In the years that he has been in the local entertainment scene, “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” star and director Coco Martin has managed to thrive from being an award-winning indie actor to becoming one of the most illustrious mainstream stars in the country.

In the second segment of his interview with veteran showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz on the latter’s YouTube channel, the beloved Kapamilya actor talked candidly about his difficulties making the move from the independent to the mainstream scene in the early 2010s and how he was able to change the way the public and media saw him by establishing his worth for the spot he had previously only dreamed of.

Even though he had difficulties, especially in the beginning of his career, Coco steadfastly believed that hard work would allow him to succeed in the extremely demanding, cutthroat, and uncertain world of show business. He told Ogie, “Hard work, walang tatalo diyan. Kasi ako inaamin ko, honestly, wala akong talento. No’ng nagsimula ako, [as in] zero..”

Attesting to that was his experience in getting reprimanded by a director in one of his earliest film projects, which was also his acting debut. That particular director hurled insults at him and requested that he be replaced at 2 in the morning since he really couldn’t perform. But instead of taking it negatively, he used that unforgettable experience into as motivation to not let that happen again and for him to become a better actor.

Since then, Coco has made it a habit to observe what happens behind the camera in his next films, especially how his co-stars get ready for whatever scene they are about to shoot. However, what was supposed to be a “crash course” in acting for him went on to become a “film workshop,” through which he learned how to direct, write a script, tell a story, and do production design as well.

Following his promising performance in “Ligaw na Bulaklak,” former ABS-CBN producer Enrico Santos expressed his interest in working with him on other projects, which came true via the 2009 hit series “Tayong Dalawa,” which starred Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. That served as his springboard to landing more significant roles both on TV and film, as well as to becoming the illustrious actor that he is at present.

Aside from his acting chops and his admirable attitude, Coco also credited his strong and unwavering faith in the Black Nazarene since he was still a kid as one of his keys to success. He recalled praying to Him in 2007 while doing the film “Tirador,” petitioning, “Bigyan n’yo lang ako ng trabaho kahit ano kahit hindi ako matulog.’”

“Hindi ko makalimutan ‘yon kasi mula 2007 hanggang 2024 hindi na ako natulog. Ibig sabihin, ‘yong blessing na dumating sa buhay ko nagdire-diretso. At hindi siya blessing na ibinigay kasi ang tagal kong hinihintay eh. Matagal kong hinintay ‘yong pagkakataon na magkaroon ng totoong hanapbuhay.”