2 weeks ago
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CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The much-anticipated presence of popular artist Coco Martin in a grand political rally of a party-list fizzled out to the dismay of thousands of attendees who went home wearing long faces.
Martin, lead actor in a popular TV series "Batang Quiapo" and other TV shows, was a no show in the rally of FPJ Panday Bayanihan at a vacant lot in Barangay Santa Isabel this city.
The actor was supposed to grace the event as per the announcement of Gov. Humerlito Dolor in his social media page.
"Tomorrow, fellow carpenters! Tomorrow is the Grand Rally of FPJ Panday Bayanihan in Oriental Mindoro together with Coco Martin and Senator Grace Poe," Dolor said in his post on Friday, April 11, 2025.
But at around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, Dolor made another post saying that he received a message from the actor that he will not be able to come due to health reasons.
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That time, the attendees from the southern towns of the province had already arrived at the venue while others were already on their way.
"Ka Panday, we received a message just now from Coco Martin that he would not be able to come due to health reasons. It is sad that he cannot join us in the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Motorcade and Gran Rally. There are so many of us waiting for him. Get well soon Coco. We are waiting for you here in Oriental Mindoro," Dolor said in another post.
The activity was instead graced by artists Arci Muñoz, Bela Padilla, Johnvic De Guzman and Sen. Grace Poe and his son Brian Poe who is the party-list's first nominee.
The wife of Dolor is the second nominee of the group claiming to represent the marginalized sector.
A barangay official from this city, who requested anonymity, told The Manila Times that he was invited by a representative from the provincial government and brought along his constituents but upon learning of the absence of the actor, his people refused to come along.
Attendees from Pinamalayan reportedly turned back while they were in Victoria town upon learning that the actor will not come.
According to Dolor in one of his posts after the event, the Grand Rally was attended by more than 15,000 people.
