The secret behind ‘Incognito’s’ final blast — and why it had to be in Marawi

Lester Pimentel Ong (center) with the cast (from left) Anthony Jennings, Ian Veneracion, Richard Gutierrez, Kaila Estrada, Maris Racal and Daniel Padilla. They explored Marawi during their days off, “to boost its image, to show the Philippines and the world that the city is safe,” said Ong.

After directing 128 adrenaline-pumping episodes, director Lester Pimentel Ong is capping off “Incognito” with a bold statement — and a blast, quite literally — in the islamic city of Marawi.

For Ong, the decision was more than just a creative choice; it was a mission. “We’ve always used fictitious names for our locations,” Ong told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent interview. “But for the finale, Marawi made perfect sense for the story — and more importantly, it gave us the chance to help shift the narrative.”

By filming the action-thriller’s finale in the Lanao del Sur capital, Ong and his team wanted to show that Marawi has moved past its image of conflict. “This is our way of giving back — to boost its image, to show the Philippines and the world that Marawi is safe,” Ong explained. “If our entire production team — including A-list actors — can shoot there, then that says something.”

“Incognito” director Lester Pimentel Ong

Wrapped up just last week, the Marawi leg of “Incognito” was a logistical beast. Flying in through Cagayan de Oro, the team endured hours of land travel and costly air freight shipments. But in exchange, they were met with unwavering support from the local government and Task Force Marawi, which even provided 24-hour military security.

“The mood was festive,” Ong recalled. “We were so welcomed — locals would send us food. Even on days off, we explored tourist spots, visited Mindanao State University’s museum. The weather was like Baguio—cool and great for outdoor shooting.”

From El Nido to Matera (Italy), Baguio to Tacloban, “Incognito” has filmed in picturesque, often underrepresented parts of the country. Ong said that was no accident. “Tacloban and Marawi are similar—beautiful, organized cities that rarely get their moment in the spotlight. We wanted to change that.” The team shot scenes outside of Tokyo, too. 

But what’s a director without his cast? The second half of Ong’s story belongs to the actors who made “Incognito” more than just a shootout series – Ian Veneracion, Daniel Padilla, Baron Geissler, Anthony Jennings, Maris Racal and Kaila Estrada. Ong also shared never–before-published photos of the team in Marawi City.

Ong with long-time friend Ian Veneracion, whom he described as “the glue that held the cast together”

Ian Veneracion: The Tito and Tactical Leader

“Ian is not just an actor, he’s a martial artist. The two of us have long been friends. With the cast, we became real barakadas now. He’s the tito of everyone there — the glue that holds us together.”

Daniel Padilla: The Scene-Stealing Silent Supporter

Ong spoke glowingly of Daniel’s quiet strength and professionalism. “If it’s an intense scene for another actor, like Baron, Daniel will stay in the background and support them — even if he has no lines. He’ll sit in 42-degree heat just to be there. That says a lot.”

Richard Gutierrez: The Passionate Teammate

Coming off the series “Iron Heart,” Richard brought experience and humility to the ensemble. Ong recounted a moment when Richard and his brother Ramon Christopher helped their father, Eddie Gutierrez, down a steep set. “It was like watching their real-life bond play out onscreen.”

Baron Geisler: Redemption and Reliability

“Baron gave us no problems. Always on time, always prepared. He was the best version of himself on this shoot,” Ong declared. Even while filming separate arcs, Baron’s scenes in the Philippines were powerful enough to stand beside the show’s Japan-based sequences.

Ong and his team wanted to show that Marawi has moved past its image of conflict.

Maris Racal: The Linguistic Chameleon

“She’s not Ilonggo but I asked her to sprinkle Ilonggo into her scenes with Joel Torre (who plays her dad in the series). She practiced with him every night. She also picked up Japanese from our stuntmen in Japan. Maris is just gifted like that.”

Ong also praised her for a forest chase scene in a bikini: “It was tastefully done and she trusted the creative team. She’s fearless.”

Kaila Estrada: The Prim-and-Proper Powerhouse

“Kaila never missed training except once — and she was so apologetic about it,” Ong said. “She’s up at 3:30 a.m., luggage packed neatly, always disciplined. She’s a director’s dream.”

Anthony Jennings: The Fast-Witted Scene-Stealer

“He is an acting genius,” said Ong. “His ad-libs are really hilarious. I told him to go all out with his pang-aasar on camera, and didn’t even tell Daniel. You can see Daniel trying not to laugh. He has comedic timing—but he looks like a leading man.”

Shooting is done, said Ong.  Post-production is underway for the final 20 episodes, with the finale airing on July 18. But the “Incognito” team wasn’t ready to let go just yet, Ong revealed. In fact, Kaila stayed on set even after her shoot wrapped. Arriving in Manila from Marawi, Daniel lingered at the airport carousel, unwilling to head home. And on the final day, they all gathered for one last shot — and one big explosion of leftover gunpowder.

“We felt like high schoolers,” Ong said, laughing. “A year of living together, training together, telling stories together. No egos, just support. I’ll miss this set.” INQ

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