"Ang Probinsiyano" has been the top scripted TV show in the Philippines since it premiered on Sept. 28, 2015, on ABS-CBN. It consistently beat its rival "Marimar," which recently concluded and starred Miss World 2013 Megan Young, 25.
Given the success of "Ang Probinsiyano," the people behind the top-rating ABS-CBN show did not stay nonchalant. They even stepped it up a notch by giving the lead star Coco Martin, 34, his most daring role ever requiring him to be dressed as a woman.
In order to catch the bad guys, Martin's character in "Ang Probinsiyano" will go undercover as a girl named Paloma. The "new character" has yet to make her debut in the ABS-CBN show and it is yet to be revealed whether or not the mission of the "new character" will be successful.
As a beautiful and sexy temptress of the night, Paloma is in an all black ensemble matched with dark red lipstick. Martin will be seen walking the streets in high heels while wearing black knee-high boots, black net stockings and black gloves and carrying a black bag.
It is not suprising to see Martin nail a role that he is not very familiar with in real life. Before "Ang Probinsiayno," he starred in Brilliante Mendoza's 2008 film "Serbis," a Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or nominee, and in the 2012 film "Sta. Nina," which won as ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards' Best Picture.
More than a week before the news broke that Martin is set to play Paloma, the "Ang Probinsiyano" star attended an event at a mall in Quezon City, Philippines, where he helped turn over to the Highway Patrol Group members some raincoats, facemasks and tablets from the Neozep brand, which he is endorsing, Manila Times reported.
During the event, Martin also talked about the commitment of the Highway Patrol Group in maintaining order and road safety in Metro Manila. He mentioned that he has learned the many challenges encountered by the police from his role in "Ang Probinsiyano."
Meanwhile, the "Ang Probinsiyano" star's younger brother Ronwaldo Martin, 18, is also making his name in the Philippine indie film industry having recently earned a best actor nomination from London's International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema for Carlo Catu's "Ari: My Life With a King."
In an interview with Inquirer, Ronwaldo shared the advice Coco gave him about show business. He said his brother advised him to strive to have his own identity so he will be known as himself and not just as his brother.
Watch the trailer showing Coco as Paloma in "Ang Probinsiyano" here:
