Coco Martin trained with policemen to prepare for his role in Ang Probinsyano.

Coco Martin returns to Primetime Bida for the TV adaptation of Fernando Poe Jr.’s movie, Ang Probinsyano.

In this ABS-CBN teleserye, he will be paired anew with Maja Salvador.

They first worked together in the 2009 afternoon teleserye Nagsimula sa Puso, and their last project together was the 2011 primetime teleserye Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.

Coco told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other reporters during the digital media conference of Ang Probinsyano last Wednesday, September 16, that this project fulfills his long-time wish to work again with Maja.

“Una, honestly, sobrang excited ako noong ano… kasi siyempre four years ago noong huli kaming nagkasama ni Maja dun sa soap opera.

“And then siyempre, honestly minsan may tao kang makakatrabaho na hahanap at hahanapin mo.

“Minsang merong compatibility dun sa katrabaho mo.

“And then medyo matagal na nga kaming hindi nagkakatrabaho ni Maj, everytime na nagkikita kami dito sa ABS-CBN o sa ibang gathering, lagi ko talagang ina-ano na sana magkatrabaho kami, either sa movie o sa soap opera.

“Pero medyo matagal binigay, four years nga.”

The drama star also admitted that they waited for Maja to finish her previous teleserye, Bridges of Love.

“Actually, hinintay namin siya after noong Bridges [of Love].

“And then ayon, yung pagtatrabaho namin sa taping, mas naging matured kasi that time [ng Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin], medyo bagets pa kami ng konti.

“Tapos mas kilala na namin ang isa’t isa, lalong-lalo na ako, mas nakilala na niya ako na pagdating sa trabaho ko, medyo mabusisi ako, e.

“At saka talagang naka-tutok ako sa bawat trabaho ko. Ngayon mas naiintindihan na ni Maja yun.”

DUAL ROLES. In Ang Probinsyano, Coco will play two roles.

During the first part of the soap opera, he will play Ador, a policeman who will try to discover who is the mastermind behind a child trafficking syndicate.

However, in the course of his mission, Ador will be killed.

His uncle (played by Jaime Fabregas) will then find Ador’s missing twin brother Cardo (also played by Coco) in the province. He will convince Cardo to go with him and pretend that he is Ador.

In Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, Coco also played the twins Alexander and Javier Del Tierro.

Coco differentiated the two projects that required him to bring life to dual roles.

“Unang-una, medyo malayo yung kwento nila. Yung Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin kasi is about the NPA and then a soldier, ito naman, it’s about the kapulisan.

“Malayo, malayo yung comparison. At saka sa Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin kasi sabay yung character ko, e.

Coco clarified, “Ito naman may kailangan akong gampanan, kailangan kong gampanan yung pagkatao ng kapatid ko, ng kakambal ko.

“Maaaring yun lang dahil kambal ako tapos si Maja yung kasama ko, kaya medyo may pagkahawig nga siya.”

Which character is more challenging to portray?

“Honestly, mas nahirapan ako kay Cardo, dun sa pangalawang character ko, kasi medyo bargas siya, e. Actually mas interesting sa mata ng mga tao.

“Definitely, hindi sa pambobola, noong binubuo namin yung character ni Ador, ina-ano ko, ano ba yung limitation, ano ba yung mga nuances, ano ba yung mga mannerisms ni Ador.