The final battle of Tanggol in the Manila war zone marked a major turning point when he was officially declared the Mayor of Manila. Under his leadership, Tanggol will end years of corruption and restore peace and order in the city. And this is the time when Tanggol, played by the Primetime King Coco Martin, survives in a deadly clash in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, which aired its finale episode yesterday, March 13, 2026.
And just after three years and a month since it premiered on ABS-CBN Primetime Block, the most-watched primetime drama had come to an end, with Coco and the entire team of the show came together for a finale watch party to mark the end for an action-packed drama filled with impactful character journeys since it aired on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, ALLTV2, and Kapamilya Online Live, including TV5, which also aired the primetime drama until January 1, 2026 (following the decision of the said channel not to renew the content agreement with ABS-CBN).
“Sobra akong proud sa Batang Quiapo. Thank you sa lahat ng mga Pilipino. Binuhos namin lahat ng lakas at pagmamahal at binigay namin ‘yung best namin para sa show na ito kasi ‘yun ang deserve ng lahat ng mga manonood,” Coco Martin said in an on-air interview on TV Patrol during the watch party.
The finale episode of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo drew online reach via the Kapamilya Online Live, which peaked at 748,001 concurrent viewers on YouTube, and even then, it was talked about by netizens online following an explosive action scenes and dramatic confrontations from start to finish as he, Tanggol, emerged victorious in his epic grand battle against his mortal enemy from the very beginning, Rigor (John Estrada).
It also aired 96 TV Ads on Kapamilya Channel, 69 on A2Z, and 70 on ALLTV2, according to data from the DRPS PHCA TV Ad Listings for March 13, 2026, during the counting of all of the TV Commercials aired on every three commercial gaps of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, against Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre, which aired 30 TV Ads on GMA, while Carlo J. Caparas’ Totoy Bato only aired 56, on TV5.
The primetime series had a significant impact on the lives of millions of Filipinos who regularly watched it across multiple broadcast and online platforms as they followed Tanggol’s inspiring journey from a street-smart friend to a modern-day hero.
The series consistently flooded social media platforms with its trending scenes and iconic lines. It has also shattered its online viewership record multiple times, reaching an all-time high of over one million concurrent viewers on YouTube on February 21, 2025. Beyond its action-packed encounters, the series explored themes of family love, redemption, and justice that resonated with viewers.
For those who have missed the finale episode or want to catch up on the past episodes, they can watch it via the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube Channel, as all of the first-year episodes of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, which aired in 2023, are now available for streaming. They can also watch all episodes from seasons 1, 2, and 3 directly via iWant.
Additionally, fans of Coco Martin and Julia Montes, who topbill the upcoming Kapamilya primetime series, Sigabo, are set to premiere on several ABS-CBN platforms on a later date, instead of the original March 16, 2026. This postponement of the premiere would allow more time for preparations, making it an exciting offering that delivers a new viewing experience. Following the finale of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, it will be replaced with The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan, starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, taking over the 20:00 timeslot.
Rejoicing in all-out support for PBB Gen 11
JMFyang-topbilled Almost Us teaser, released, 7th VPCA Voting, extended until March 17, 2026
Just less than two months ahead of the release of the upcoming romantic movie offering (on May 6, 2026), Regal Entertainment and Project 8 Projects recently released a 90-second teaser video for Almost Us, topbilled by the ex-housemates of Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11, JM Ibarra, and Fyang Smith. Why do we sometimes reach for the distant when the one who loves us most is right here? That was what Regal Entertainment stated in the film teaser’s description.
Dan Villegas directed the upcoming romantic comedy film, which will also feature Yuki Takahashi, Sam Samarita, JM Salvado, Baus Rufo, Che Ramos, and Lotlot Bustamante, in addition to JM and Fyang. Dan is known as the storyteller of Pinoy Romance, and he is the director behind English Only, Please, Walang Forever, and The Breakup Playlist.
About three hours after the release of the film teaser, it accumulated over 3 million views across all of the social media platforms of Regal Entertainment and Project 8, with a shorter version of the teaser film was broadcast during the commercial breaks of Batang Quiapo and Roja, based on the viewings led by the DRPS PHCA during the counting of the ad loads of these shows for TV Ad Listings. The 90-second teaser video for the film was also aired on TV Patrol on Kapamilya Channel, but not shown on A2Z and ALLTV2.
