Coco: I did not marry in Canada

DID HE or did he not?

A recent tabloid report alleged that Coco Martin married a nonshow biz girl in Canada, where the Kapamilya actor once worked as a janitor. The rumor was not entirely new, but it nonetheless piqued the interest of the entertainment press during the recent Yahoo! OMG Awards at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where Coco bagged the actor of the year award.

“Where did they get that [story]? ’Di naman ako umaalis [ng bansa],” said Coco, looking unperturbed.

“Not when you were back [in Canada]?” a reporter pressed. “Wala… never,” he replied.

The anticipated denial, however, didn’t happen without a bit of a hassle. A few moments after Coco received his trophy onstage, he proceeded backstage for the requisite con-

gratulatory chat with the event’s hosts.

Not about to go without videos and juicy sound bites for their talk programs, TV crews from the three major networks, together with a pack of jostling writers, hounded Coco, his staff and a group of bouncers who were trying to make their way out.

Arms outstretched and recorders and mics on hand, they all did their best to get as many quotes as possible from the actor. All the while, amid the chaos, lesser stars slipped out of the venue almost unnoticed.

One dropped microphone and not a few tangled wires after, Coco’s staff finally conceded, and gave the media a five-minute interview with their ward. Needless to say, the exchange that followed was nearly as harried as the chase prior—the questions vacillated between the 31-yearold actor’s alleged marriage and his supposed courtship of singeractress Angeline Quinto.

With his hectic schedule, Coco insisted, he simply has no time to find a girlfriend. “I’m in no rush. I’m still young. My family is my priority.”