Czarina Faith Abuso

“Coco Martin’s Sigabo” stars Joko Diaz, Art Acuña, and Lauren Novero recall what filming was really like before the digital age

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<p>Aside from consistently delivering riveting scenes packed with action and drama, as well as remarkable acting performances from its stellar ensemble cast in every episode, &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/sigabo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Coco Martin&#x27;s Sigabo</strong></a>&quot; is deeply admired for how it has become a meeting point of different generations of actors—from today&#x27;s biggest and up-and-coming stars to seasoned and veteran actors. </p><p>For the seasoned and veteran cast members of the hit primetime series, stepping onto a modern set serves as a reminder of how far the entertainment industry has come. From exhausting filming schedules to the improved working conditions they now enjoy, Joko Diaz, Art Acuña, and Lauren Novero reflect on the remarkable changes they&#x27;ve witnessed throughout their careers in the first episode of the &quot;CCM: Mga Kuwentong Set&quot; segment titled &quot; Noon at Ngayon...Ang Paggawa ng Isang Serye,&quot; recently posted by CCM Film Productions on social media.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F897242463455882%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Joko, who portrays PCPT Melchor Umali, shared that unlike today&#x27;s productions, where artists are provided with tents while waiting for their next scene, actors in the past often spent their downtime under a tree or inside a nearby house that served as their makeshift waiting area.</p><p>For Art, who plays PLTCOL Romulo Domingo, one of the biggest improvements is the industry&#x27;s growing regard for artists&#x27; well-being. He remembered filming for two to three straight days without sleep early in his career, making him grateful that productions have become much more &quot;life-friendly&quot; today.</p><p>Lauren, who stars as PMSg Renato Santos, echoed the sentiment, recalling that 24-hour workdays were once the norm. Thus, he&#x27;s grateful for the implementation of the &quot;Eddie Garcia Law,&quot; which limits working hours to a maximum of 14 hours a day and 60 hours a week while requiring mandatory rest periods between shifts. For him, this lets actors rest well and ultimately deliver better performances.</p><p>Art also looked back on the lock-in taping setup implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing it as surprisingly beneficial for production. Since everyone stayed in one location until filming was completed, the cast and crew could focus entirely on the project, allowing everyone to settle into work more quickly each day and maintain the production&#x27;s momentum.</p><p>Beyond working conditions, the three seasoned actors also observed how today&#x27;s productions have become far more meticulous.</p><p>Joko noted that directors now pay closer attention to every detail—from developing each character to guiding actors in delivering their lines—which he believes ultimately results in stronger performances.</p><p>Lauren likewise appreciates that aspiring actors are now encouraged, and often required, to undergo acting workshops before stepping onto the set for the actual taping. Because of this, Joko related that it has become rare for him to work with newcomers who arrive unprepared for their scenes or unsure of what they&#x27;re doing.</p><p>Witnessing these improvements firsthand has made Art optimistic about the future of Philippine entertainment, firmly believing that the next generation of actors and filmmakers possesses remarkable talent and creativity. &quot;This next generation is going to be amazing. And I see the magic that they have. I&#x27;m so proud of them. I&#x27;m so jazzed by what they do, and they&#x27;re so young,&quot; he said.</p><p>Technology has also significantly transformed the way films and television shows are produced. Lauren revealed that he worked during the era when every scene was recorded on tape, which is why filming is still commonly referred to as &quot;taping&quot; today.</p><p>Joko added that because film rolls were expensive, there was very little room for mistakes, and every shot had to count. He also recalled using massive cameras mounted on wheeled tripods, a far cry from today&#x27;s lightweight digital equipment that allows productions to do multiple takes until they get the perfect shot. However, this should not be an excuse for actors to commit mistakes over and over again as they could cause delay in the entire production.</p><p>Lauren also pointed out how lighting equipment has evolved over the years. What once required several crew members to carry can now be handheld or mounted onto walls, making productions far more efficient. Art added that modern cameras are vastly more advanced, while computer-generated imagery (CGI) has become significantly more accessible than it was decades ago.</p><p>Even script preparation has embraced the digital age. Joko admitted that although scripts are typically sent via email and can easily be accessed through phones or tablets nowadays, he still prefers reading a printed copy of the script. While he remains fond of hard copies, he appreciates the convenience of studying his scenes anytime and anywhere, allowing him to better understand his character before filming.</p><p>As productions continue to evolve, the seasoned actors agreed that adaptability has become one of the most valuable qualities an artist can possess. Art explained that while actors should always know their scripts and lines by heart, they can no longer become too attached to a single interpretation of a scene because changes can happen in an instant.</p><p>Joko shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing that actors must constantly adjust to what&#x27;s happening around them. Otherwise, they risk falling behind and failing to keep up with the timing and rhythm of their fellow performers.</p><p>Don&#x27;t miss the thrilling action, kilig romance, lighthearted moments, and gripping drama in the next episodes of &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/sigabo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Coco Martin&#x27;s Sigabo.</strong></a>&quot; Catch it weeknights at 8:00 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), or stream anytime on <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/dFR6MWHAcVb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>iWant!</strong></a></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>More on this story: </strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/8/7/coco-goes-all-out-in-an-explosive-rescue-sequence-in-sigabo-in-exclusive-behind-the-scenes-video-0249" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Coco Martin goes all out in an explosive rescue sequence in “Sigabo”—as seen in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video!</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/7/31/rafael-rosell-joem-bascon-thrilled-to-be-part-of-coco-martin-s-sigabo-0111" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Rafael Rosell, Joem Bascon thrilled to be part of &#x27;Coco Martin’s Sigabo&#x27;</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/7/30/why-cristine-reyes-and-zanjoe-marudo-said-yes-to-coco-martin-s-sigabo-0949" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Why Cristine Reyes and Zanjoe Marudo said yes to &quot;Coco Martin&#x27;s Sigabo&quot;</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/7/22/arci-mu-oz-reveals-the-most-challenging-scenes-she-has-done-coco-martin-and-julia-montes-sigabo-0203" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>EXCLUSIVE: Arci Muñoz reveals the most challenging scenes she has done so far with Coco Martin and Julia Montes in “Sigabo”</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/7/20/sue-ramirez-tropang-gabo-tease-more-action-drama-and-excitement-in-coco-martin-s-sigabo-0105" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sue Ramirez, ‘Tropang Gabo’ tease more action, drama, and excitement in “Coco Martin’s Sigabo”</strong></a></div>

<p>From demanding work schedules to evolving production practices, here's what "Coco Martin's Sigabo" actors Joko Diaz, Art Acuña, and Lauren Novero had to say about how working in showbiz has changed through the years.</p>

From demanding work schedules to evolving production practices, here's what "Coco Martin's Sigabo" actors Joko Diaz, Art Acuña, and Lauren Novero had to say about how working in showbiz has changed through the years.