MANILA, Philippines – Will actor Coco Martin be the face of the Philippine-made Next Generation Toyota Tamaraw?
Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP) teased the Next Gen Toyota Tamaraw endorser on its social media pages on Saturday, November 30, asking, “Which hero will be with us in the Next Generation Toyota Tamaraw launch?”
TMP’s new Toyota Tamaraw is scheduled for a “grand launch” this week on December 6, Friday, in 8 malls nationwide. It is made in TMP’s factory in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, south of the Philippine capital.
Martin (real name Rodel Nacianceno), popularly known as “Tanggol” in the on-going hit ABS-CBN teleserye FPJ’s Batang Quiapo and as “Cardo” in the defunct FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, is the popular guess of netizens.
“No need na kung sino ‘yan. Sa mukha pa lang, alam na kung sino (No need to guess who that is. Just look at the face, you know already who it is),” said netizen Karlo RJ Darjeeling on TMP’s Facebook teaser post.
Other serious guesses were actors Sam Milby and Daniel Padilla, and TV host Willie Revillame. A number of netizens who made light of the question said it was Vice Ganda, Alden Richards, Cocolisap (a coconut pest), Coco (sic) Pimentel (referring to incumbent Senator Koko Pimentel). Others suggested it should be PBA star June Mar Fajardo, center of San Miguel Beer basketball team, or Gilas Pilipinas player Kai Sotto.
Martin would be a good pick as endorser of the locally made Next Gen Toyota Tamaraw, since he is known for being tough, a trait that the iconic Philippine automotive brand is known for.
Martin is also a car enthusiast in real life. He is reported to be a proud owner of a couple of classic Toyota Land Cruisers as well as a Toyota FJ Cruiser. Motoring sites have also reported that he owns a Brabus Mercedes G63 and a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
On a recent episode of Batang Quiapo, “Tanggol” drove a metallic blue Ferrari sports car.
Ten years ago, in an interview in 2014 on Kris TV, among the vehicles he owned which he showed to actress-host Kris Aquino were a black BMW, a red MINI Cooper, a Dodge Challenger, and a red Ducati motor bike.
“Coco Martin has a good taste in cars,” wrote motoring website Top Gear Philippines in 2018.
Martin is a much-sought-after commercial endorser. His major endorsements are for the country’s number one beer San Miguel, top pharmaceutical firm United Laboratories’ generic brand RiteMed, Jollibee Foods Corporation’s grilled chicken fast-food restaurant Mang Inasal, and Honda motor bikes, among others.
TMP showcased the Next Gen Toyota Tamaraw to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last October 25 in Malacañang. It invested P5.5 billion to be able to produce the beloved Philippine automotive brand in the Philippines. Its two other locally produced cars are the Toyota Vios and the Toyota Innova. – Rappler.com
