Garcia, believes in, we could give it without even without our offenders asking for it.And lastly, Jun Nayra’s insight seems to encapsulate the collective message of the group: forgiveness is both peace and love, and it is essential for moving forward in life with ease.Have a meaningful Holy Week, mga Kapamilya!

The cast of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” on forgiveness and its importance to each one of them.

The cast of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” on forgiveness and its importance to each one of them.

What forgiveness means for the cast members of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo

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What forgiveness means for the cast members of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo

Mary Ann Bardinas

Published March 31, 2026 03:01 AM PHT

Read More:

FPJs Batang Quiapo

Batang Quiapo

Maris Racal

Jake Cuenca

Cherry Pie Picache

Rosanna Roces

Elijah Canlas

Chanda Romero

Aljur Abrenica

Criza Taa

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