Every story has a beginning, and in "Coco Martin's Sigabo," Rafael Rosell and Joem Bascon helped bring that history to life. Through their impressive portrayals of the young Ricardo Jacinto and young Mariano Zafra, respectively, they helped unravel the events that shaped the lives of the present-day characters, adding depth and context to the well-loved primetime series.
In one of the earliest episodes of the series, we'd witnessed the intense face-off between Rudy (Joey Marquez) and Ricardo (Edu Manzano), hinting at a deep-seated rivalry that's definitely beyond the latter's bid to demolish Ginintuang Lupa, the community Rudy calls home for decades already.
WATCH: Rudy, hindi napigilan ang galit at sinapak si Ricardo | Sigabo
This heated encounter arguably left viewers wondering what had sparked their long-standing conflict, and the answers finally came in the July 28 and 29 episodes, as Rudy recounted to Gabo the the past that continues to influence—and torment—their lives in the present.
Through Rudy's account, it was revealed that they used to be allies in their younger years. But trouble began when Rudy (Zanjoe Marudo), who used to work with them as a police asset, showed them the treasure map entrusted to him by his deceased Japanese boss, who was killed during the robbery-murder incident to which the police led by then-officers Ricardo and Mariano immediately responded to while they were patrolling one night.
Having worked closely with his boss as his personal bodyguard and driver, Rudy managed to convince Ricardo to finance the treasure hunt by enticing him with the possibility of earning millions once they discovered the hidden fortune. They agreed to a 60–40 sharing arrangement, with Ricardo taking the larger share of the treasure. Mariano, however, remained skeptical and tried to dissuade Ricardo from investing—but to no avail.
As weeks passed without finding any gold while excavating and exploring the cave, Ricardo and Mariano began to lose faith in the treasure's existence and started suspecting that Rudy was only misleading them. Although Rudy tried to convince them to continue the search for one more day, their frustration got the better of the two police officers, which resulted to a scorching altercation between them and Rudy after he insulted them.
Rudy eventually found treasure chests filled with gold bars and coins the following day, but he kept it a secret from everyone, including his beloved wife, Belinda (Cristine Reyes). It was not until Ricardo and Mariano noticed the luxurious life Rudy and his family were living and made a surprise attack at their mansion, which forced Rudy to finally confess the truth to Belinda and show her the gold he had hidden for years. While Rudy and their young son Gabriel (Gian Luca Geroue) survived the attack, Belinda was mercilessly killed by Ricardo.
WATCH: Sigabo: Gabo, nangako na ipaghihiganti ang pagkamatay ng kanyang ina
These pivotal events marked the start of the years-long feud between Ricardo and Rudy and would later fuel Gabo’s quest for revenge against Ricardo and his family.
As avid viewers of "Sigabo" await how Gabo will carry out his plans for vengeance against the Ricardo and Mariano, let us first hear from talented and handsome actors Rafael Rosell and Joem Bascon as they share their experience of being part of the top-rating series—even for a limited time—in this exclusive interview with CCM Film Productions.
Joem—whose present-day narrative counterpart is veteran actor Efren Reyes Jr.—expressed how happy he was to be cast in this project, which he described as a series that would surely captivate and entertain Kapamilya viewers. He went on to praise lead actor-director Coco Martin for his formidable flair in seamlessly blending action, drama, and comedy in his teleseryes in recent years. Given the impact he has made in the action genre, Joem strongly believes that Coco truly deserves the title “Hari ng Aksyon sa Ating Henerasyon” bestowed upon him.
Rafael, meanwhile, shared that he is filled with both excitement and pressure in portraying the young Ricardo, especially since he knew that veteran actor Edu Manzano would be portraying the character in the present timeline. Thus, he made sure to do his research and “homework” to be able to deliver his role effectively.
He also commended the entire production team for doing a great job in ensuring that “Sigabo” will be worth watching in every episode and will provide an amazing and entertaining experience for audiences.
Behind-the-scenes clips from the series were also shown in the video, where Director Darnel Villaflor could be seen helming the sequences involving Rafael, Joem, Zanjoe, and Cristine.
Don't miss the thrilling action, kilig romance, lighthearted moments, and gripping drama in the next episodes of "Coco Martin's Sigabo." Catch it weeknights at 8:00 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), or stream anytime on iWant!
Why Cristine Reyes and Zanjoe Marudo said yes to "Coco Martin's Sigabo"
Sigabo: Gabo, nangako na ipaghihiganti ang pagkamatay ng kanyang ina | Episode 28
Sigabo: Ang kwento sa likod ng pag-iibigan nina Belinda at Rudy | Episode 27
Sigabo: Ang kinagisnang buhay at pamilya ni Gabo | Episode 27
Sigabo: Rudy, nirespeto ang matinding paninindigan ni Gabo | Episode 26