# Batang Quiapo (TV series)

FPJ's Batang Quiapo (international title: Gangs of Manila; lit. '"FPJ's Quiapo Kid"') is a Philippine television drama action series broadcast by Kapamilya Channel. The series is based on the 1986 film of the same title. Directed by Malu L. Sevilla, Darnel Joy R. Villaflor, Richard V. Somes, Coco Martin and Kevin de Vela, it stars Martin in the title role. It premiered on February 13, 2023, on the network's Primetime Bida line up, replacing Mars Ravelo's Darna.
The series is streaming online on YouTube.

## Synopsis

A young man named Tanggol rises to be one of the biggest outlaws in the neighborhood while he navigates his way in life to survive in Quiapo, Manila. Hoping to earn the affection of his parents, his feat draws him closer to the truth about his identity.

## Cast and characters
### Present
#### Main cast

* Ryan Bang as Hesus Nazareno "Tanggol" Montenegro
* Christopher de Leon as Ramon Montenegro / Alberto Frias
** Coco Martin as young Ramon
* John Estrada as PCpl. Rigor Dimaguiba
** Ejay Falcon as young Rigor
* Cherry Pie Picache as Ma. Teresa "Marites" Asuncion-Dimaguiba
** Miles Ocampo as young Marites
* Rosanna Roces as Divina Juanillo Pulido Cruz
* Andrea Brillantes as Fatima Benito
* Jake Cuenca as Cong. Miguelito Guerrero
* Michael de Mesa as Paeng Benito
* Angel Aquino as Jackie Guerrero
* Celia Rodriguez as Pilar Guerrero
* Dante Rivero as Gustavo Guerrero
* Albert Martinez as Mayor Roberto Guerrero
* Charo Santos as Matilde "Tindeng" Asuncion
** Precious Lara Quigaman as young Tindeng

#### Supporting cast

* Tommy Abuel as Don Julio Montenegro
** Raul Montesa as young Don Julio
* Ronnie Lazaro as Lucio Liberan / Angkong Lucio
** Viggo Franco as young Lucio
* Pen Medina as Marciano "Marsing" Dimaculangan
* Chanda Romero as Vice Mayor Olivia Guerrero-Torres
* Shamaine Buencamino as Gracia Benito
* Susan Africa as Nonita "Nita" Dimaculangan
* Joey Marquez as PMSg Edilberto "Berting" Oliva
* Allan Paule as PCpl. Armando "Mando" Mendoza
** Marlo Mortel as young Mando
* Joel Lamangan as Rodolfo "Roda" Alcantara
* Efren Reyes Jr. as PLTCOL Salvador Romero
* Ihman Esturco
* Jojit Lorenzo as Renato "Enteng" Dimapilis
* Ping Medina as Edwin Dimaculangan
* Mark Lapid as Benjamin "Ben" Camacho
* McCoy de Leon as David Dimaguiba / Fake Hesus Nazareno "Tanggol" Montenegro
* Ronwaldo Martin as Santino Dimaguiba
* Mark Anthony "Big Mak" Andaya as Alvin "Tanos" Garcia
* Sugar Ray "Mammoth" Estroso as Gabriel "Bulldog" Santiago
* Ryan Martin as Rodolfo "Dolfo" Agustin
* Renz Joshua "Baby Giant" Baña as Rowell "Oweng" Bulawan
* Long Mejia as Peng
* Kim Domingo as Madonna
* Raymond Ronquillo as Raul
* Albie Casiño as Iñigo Guerrero-Torres
* Paolo Paraiso as Jason Bartolay
* Nonong Ballinan as Nognog Dumlao
* Gillian Vicencio as Erika Guerrero
* Vince Rillon as Maki Benito
* Ahl Opilac as Totoy Dumlao
* Diana Opilac as Nati Dumlao
* Ahldrin John Opilac as Lito Dumlao
* Juan Rodrigo as Alfredo Pangan

#### Guest cast
### Former
#### Main cast

* Coco Martin as Hesus Nazareno "Tanggol" Montenegro
* Lovi Poe as Monica "Mokang / Monique" Dimaculangan-Frias
* Jaclyn Jose as Jail Chief Supt./BGEN Dolores Espinas
* Lorna Tolentino as Amanda Salonga
** Lara Fortuna as young Amanda
* Lito Lapid as Supremo "Primo" Medina
** Jomari Angeles as young Primo