The teaser of the film also sparked trends online, especially on X/Twitter, where the tagline “JMFYANG AUda OVERLOAD” and the hashtag “#AlmostUsOfficialTeaser” are among the trending topics on social media platforms in the Philippines as of March 11, 2026, at 23:00 (Philippine Standard Time). Almost Us is set to premiere in Philippine Cinemas beginning May 6, 2026.
Furthermore, some of the fan accounts of several Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 ex-housemates nominated in the 7th VPCA, including Rain Celmar, Kolette Madelo, and Kai Montinola, had collaborated with some of the artists who were also nominated here, whether they are housemates of Pinoy Big Brother, within, before, and after Gen 11, or not.
According to several social media posts published on TEAM RAIN VOTE OFC (Rain Celmar), Team Kaisha (Kai Montinola), and Team Kolette Official (Kolette Madelo), they had collaborated with some of the artists and PBB housemates nominated in the 7th VP Choice Awards.
Team Rain Celmar has collaborations with PBB Gen 11 alums and Almost Us stars JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith for Fandom of the Year. Apart from that award, JMFyang also received additional nominations for the 7th VPCA, including Love Team of the Year (JMFyang), New Male TV Personality (JM Ibarra), Breakthrough Star of the Year (Fyang Smith), Breakthrough Movie Star of the Year (JM Ibarra), and Digital Series of the Year (Ghosting).
Aside from JMFyang, Team Rain Celmar had also collaborated with Team Heath Jornales (Promising Male Star of the Year), Team Will Ashley (Movie Actor of the Year), Team Brent Manalo (Fashion Influencer of the Year), Team Mika Salamanca (New Female TV Personality), and Team Bianca de Vera (Promising Male Star of the Year, Breakthrough Movie Star of the Year), all of whom are former housemates of Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Editions 1.0 and 2.0, as well as AshDres (Ashtine Olviga and Andres Muhlach) and BINI. Rain Celmar was nominated in the Solo Performer of the Year (for Meteor RAIN!) and OPM Song of the Year (for Pahuway) categories.
Team Kai Montinola collaborated with Team BreKa (Music Video of the Year for What If Tayo?), Team DusBi (Love Team and Fandom of the Year), and Team Ashley Sarmiento (TV Supporting Actress of the Year for Akusada) for the 7th VPCA voting. Kai Montinola was nominated in the Solo Performer of the Year (for Kai’s The Limit) and New Female TV Personality categories.
Team Kolette Madelo, however, also collaborated with the same nominee for the TV Supporting Actress of the 7th VPCA as Team Kai Montinola’s, for the Fashion Influencer of the Year as Team Rain Celmar’s, but including Team Shuvee Etrata for Breakthrough Social Media Star of the Year, and Team Rave Victoria for the Male TikTok Face of the Year.
Thousands of fans of these PBB alums, including those from Gen 11, expressed their support through voting on the VP Choice Awards mobile app and online portal, as well as on the official Facebook pages of VPCA, Village Pipol Magazine, and PiPOL mgZn. The 7th VP Choice Awards Gala Night and Awarding Ceremony will take place on April 29, 2026.
In light of the final days of the voting period, the VPCA has recently announced that the voting lines have been extended for three more days, until March 17, 2026, allowing voting for these nominated PBB Gen 11 favorites above, including Jarren Garcia, who has been nominated as the Fashion Influencer of the Year.
Additionally, the extended voting period will feature a 30% vote boost promo on the app and online portal, as well as 5 times more votes per share (1 share = 5 votes) and 2 times more votes per Facebook Star sent through Facebook Reels (1 Facebook Star = 10 votes), but retaining the 1 Care react for one vote increment. A portion of the Facebook Star proceeds will be donated to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to promote animal welfare and combat cruelty. Choicely powers the VPCA App and Online Portal.
Village Pipol Magazine, PiPOL mgZn, and RED Entertainment organize the VP Choice Awards.
Entertainment on TV and in cinemas
The Secrets of Hotel 88, no. 1 on iWant, A Special Memory, now showing across 240 cinemas
The latest Kapuso-Kapamilya Primetime Offering on GMA, which viewers continue to tune in for its gripping twists, high-stakes drama, and the strong appeal of its young cast, premiered with success, not only on-air but also online, as The Secrets of Hotel 88 made its debut in the most-watched series list on iWant, and achieved a combined TV Rating of 4.2% on GMA and GTV (Nielsen Philippines NUTAM for March 2, 2026, based on a preliminary, overnight data).
