With their respective primetime action series once again going head-to-head, Kapuso actor Ruru Madrid made it clear that he has never seen Coco Martin as a rival.
As GMA Network’s ‘Lolong: Bayani ng Bayan’ and ABS-CBN’s ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ air in the same primetime slot, fans and industry watchers have drawn comparisons between the two actors. This marks the third time that Ruru and Coco’s shows have competed on primetime television.
The first was in 2022, when Lolong Season 1 went up against the final weeks of Coco’s long-running teleserye ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’. This was followed by Ruru’s ‘Black Rider’, which aired in direct competition with ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’.
However, despite the ongoing comparisons, Ruru emphasized that he holds deep respect for the Kapamilya actor and never considered him as a competitor.
In a recent interview on Ogie Diaz Inspires, Ruru addressed the topic of their so-called rivalry.
“Sa totoo lang, never pong sumagi sa isip ko na maging katapat si Sir Coco,” Ruru shared.
He went on to reveal that he and his family have been avid fans of Coco’s teleseryes since he was young.
“Simula pagkabata ko, lahat ng teleserye ni Sir Coco pinanood namin ng nanay ko, kaming dalawa. Lahat, gabi-gabi ‘yan,” Ruru admitted, adding that his mother and grandmother deeply admire Coco’s work.
For the Kapuso actor, their timeslot battle is purely coincidental, and he remains grateful for the opportunities he has received in the industry.
“Nagkakataon lang na nagkakatapat po ‘yong time slot namin. Pero never ko pong iisipin na kalaban ko siya. Kahit kailan. Kasi para po sa akin, nasa pedestal siya. Tinitingala ko po siya!”
In a separate interview, Ruru acknowledged that competing with Coco is both a challenge and an honor.
“Masaya at excited ako sa aming pangatlong pagtatapat kasi nabibigyan namin pareho ng kasiyahan ang mga manonood sa pamamagitan ng aming palabas,” he said.
However, he stressed that the real goal is not about ratings, but about providing quality entertainment for Filipinos.
“Ito ang layunin namin bilang artista at sa production, na makapaghandog kami ng mga shows na maaring kapulutan ng aral, makapagbigay ng aliw, at maipagmalaki natin ang sariling atin. Ang wagi po ay tayong mga Pilipino,” he added.
With ‘Lolong: Bayani ng Bayan’ and ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ both airing in primetime, fans can expect intense action and gripping storytelling from two of the biggest stars in Philippine television.