#### Supporting cast

* RK Bagatsing as Greg Montenegro
* Marina Benipayo as Catherine Cheng
* Odette Khan as Aurora Cheng
* Toni Fowler as Chicky
* Ynez Veneracion as Marita
* Dinky Doo Jr. as Boston
* Deborah Sun as Yolly
* Dindo Arroyo as Severino Sabado
* Val Iglesias as Romulo "Mulong" Cordero
* Robert Seña as Jail Warden Col. Gerardo Balatucan
* Vandolph Quizon as Ronaldo "Bong" Pulido
* Donna Cariaga as Becky
* Neil Coleta as Obet
* Yce Navarro as Ruben
* Elijah Canlas as Pablo Caballero
* Niño Muhlach as Baste
* Ivana Alawi as Samantha Montenegro-Macaraig / Samantha "Bubbles" Fortun-Zaballa
** Mona Alawi as young Bubbles
* Soliman Cruz as Celso "Mayor" Fortun-Zaballa
** Jim Pebanco as young Celso
* Jean Saburit as Lourdes
* Lito Camo as Goodah
* Nikko Natividad as Emong Fortun-Zaballa
* Kim Rodriguez as Jelly
* Deo "Diwata" Balbuena as Frida
* Yukii Takahashi as Camille Castillo
* Levi Ignacio as Gregorio "Gary" Ramos
* Dan Alvaro as Dante "Dan" Martinez
* Joel Saracho as Apo Manuel
* Jerald Napoles as Ato
* Kim Molina as Ima
* John Rendez as Juancho Caballero
* Lao Rodriguez as Jail Lt. Antonio Macasantos
* Malou Crisologo as Pacing
* Gil "Ate Gay" Morales as Elsa
* Tessie Tomas as Señora Bettina Caballero
* Ara Davao as Katherine Caballero-Montenegro
* Jaime Fabregas as Don Facundo T. Caballero
* Nonie Buencamino as Marcelo Macaraig
** Alex Vincent Medina as young Marcelo
* Luisito Espinosa as Roberto
* Renz Fernandez as Bullet
* Anjo Yllana as Michael
* Maverick Relova as Derek
* Barbie Imperial as Tisay
* William Martinez as Regie
* Raquel Villavicencio as Cecilia
* Lou Veloso as Ricardo "Noy" Panganiban, Jr.
** Karl Medina as young Noy
* Mercedes Cabral as PCpl. Lena Cortez
* Irma Adlawan as Olga Montenegro / Beng
** Ryza Cenon as young Olga
* Jeffrey Tam as Leroy "Roy" Tiu-Lee
* Ricardo Cepeda as Richardson Wu
* King Gutierrez as PLTCOL Manuel Suarez
* Joonee Gamboa as Harrison Co Cheng / Angkong
* Benzon Dalina as Turko
* Julio Diaz as PMGEN Augustus V. Pacheco
** Dominic Roco as young Augustus
* Gio Alvarez as Kaloy Benito

#### Guest cast
## Episodes

| Story arc | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Story arc | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 263 | 263 | February 13, 2023 (2023-2-13) | February 16, 2024 (2024-2-16) |
| 2 | 268 | 268 | February 19, 2024 (2024-2-19) | February 28, 2025 (2025-2-28) |
| 3 | TBA | TBA | March 3, 2025 (2025-3-3) | TBA |

## Production
### Development

After the success of the television adaptation of Ang Probinsyano, Batang Quiapo was pegged by various news outlets as Martin's likeliest next project and a possible new TV series. Rumors of the possible TV adaptation of Batang Quiapo began when the film's theme, Doon Lang, was performed by Martin in a "duet" with Fernando Poe Jr. as the clip of the scene from the film was being played; said scene originally featured Poe and Maricel Soriano singing in a duet. Martin had expressed interest in adapting more of FPJ's works for film and/or television, as he adapted another Poe classic Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday which was an entry into the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.
However, the adaptation became uncertain due to Ang Probinsyano's continued extension until its finale on August 12, 2022.

### Casting

On December 5, 2022, Martin is confirmed to star, direct, write, and to co-produce (the first in his showbiz career) in the Batang Quiapo remake alongside Poe's daughter, Lovi Poe and Charo Santos.
McCoy de Leon's role as David was originally meant to only appear in the pilot episode of the show but was extended numerous times due to the team being impressed with his performance.
On January 4, 2024, Lovi Poe left the show due to her marriage with her fiancée in England.
On January 23, 2024, Deborah Sun left the show due to an accident on the set and was immediately taken to the Hospital.
On March 2, 2024, Jaclyn Jose died, leaving her role as Jail Chief Supt./BGEN Dolores Espinas. Bart Guingona replaced Jose as the new Jail Chief Supt./BGEN Oscar Duran.
On February 10, 2025, Lito Lapid left the show due to contest in the 2025 midterm elections.

