After captivating viewers with her portrayal of Lena, one of the most polarizing kontrabidas in primetime TV, Mercedes Cabral’s character exited FPJ’s Batang Quiapo in a dramatic turn of events last Friday (December 6).
Mercedes expressed her deep gratitude to lead actor and series director Coco Martin for trusting her with such a significant role, as well as to the audience for their strong engagement with the story.
“I’m thankful to Coco because, without Lena, I wouldn’t have gained this level of recognition on mainstream TV. To the viewers, thank you. Even though I know many of you disliked Lena, the positive comments I’ve received truly touch me as an actress,” Mercedes shared in a video posted by CCM Film Productions.
Lena’s shocking demise left viewers in awe. Her tragic journey came to a grim end when she was fatally shot by Rigor (John Estrada) to protect Marites (Cherry Pie Picache) from being attacked. Consumed by rage and despair over her separation from Rigor and the death of their child, Lena had spiraled into madness before meeting her end.
Mercedes also shared how much she will miss working with her co-stars, especially Cherry Pie and Direk Joel Lamangan, whose camaraderie on and off set came as a pleasant surprise.
The character of Lena became a cultural phenomenon, sparking countless memes and viral videos online. Despite being despised for her role as Rigor’s arrogant mistress, Mercedes earned widespread praise for her compelling performance. Iconic lines such as “Gusto ko ng liempo” and the melodramatic delivery of “Righoouur” became instant hits among fans, who fondly nicknamed Lena the “pambansang jumper.”
Catch the intense action and drama of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, based on Regal Films’ original story, weeknights at 8 PM on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live via ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Episodes are available on-demand for up to 21 days after their original airing on YouTube. Viewers with digital TV boxes like TVplus can rescan their devices to tune in via TV5 and A2Z. The show is also accessible to audiences abroad via iWantTFC and The Filipino Channel (TFC).
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