Paps’ faith in Gabo never wavers as seen in these 10 scenes from “Coco Martin’s Sigabo”

There may be people around Gabo (Coco Martin) who doubt his capabilities and belittle him, including his stepmother, Betchay (Irma Adlawan), in “Coco Martin’s Sigabo,” yet there are still far more people who believe in him and have faith in his abilities.  

Aside from his family, friends, neighbors, and “wife,” Gloria (Julia Montes), there’s another person who firmly believes that Gabo has what it takes to carry out the missions entrusted to him: Papang, or simply “Paps,” the leader of the secret vigilante group Anino, portrayed by veteran character actor Joonee Gamboa. 

As Gabo takes on his first-ever mission as an official undercover agent of Anino, let’s look back at 10 scenes that showcase Paps’ unwavering trust in him in this edition of Kapamilya Toplist. 

When Paps was first introduced as “Tatang,” an elderly fellow inmate of Gabo, in the pilot episode of “Sigabo,” viewers might have initially thought he was just an ordinary character. Many were probably shocked when it was later revealed that he wasn’t just an ordinary person since he’s actually the commander of Anino, a covert organization that carries out deadly missions against criminals and syndicates that the government cannot directly address. 

Understandably, Gabo was enraged upon discovering that Paps had orchestrated everything he went through inside the national correctional facility, from getting involved in brawls to being tortured by the jail officers. These ordeals were Paps’ way of testing Gabo’s capabilities and determining whether he was fit to join Anino and take on the dangerous missions that would be entrusted to him. Paps and his group had also arranged Gabo’s release, leaving him with little choice but to work for them and accept every task they would give him, regardless of how dangerous they can be in exchange for substantial rewards. 

Although Gabo once came close to succumbing to the temptation of keeping the gold he had recovered during his mission against Mr. Chan (Mike Castillo) since he was in dire need of money for his father’s medical expenses, but that didn’t diminish Paps’ faith in him. For Paps, a person’s convictions and principles are truly tested when faced with temptation—and he continues to believe that Gabo has what it takes to do the job. 

As two of his subordinates—Lawin (Jojit Lorenzo) and Uwak (Paolo Rodriguez)—remained unconvinced that Gabo deserved a place in their group, Paps explained why he believed the former convict was qualified for the job.  

“Integridad, talino, abilidad, at pusong tumitibok para sa kapwa—’yon ang [mga] magiging susi para mapagtagumpayan ni Gabo ang mga susunod niyang misyon. Siya ang magsisimula ng pagbabagong matagal na nating inaasahan. Si Gabo ang apoy na magliliyab para sa kaligtasan ng masa,” he declared. 

Paps also vouched for Gabo during his conversation with Secretary Carlotta Vergara (Janice de Belen), urging her not to judge him solely in his past as an ex-convict. Despite his criminal record, Paps believed that Gabo possessed the qualities of an effective undercover agent—qualities that the previous candidates they had recruited lacked. Although he failed to convince Sec. Vergara at the time, Paps remained confident that Gabo would succeed in his mission and prove himself worthy of being presented to the president of the country. 

As Gabo finally accepted his inaugural mission, Paps warned him that he would come face-to-face with dangerous individuals who posed a threat to society. He also reminded Gabo not to be afraid or hesitate to kill when necessary, as the government had authorized him to do so. Paps further strengthen Gabo’s resolve by telling him, “Ikaw ang dulo ng sibat. Ikaw ang talim ng espada. Ikaw ang kamao ng Anino.” 

In another conversation with Sec. Vergara, Paps once again expressed his admiration for Gabo, emphasizing that his strength was not the only quality that made him exceptional. He also recognized Gabo’s unwavering principles, explaining, “Hindi lang lakas ang nakita ko sa kanya, may prinsipyo siya. Kahit na ilang beses siyang ibagsak, hindi niya nakakalimutan kung sino siya at kung para kanino siya lumalaban.” 

Paps further assured Sec. Vergara that Gabo had long been preparing for this opportunity and that the time had finally come for him to put his training to the test. 

In a world where people are quick to doubt our abilities and question our worth, Gabo is fortunate to have someone like Paps who sees his potential and believes he can make a difference. Sometimes, all it takes is one person who recognizes what we are capable of, even when others fail to see it, to give us the courage to persevere and prove what we can become. 

Is Paps right to place his full trust in Gabo? Find out in the upcoming episodes of “Coco Martin’s Sigabo,” airing weeknights at 8:00 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, TV5, and A2Z. You can also catch the episodes via Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) or stream them anytime on iWant!