GMA Network’s ‘Black Rider’ starring Ruru Madrid is gearing up for a challenging clash with the hit ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,’ and the pressure is mounting as the premiere date draws near.
Ruru Madrid finds himself in a competitive position, as many of his co-stars in ‘Black Rider’ previously appeared in ABS-CBN series ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,’ which is led by Coco Martin. Notable cast members from ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ include leading lady Yassi Pressman, as well as Raymart Santiago, Joem Bascon, Janus del Prado, and Empoy Marquez.
Ruru Madrid is no stranger to this rivalry, as his previous series ‘Lolong’ aired concurrently with ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.’ While ‘Lolong’ garnered a substantial viewership, ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ retained its dominant position in the ratings game.
Now, with ‘Black Rider’ set to make its debut on GMA Telebabad, it is poised to go head-to-head with ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,’ one of the franchises stemming from Fernando Poe Jr.’s movies.
During a recent press conference for ‘Black Rider,’ Ruru Madrid revealed that Coco Martin had informed him that the ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ team is ready for the impending competition. Nevertheless, Ruru emphasized that competition is an inherent part of the industry, and he prefers to concentrate on self-improvement and delivering high-quality work rather than engaging in rivalry.
@lionheartv Gladys Reyes, may joke sa hindi pagkuha ni Coco Martin sa kanyang teleserye… Nasa kalaban tuloy siya! #GladysReyes #CocoMartin #FPJsBatangQuiapo #BlackRider #EntertainmentNewsPH #TiktokTainmentPH #LionhearTV #RAWRNation
He stated, “Hindi naman po mawawala iyan. Pero for me, kesa makipag-compete ako with other people, I’d rather compete with myself, so that every day, may lagi po akong napapakita.”
When asked about the pressure, Ruru admitted it is indeed present, but his primary focus remains on providing excellent content for the viewers. He believes that, as an actor, his main goal is to entertain and engage the audience, and he is dedicated to achieving that goal through his work.
“Siyempre po, may pressure. Of course, lahat naman po tayo gustong maging successful po yung mga projects po na ginagawa natin. But for me more than anything else, yung makapagbigay po ng magandang programa sa mga manonood, mas nakatutok po ako du’n.”
“I mean as an actor, my goal is to entertain people. So du’n po ako mas naka-focus, rather than competing or ma-pressure sa mga bagay.”
‘Black Rider’ boasts a star-studded cast, including Matteo Guidicelli, Katrina Halili, Jon Lucas, Gladys Reyes, Raymart Santiago, Zoren Legaspi, Raymond Bagatsing, Monsour del Rosario, and more. The anticipated clash between ‘Black Rider’ and ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ is set to unfold on November 6, 2023, as both shows premiere in the same timeslot.