When the series debuted on iWant, it generated social media trends that sparked speculation about its secrets. The hook-to-the-audience series blends mystery, romance, and family drama, delivering a unique viewing experience.
The series opens with Federico (Gardo) and Michael (Dominic) murdering Sandro (Christian Vasquez) in self-defense, a dark secret they’ve kept for decades. Years later, their families remain closely linked as the Fernandez brothers—Kiko (Will), Gio (Brent), and Martin (Ralph)—grow up spending summers at Hotel 88 alongside the Almazan siblings—Luna (Mika Salamanca), Jade (Bianca), Leon (River), and Justin (Josh).
Tensions erupt when Michael discovers that his wife, Frida (Ina), is having an affair with Federico. Decades later, just as Federico and Michael appear to reconcile, both men are murdered in broad daylight by an unknown killer, igniting the mystery of the entire story.
The Secrets of Hotel 88 is a production of Star Creatives, an ABS-CBN-owned production company behind Incognito, The Iron Heart, Can’t Buy Me Love, A Family Affair, and many other series. The series stars most of the ex-housemates of the highly anticipated Celebrity Collab Edition of Pinoy Big Brother that collaborated with GMA, ABS-CBN, Sparkle Artist Center, and Star Magic, which includes Mika Salamanca, Brent Manalo, AZ Martinez, Ralph De Leon, River Joseph, Klarisse De Guzman, Esnyr Ranollo, Xyriel Manabat, Josh Ford, Kira Balinger, Dustin Yu, Bianca De Vera, and Will Ashley.
The Secrets of Hotel 88 is streaming seven days in advance exclusively for subscribers, via iWant. They can also catch up on all of the episodes after the series airs on the same streaming platform, free of charge. It is also available for viewing on GMA at 21:35, with an encore telecast on GTV at 23:25, and on Kapamilya Online Live at 22:15 from Monday to Friday, as well as replays at 6:45 from Tuesday to Saturday.
Furthermore, on March 11, 2026, Viva Films, the movie production entity of Viva Entertainment, released a new romantic film titled A Special Memory, topbilled by Bela Padilla (Sandra) and Carlo Aquino (Dindo), which made a comeback to Philippine cinema, to over two hundred (240) cinemas across the entire Philippine archipelago, as of March 13, 2026. Dubbed the most memorable Filipino film of 2026, Jerry Lopez Sineneng directed the film, while Ricky Lee wrote the screenplay.
On the opening day of the film, all tickets sold out at most cinemas in Robinsons Movieworld and Ayala Malls Trinoma. Because of the fans of Bela and Carlo, including moviegoers of the film, gained positive reactions on social media, as Viva Films had reposted some of the posts from the film viewers, and as part of the premiere of the said movie, they can watch it at an affordable price of as low as PHP 99 compared to all other films showing out there, according to their promotional post.
Moviegoers at SM Cinema can watch the film for a very affordable price of PHP 199 in Mega Manila (Angono, East Ortigas, Mall of Asia, Manila, Masinag, Megamall, Novaliches, North EDSA, Sangandaan, and Sta. Mesa) and PHP 180 elsewhere (Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Daet, Dasmariñas, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Laoag, Molino, Naga, Olongapo Central, Pampanga, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, and Tuguegarao). The special offer will take place on March 16 and 17, 2026.
Robinsons Movieworld is also offering a special rate with a 45% discount at participating Robinsons Malls, ranging from PHP 99 (in General Santos) to PHP 176 (in La Union).
Additionally, tickets for the film are priced at PHP 150 at select Ayala Malls Cinemas, including Circuit, Feliz, Legazpi, Harbor Point, Marquee Mall, Market Market, and Trinoma, as well as selected Megaworld Cinemas in Clark Cityfront and Festive Walk. It is also priced at PHP 170 in Eastwood Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Southwoods, Uptown Mall, and Venice Complex.
Viva Films is encouraging moviegoers to secure their seats online as soon as possible to avoid long lines and possible ticketing issues.
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© 2026 DRPS Philippine Commercial Archives (DRPS PHCA). All Rights Reserved. PHCA CID: PHCA-2026H1-4169/March 14, 2026.
