Coco Martin, ‘Batang Quiapo,’ and the Black Nazarene
“He has granted all of my wishes and given me so much more,” said actor Coco Martin, who is an ardent and loyal devotee of the Black Nazarene and has been attending the Traslación for 17 years now.
Every Jan. 9, a mass procession is held to commemorate the anniversary of the transfer of the devotional statue of Jesus Christ from a church in what is today the Luneta Park to the Minor Basilica in Quiapo. The festivities usually begin with a novena on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve. The “Pahalik” (kissing) is usually done at the Quirino Grandstand a few days before the procession. Devotees form long lines, waiting for hours to be able to touch the image of the Black Nazarene.
The highlight of the feast is the Traslación, which makes its way along the streets of Quiapo. The procession begins after a solemn midnight High Mass. Devotees wear maroon and yellow, and walk barefoot as a form of penance.
First time
It was in 2007, while shooting Brillante Ma Mendoza’s dramatic piece “Tirador,” that Martin was able to touch the Black Nazarene for the first time. “They said that if you are able to do this on its feast day, everything you are praying for will come true. Years prior, I would hear Mass at the Quiapo church with my grandmother. I would always pray to Him to give me a job. I was so used to getting rejected and experiencing ‘endo,’” Martin recalled.
The term is Filipino slang for ‘end of contract,’ which is an employment scheme to avoid regularizing workers and, therefore, evading the act of granting them benefits. “I owe everything I have now to the Black Nazarene. When I touched it in 2007, I prayed, ‘kahit ‘di po ako matulog, basta bigyan N’yo lang ako ng trabaho—kahit ‘di pag-aartista.’ It’s already 2024, and I have not slept well since because He has given me so many blessings,” Martin told Lifestyle in a recent media gathering.
On Jan. 9, 2024, Martin spoke to fellow devotees at the Quirino Grandstand, urging them to remain loyal to the Black Nazarene. He added that it was his grandmother who first brought him to Quiapo when he was 7 and influenced him to make the said religious vow. “I spoke in front of the crowd at 4 a.m. as a form of witnessing and testifying to the Black Nazarene’s miracles. I want to continue doing this to inspire other devotees, to help strengthen their faith. My life is an example of His greatness,” Martin declared.
Aside from Martin, celebrities Angeline Quinto, Giselle Sanchez, McCoy de Leon, Kiray Celis, and Noli de Castro are also known devotees of the Black Nazarene.
Actor, director, producer
It was also on the same day in 2023 when Martin began taping for the TV adaption of Fernando Poe Jr. ‘s 1986 movie “Batang Quiapo.” Martin is the lead actor, director, and producer of the action-drama series. Martin explained that he chose to create a TV show about this iconic spot in Manila “because of its stories, its mysteries. Quiapo is rich in culture. You can meet people from different walks of life there.”
The media gathering was to launch Martin as the ambassador of Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) New Generation Toyota Tamaraw. TMP aims to modernize the iconic vehicle to meet the evolving needs of today’s market while staying true to its roots as a goods and people mover. “Batang Tamaraw FX ako! I will never forget that back in the ‘90s, it had been part of a lot of Filipinos’ lives. You are either a driver or a commuter on your way to school, to the office or the mall,” he said.
Martin’s journey as an actor mirrors the qualities of the Toyota Tamaraw. The event was a full-circle moment, he shared. “One of my uncles used to be a Tamaraw driver. He would pay me P20 to clean his vehicle. Now, I’m its endorser. We often question why we are made to experience life’s struggles. I’ve gone through a lot of them. They trained me to become strong,” he pointed out.
Martin said he was thrilled that Toyota has brought the Tamaraw back, now with a lot of improvements. “It now caters to the different needs of Filipinos, especially those who are thinking of starting their own businesses. I’m thinking that with my work today as a producer, I want to own a Tamaraw so I can easily carry all my shooting equipment,” he said.
Starting small
Martin wants to start his own food business, too, but doesn’t want to put up a restaurant right away. “Since I’m not really a restaurateur, I want to start small. I want my own food cart,” he shared with Lifestyle.
Martin said his goal for 2025 is to learn as much as he can about becoming an entrepreneur. “I used to feel scared of venturing into business, but I know that my work as an actor is not permanent. I already started with my own brand of dishwashing liquid detergent. I want to expand,” the actor said.
“I want to be able to provide jobs to as many Filipinos as possible. I can’t employ all of them as actors and production crew members, but I know how talented and hardworking a lot of them are. Given the right opportunities, I’m sure their lives will improve,” he declared.
