Batang Quiapo

Every once in a while, I'd take a break from the usual and check out the local, mainstream movies or shows to see if I'm missing out on anything. As it turns out, it's the same old in the world of local entertainment. The shows from the three networks are still dominated by noontime shows, talk shows, news shows, singing talent search shows, cooking shows and soap operas while the movies are also mostly the same, either porno, comedy or those love team oriented films for teenyboppers. This means it's the same old garbage. Lately, the local media is once again promoting the newest output from the trash heap. The latest offering from ex indie porno actor turned soap opera star, turned "action star" Coconut Martin is just another pathetic attempt to cash in on the legacy of Filipino action king Fernandez Poe Jr. All the corny elements that made the previous show, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano are in this: the stupid close ups, the soap opera style story structure, the mushy melodrama.

I never really bought into the Coconut Martin hype and this is why. It's simply sickening that mainstream media is behind this trend to further dumb down the moronic masses. It's also ludicrous and sad that Filipino entertainment has sunk to an all time low, thanks to the cutesy antics of the geny lopez and attorney gozon networks. Their dumb shows have infantilized, and significantly delayed the mental development of several generations of Filipino millennials. It's an epic tragedy that a massively idiotic tv series would spawn another pitiful and heinous show starring and directed by mister coconut.

Batang Quiapo is more of the same melodramatic, low I. Q. mush like FPJ's Ang Probinsyano but with a bigger budget. My advice: go watch something else. Buy a wifi black box and subscribe to a streaming service. There's a few like Prime Video, Disney+ and HBO Go where you can watch better shows and movies for a very cheap fee. Stop patronizing the two major networks in the country, you simply line the pockets of their executives by watching their rubbish programs.

I thought they'd deviate from The Probinsyano's formula. Turns out they followed the exact same formula and THEN branded it under a different name. It's the exact same series with the god awful dialogue, Cardo is called Tanggol(...why am I surprised) and his rebelliousness is still there under the guise of "I want to protect you." There's another way to solve problems, guys. The rest of the cast also have cookie-cut personalities so...

Just watched the latest episode and even the villians are so predictable, why? Because they dictate every single thing about their plans, the flow of the script automatically directs you in only one direction and you expect us to think this is good storytelling? I thought I would be rooting for the villians in this, but no, they're also equally bad if not worse.

This is by far, the worst adaption of the film by Fernando Po, Jr. The only similarity to the original film is the last names of the protagonist (Dimaguiba) and the location (Quiapo). The main protagonist, played by Coco Martin is forever being persecuted by being shot (mulitple times), beaten, and tortured, while all the antagonists, mainly his stepfather and brother, continue to succeed. The series portrays the police in a disrespectful manner, and promotes criminality. The story moves extremely slowly due to the many plot threads. FPJ would be turning in his grave if he saw this. Disgraceful is putting it mildly.

Show is too slow moving...........There's more conversation than actual action. Cardo doesn't make good decisions. It's frustrating to watch a main character make foolish decisions. It's a turn off for me. I watch once in a while. In fact the sow is full of foolish decision-makers. I'd like to see better decision-making. You can make a good show will good decision makers. It's also a good example for the younger generation. Why does Bubbles have to dress like a prostitute? It's good for filipino actors/acresses to return to respecting self, especially the women. Start role modeling, modesty.....

I had high hopes for "Batang Quiapo," especially given its star power and the legacy of the original film. However, I found myself let down by the execution. The storyline is the same as with Ang Probinsyano, full of violence, killings, and lawbreakers, yet they promote the protagonist as the good guy and god-fearing individual.

The characters are stereotypical, lacking depth, and their motivations often seem forced. The pacing is uneven, with some episodes feeling like filler. While the show tries to tackle serious social issues, it often glosses over them in favor of melodrama, making it hard to take the themes seriously.

Additionally, the dialogue feels clunky at times, and the humor falls flat. I was hoping for a fresh take on the classic story, but instead, it feels like a missed opportunity. Overall, "Batang Quiapo" struggles to keep my interest, and I won't be tuning in for the next episode.

Coco's direction and storytelling are like trash that wants to become a human.