Nikki Co is thankful for the brotherhood he has formed with David Licauco, Dustin Yu, and Rob Gomez

Sparkle artist Nikki Co is proud of his friend and co-actor, David Licauco, for the success he has attained in his career.

Nikki and David formed a friendship when they played brothers in the 2022 prime-time series “Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune,” together with their two other brothers in the show, Dustin Yu and Rob Gomez.

But even before showbiz, Nikki says David was already popular back when they were in high school, as their respective school’s basketball teams were rivals in varsity games.

In an interview with FreebieMNL during the recent press conference of “Walang Matigas Na Pulis Sa Matinik Na Misis,” Nikki mentions how happy he is for his friend, having known his struggles in the past when it comes to his career.

He says, “Super proud ako kay David kasi [before], he wants to stop na rin to focus sa business niya, e.

“Lahat naman ng mga downside and good side, napagkukwentuhan namin, so, yun yung one of his dilemmas, business na lang siya kasi yun talaga yung passion niya dati pa.

“So, very proud ako sa kanya. Sinabi ko sa kanya, china-chat ko siya na, ‘Proud ako sa ‘yo, para sa ‘yo talaga yan.”

He is also confident that David won’t change and remain humble despite being one of GMA-7’s hottest stars today.

Nikki does not mention a specific instance but can attest to how kind and helpful David is, especially as a friend.

He explains, “Tingin ko naman, hindi magbabago si David, kasi ever since sikat na yan, e. High school pa lang kami, magkalaban kasi kami sa high school ng basketball varsity. Very small community.

“Tapos si Dustin naman, schoolmate ko noong high school. Si David, from modelling to Mr. Chinatown to pagiging artista, ngayon, ‘Pambansang Ginoo’ na, hindi naman siya nagbago. So, sana, mag-stay ka lang ng ganyan. Keep yourself na humble ka lang palagi.

“Pero matulungin yan si David, hindi siya madamot sa finances, sa lahat. So, yun, tama kayo ng ina-idol.”

READ ALSO: What’s Next For David Licauco After “Maria Clara At Ibarra?”

Friendship with “Mano Po” brothers

Nikki is also thankful for the lifelong friendship that he has built with David, Dustin, and Rob. In his words, their relationship is “naging parang totoong magkakapatid.”

He expounds, “Kasi apart from yung kulitan, mga asaran sa social media with David and Dustin and si Rob, yung mga hindi niyo nakikita sa social media or on-cam, tulungan kami sa personal na problems, sa buhay.

“One chat away lang kami, bilis mag-reply. Lalo na si David at saka si Dustin, mabilis mag-respond if you need help in whatever. Ganun din naman ako sa kanila.

“Medyo matagal na kasi kaming hindi nagsasama ng kumpleto kami, so, minsan tumatagal din, kinukumusta namin yung isa’t isa. Kasi kapag lalaki naman, hindi super chika, e.

“Nafi-feel mo na may love towards sa brotherhood na yun ‘pag chinat ka niya ng ‘Kumusta ka? Ano ginagawa mo ngayon?’

“Ganun lang kabilis tapos fresh na ulit. Saya magkaroon ng brothers kasi ang kapatid ko lang kasi is babae, isa lang, ate.”

How are they able to go beyond being just “taping friends?”

He answers, “I believe na same kami ng values, e, at saka mahilig kami sa sports, nagwo-work out lahat, into acting din kami, parang magkaka-vibe lang talaga kami.

“Importante doon is pinakikinggan niyo yung isa’t isa. Kunyari, a person is full of himself, hindi siya magwo-work, kaya okay kasi understanding kaming lahat.”

New show with GMA-7

When it comes to his career, Nikki is thankful to GMA-7 as the network continuously gives him new projects.

After his series, “Underage,” ended its run in April, he is now part of the weekly action-sitcom “Walang Matigas Na Pulis Sa Matinik Na Misis.” He plays the classmate of the character played by Kelvin Miranda.

He says about this, “Sa awa ng Diyos, tuluy-tuloy naman ang projects natin and siyempre, very grateful, very fulfilling na pinagkakatiwalaan tayo ng GMA. So, gusto ko mag-thank you sa kanila and siguro, nagwo-work din yung prayers kasi lagi ako nagpe-pray for work, for projects.”

He is also happy that this time, he won’t play a kontrabida compared to the last two shows that he did: “Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune” and “Underage.”

“Gusto ko rin yung the fact na binigyan nila ako ng malayo sa pagka-kontrabida. Yung role ko na si Dustin, makulit, kwela, over the top palagi. So, sana, magustuhan nila yung trabaho ko dito kasi apart from being a kontrabida, iba naman.

“Napanuod ko rin yung pelikula nito kasi mahilig ako sa mga throwback films, e. Nakikita ko na yung mga eksena, halos may nostalgic feeling kasi yung mga shots and yung mga ibang lines, narinig ko na noon.  

“Sana maka-try din ako ng action scenes, isa rin sa pangarap ko talaga. Pina-training din kami, so, baka gamitin here.”

“Walang Matigas Na Pulis Sa Matinik Na Misis” is headlined by Senator Bong Revilla, Beauty Gonzalez, Max Collins, Kate Valdez, and Kelvin Miranda.

READ ALSO: How Beauty Gonzalez, Kelvin Miranda Adjusted From Being Magka-Love Team To Mag-Ate In New GMA-7 Show

Being an effective kontrabida

But even if Nikki is happy he gets to try something new in this show, he is still thankful that his network is trusting him to play kontrabida roles.

He says, “Sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi nakikita mo na na-a-appreciate yung trabaho mo, e, nakikita mo na tama yung ginagawa mo.

“Pinaka-top sa list na tama and hindi ka nagfe-fail sa mahal mong gawin at saka sa pangarap mo. Hindi ko sinasabing magaling na talaga ako, siguro trinabaho ko lang talaga and tuluy-tuloy naman yung pag-aaral, e.

“Gusto ko lang mag-thank you sa mga nagturo sa akin, kay Miss Ana Feleo at saka sa mga handler ko, manager ko, sa mga bosses na pinu-push nila ako, naniniwala sila sa akin, they keep on giving me projects. So, very very happy and grateful.”

Nikki is also excited that his mother network is grooming him as a kontrabida.

“Sobrang mahal ko ang pagiging kontrabida. Siyempre, gusto ng lahat maging bida, gusto nila mas marami silang exposure, spotlight, and siyempre, yun gusto mo gawin, e. Kapag bida, mas maraming scenes.

“Pero kapag kontrabida kasi, nakakapaglaro ka sa craft mo, sa pag-arte mo, pwede mong lagyan ng twist at saka malaki ang responsibility mo kasi doon nagre-react yung bida. Doon na rin nagre-react yung audience sa story, so, sobrang responsibilidad talaga.

“So, kung doon man nila ako nakikita talaga, why not? Ang daming magagaling na veteran kontrabida ‘tapos nandito pa rin sila sa showbiz.

Nikki started his career as a finalist in “StarStruck VI” in 2015. His batchmates are Klea Pineda, Liezel Lopez, and Ivana Alawi. He also used to be a part of the Kapuso boy group One Up which was disbanded in 2019.

Banner Art Dani Sison

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