It is an undeniable fact that Coco Martin, lead star and director of "FPj’s Ang Probinsyano," is the most successful actor to date. I was fortunate to have guested in the longest-running action series and was able to interview the very humble acto.
“Naku, Ate Giselle, lahat na po yata napagdaanan ko, mula sa pagiging kanto boy ng Novaliches, taga-bigay ng flyers sa gasolinahan at waiter sa iba't ibang restaurants.” (I think have endured all kinds of hardships and odd jobs, from a street gang member in Novaliches, to someone giving out flyers in gas stations to waiting tables in several restaurants.)
He even told me that he accepted his first indie film “Masahista” on the premise that he can “jump ship” from Locarno, Switzerland where the festival will be held and worked as an overseas Filipino worker. Direk CM already had an OFW experience as a janitor in Alberta, Canada.
But God had bigger plans for him because the night before the awards night, just when he was about to check out from their hotel in Switzerland, the organizers informed the production that they won the most coveted “Golden Leopard Video."
He had to accept the award together with his director Brillante Mendoza wearing a purple Barong which he absolutely abhorred. The award-winning director asked CM to stay and promised him he will produce another movie for CM to star which was "Service" followed by "Kinatay."
He was telling Gossip Girl that he was earning P4,000 when he started acting. Today Coco Martin is one of the most sought-after actors with a six-figure talent fee, a far cry from the P4,000 he used to make in his humble beginnings.
Aside from being successful as an actor, Coco Martin is also the co-founder and creative director of the media and tech firm CoSyn Mediatech. CM also co-founded the firm in partnership with Synergy 88, a Philippine-based group of businesses in digital media entertainment. Synergy 88 is the country's first official Microsoft certified art studio for Gear of Wars 4. They have also done art assets for the multi-awarded game, the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt-Blood and Wine.