Coco Martin on Julia Montes’ suitors, dream projects

MANILA, Philippines – Coco Martin and Julia Montes aren’t an item off-screen, but they are dear friends.

Coco Martin told reporters at the Wansapanatym press conference that he’s very protective of her. “Pinararamdaman ko sa kanya na hindi siya pwede magpaligaw,” he said.

(I made Julia feel that she should not be courted.)

The Coco and Julia love team is back for a special episode of the fantaserye Wansapanatym. This marked another tandem project for the two of them, following their recently concluded teleserye Ikaw Lamang with actress Kim Chiu.  

A question immediately sprung from the audience. “So dapat ba sa’yo lang si Julia?” 

He answered the question with a smile, saying, “Di naman.”  

However, the actor admitted that he himself was struck by Julia’s beauty, having seen her mature from the young Katerina on Walang Hanggan to friendzoned Isay on Ikaw Lamang. 

“Nakita ko yung maturity ni Julia as an actress and then nagdadalaga na, paganda ng paganda.” 

(I saw Julia mature as an actress, and her growth into a woman, growing even more beautiful.)

But despite Julia’s growth, he still thinks that Julia is too young for love. “Bata pa eh.” (She’s still young.)

He went on to advise that for him, being an actor is more than just a job – it’s both a responsibility and an opportunity, one that shouldn’t be wasted. He also pointed out that there’s a lot of time for love, saying: 

“Naranasan ko kasi yung maghintay, yung wala-wala, yung time na pumasok ako sa TV, ilang beses na-reject. Gusto ko i-share na minsan lang dumating sa atin ‘yung opportunity na ganito. Ilang milyon ang gustong mag-artista at pumusisyon kung nasaan tayo. Ibig sabihin kung nasaan man tayo, andaming gustong nagsabi na sana kami rin. Sabi ko ‘wag sayangin, sabi ko maraming time para sa love life,” he said. 

(I experienced the waiting, the nothings-in-between, that time I went into television, and the times when I was rejected. I just wanted to share that this kind of opportunity does not come by all the time. There are millions of people out there who want to become actors and to position themselves where we are right now. What I mean is wherever we are, there are a lot more who are saying that they want to have our kind of life. I’m saying, don’t waste it, there’s a lot of time to focus on love life.)

Future plans 

Coco may have gotten many awards along the way, and may have equally faced a lot of hardships, but he still remained focus on his only priority: his family.  

He was able to help his sister finish a Hotel and Restaurant Management course, and to him, that counts as one of his successes, saying: 

“Tayo ‘yung hero ng pamilya natin eh, tayo ang naghahanap-buhay para sa kanila. ‘Wag natin sayangin ang pagkakataon. Sana habang andito tayo, i-grab ‘yung opportunity na hanggang sa makakaya natin para makatulong sa pamilya natin.”

(We are the heroes of the family, we are the ones supposed to work for them. We shouldn’t waste this opportunity. Hopefully, while we’re still around, we grab the opportunity to help our family to the best of our abilities.)

But despite his generous heart, he also does not forget about his own dreams, and even shared that he would love to work with Megastar Sharon Cuneta, who recently returned to home network ABS-CBN.

“Nakatrabaho na ako kasama ni Tita Susan [Roces sa Walang Hanggan], tsaka si Ate Kris [Aquino sa Feng Shui 2]. Kumbaga gusto kung makatrabaho si Ate Shawie na rin,” he said, calling Sharon by her nickname. 

Sharon, who left TV 5 last November, is back on ABS as a jury member on reality show Your Face Sounds Familiar. 

But Coco only looks forward, and looks to the future as an opportunity he holds dear, saying, “Habang may pagkakataon, sana matupad ko po ‘yun, ‘yung mga pinapangarap ko.”

(While the opportunity is still there, hopefully I can achieve all the dreams I’ve dreamt.)

 

Wansapanatym’s Yamishita’s Treasures is set to air on March 22. Actors Eddie Garcia, Ryan Bang, Arron Villaflor, Bing Lozayga, Nonie Buencamino, and Angel Aquino are also part of the cast. – Rappler.com