### Filming

Principal photography commenced on January 9, 2023, the same day of the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

## Broadcast

The series, along with other primetime programs were pre-empted on A2Z from November 8, 2023, to February 9, 2024, and took effect every Wednesday and Friday to give way to the 2023–24 PBA season. It continued to air on Cine Mo! (as Saturday Marathon), Kapamilya Channel and TV5.

### International

On March 1, 2025, Batang Quiapo will start airing internationally in 40 countries in Africa through StarTimes under the title, "Gangs of Manila".

## Soundtrack

The series' opening theme song, "Batang Quiapo" (alternatively titled as "Matira Matibay" (Only the Strong Survive), is sung by various Filipino rap artists—Smugglaz, Bassilyo, CrazyMix, Flict-G, Kial, MastaFeat, Jonas, and Pistolero—and a cover of Rico J. Puno's "Kapalaran" (Fate) is sung by Gary Valenciano. "Pangako" (Promise) was originally sung by Moira Dela Torre.

## Reception
### Ratings

According to Kantar Media, the pilot episode of the series debuted to a rating of 21.4%, and rose to 22.6% on February 15 (compared to its timeslot rival Maria Clara at Ibarra with 19.1% and 19.6%, respectively). Additionally, the series received an average national TV ratings of 25.2% from October 9 to 13, covering urban and rural homes (ahead its timeslot rival Maging Sino Ka Man).
Batang Quiapo ruled its timeslot for five consecutive months. Despite limited reach on free-to-air, AGB Nielsen Philippines reported that the pilot week of the series gave a positive feedback on the viewers with 12.5% pilot episode rating on February 13, 2023, placing it in the 3rd spot of the rating board and 13.8% rating on February 15, placing on the 2nd spot of the rating board (compared to Maria Clara at Ibarra's 12.5%). As per AGB Nielsen, the series registered its highest rating of 16.9% on October 13, 2023, placing at the top spot of the rating board.

### Online viewership

Batang Quiapo was a success upon its debut. The pilot week has generated over 44 million digital views across all online platforms and peaked with 341,509 live concurrent viewers on YouTube. The official tag also became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter nationwide. On February 21, 2025, the series reached an all-time high of 1,004,554 live concurrent viewers on YouTube.

### Muslim stereotype controversy

A day after its debut, the series' creators apologized to the Muslim community due to a scene where Martin's character Tanggol sought the help of his Muslim friend Abdul–portrayed by Rez Cortez–as he was being pursued by the police. Tanggol took refuge in the company of armed Muslim men whom the police were hesitant to take action due to fear of retribution. A number of Muslim Filipinos took offense and criticised the portrayal as reinforcing negative stereotypes against them, with some calling for a boycott of the series. Movie and Television Review and Classification Board later released a statement on the controversy and asked for cultural sensitivity from production houses. Senator Robin Padilla–a prominent Filipino Muslim–also issued a statement regarding the episode, assuring people that Martin did not have any "ill intentions" and appealed to fellow Filipino Muslims for understanding and forgiveness.

### Parodies

A sketch in the children's comedy show Goin' Bulilit parodied the teleserye as "Baby Quiapo", where actor Renz Joshua "Baby Giant" Baña–who portrayed Oweng in the original series–portrays "Sanggol Dimagiba-giba", a parody of show's protagonist Tanggol Dimaguiba.

## Accolades

Accolades received by FPJ's Batang Quiapo :
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Box Office Entertainment Awards | 2024 | Popular TV Program-Primetime Drama | Batang Quiapo | Won |
| Platinum Stallion Media Awards | 2024 | Socially Relevant TV Series | Batang Quiapo | Won |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best Primetime Drama Series | Batang Quiapo | Pending |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best Drama Actor | Coco Martin | Pending |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best Drama Supporting Actor | Christopher de Leon | Pending |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best Drama Supporting Actor | Joel Lamangan | Pending |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best Drama Supporting Actor | John Estrada | Pending |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best Drama Supporting Actor | Elijah Canlas | Pending |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best Drama Supporting Actress | Cherry Pie Picache | Pending |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2025 | Best New Female TV Personality | Ara Davao | Pending |