KOKOY DE SANTOS feels fortunate to be part of Viva’s horror movie that is now showing in cinemas nationwide, “Mary Cherry Chua”.
He plays Paco, the classmate of Ashley Diaz, who plays the lead role of Karen in the movie, which is written and directed by Roni Benaid.
“Si Ashley is a very brave girl in the story,” says Kokoy.
“Siya ang magi-investigate kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari kay Mary Cherry Chua na nagmumulto sa school namin dahil ni-rape siya at pinatay years ago sa loob mismo ng campus.
"Ako yung partner niya sa paggawa ng term paper, si Paco, na tumutulong sa kanya sa investigation niya.
"But unlike her, matatakutin po ako rito. May pagka-duwakang yung character ko.”
Kokoy is really one of the busiest young actors today in local showbiz.
Aside from “Mary Cherry Chua”, he has finished another new movie for Viva, “Death by Desire”, directed by Prime Cruz. It’s a sexy flick and he gets to co-star with Iana Bernardez, Elora Espano and Denise Esteban.
Not too many people know that Kokoy started acting as a child star.
Now 25 years old, he first appeared in the Chito Rono movie, “Emir”, in 2011 using his real name Ronald de Santos. That year, he also did the series “Futbolilits” on GMA-7.
Other films he did as a child actor are “Kimmy Dora”, “Tumbang Preso” and “Kid Kulafu”. His big break came when he did “Gameboys”, a boys love BL series that he did with Elijah Canlas.
It was a big hit on line and was later shown via streaming. It was also a hit in other countries. It even had a film version, “Gameboys The Movie”.
Because of his exposure in “Gameboys”, GMA Network got him and he has since been doing various projects for them. He became a part of the hit game show shot in Korea, “Running Man”, and the sitcom “Pepito Manaloto”.
Now, he is in the cast of the revamped “Bubble Gang” and also became a part of the hit shows “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko”, “The Write One” and “Voltes V Legacy”.
He has done several episodes for “Magpakailanman” where he played the lead role, like “The Blind Runner”, “A Son’s Promise”, his own life story, and this coming Saturday, “Male Rape Victim”, where he plays a young man who got raped by other men.
Kokoy is currently being linked with another Kapuso talent, Angel Guardian, with whom he was paired in “Running Man” and “Pepito Manaloto”. So what is the real score between them?
“We are very good friends,” he says.
“Naging close kami lalo when were doing ‘Running Man’ on location in Korea. Kapag walang work, kung minsan, lumalabas kami, with Buboy Villar na friend din namin.
"But right now, we’re both very busy, so sa career muna ang focus namin.”
How is it working with Ashley Diaz, the daughter of Joko Diaz in “Mary Cherry Chua”?
“She’s very talented, siguro because it’s in her blood kasi magaling namang aktor si Tito Joko,” he says.
“At lalo rito, talagang ginalingan niya kasi first starring role niya rito as Karen, the lead character.
"Sa mahihilig sa horror films, we promise to give you a good scare, at kung hindi kayo manonood nito, humanda kayo kasi kayo ang dadalawin ni Mary Cherry Chua sa mga bahay ninyo mamayang gabi.”
