McCoy de Leon — from playing a hated villain to a priest

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

After two years of portraying the despised antagonist David in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," McCoy de Leon is set to make a character transformation in the upcoming film "In Thy Name," where he will take on the role of a priest.

The film, directed by Ceasar Soriano and co-directed by Rommel Galapia Ruiz, recounts the harrowing real-life story of Claretian priest Father Rhoel Gallardo who was abducted in Basilan, along with students, faculty, and other captives by the Abu Sayyaf Group, led by Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Sabaya. For 45 days, they endured extreme violence in captivity.

"In Thy Name" follows Gallardo's unwavering faith and courage as he struggles to protect his fellow captives — especially a young boy named Reylios — until the final battle between the military and the terrorists.

McCoy de Leon as Father Rhoel Gallardo in ‘In Thy Name.’ PHOTO FROM VIVA FILMS

During a press conference, de Leon addressed the contrast between his roles saying that this project was able to balance both his career and personal life.

"Playing David in 'Batang Quiapo' is heavy, but this film carries a different kind of weight because it's about faith and about God. It feels fulfilling to be part of a project like this," he continued.

According to him, the transition from playing a feared villain to a deeply faithful Father Rhoel Gallardo was mentally, physically, and even spiritually challenging.

"Father Rhoel's story is so important that I couldn't afford to make mistakes — not just in the scenes but in how I carried myself. I'm thankful that I was given time to prepare. I was taught how to perform a mass, how to be Father Rhoel, and how to live as a missionary," the 29-year-old actor shared.

"One of the lessons that stuck with me is humility. As actors, we reach a point where we are recognized by many people, but I was made to feel that I needed to humble myself and let go of any sense of pride. That mindset helped me portray the role because, as a priest, you need to embody solemnity — something I was naturally used to, so it was really challenging," he added.

Through this role, de Leon said he gained a deeper understanding of faith and sacrifice.

"I thought I was already a faithful person, but when I experienced and saw what Father Rhoel went through, I realized there are people willing to sacrifice themselves, not just for their own sake, but for others and for God. I've gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Catholic," de Leon enthused.

Apart from de Leon, "In Thy Name" also stars John Estrada, Jerome Ponce, Mon Confiado, JC de Vera, Arron Villaflor, Gold Aceron, Martin Escudero, Pen Medina, Yves Flores, Alex Medina, Ynez Veneracion, Aya Fernandez, Soliman Cruz, Elora Españo, Kat Galang, Ana Abad Santos, Richard Quan, Kenken Nuyad, Cassy Lavarias and JM Soriano.

Produced by GreatCzar Media Productions, "In Thy Name" will premiere nationwide on March 5, coinciding with the Jubilee Year of Hope.