'INCOGNITO' TAKES ITS FINAL MISSION TO MARAWI

AS "INCOGNITO" NEARS ITS LAST EPISODES, the ABS-CBN action-packed primetime series chose Marawi City as the filming site for its finale.

- By Nathalie Tomada

In an interview with The Philippine STAR, director and executive producer Lester Pimentel Ong revealed the experience of shooting in the once war-torn area in Mindanao.

The final mission of the covert group The Kontraks, played by an ensemble cast—Richard Gutierrez, Baron Geisler, Maris Racal, Anthony Jennings, Kaila Estrada, Ian Veneracion and Daniel Padilla, unfolds against the backdrop of a place once associated with conflict—but now, with hope and healing.

It's worth noting that the shoot took place eight years after the Marawi Siege in May 2017.

"Marawi is the best location to fit the story," said direk Lester. "It was a narrative requirement."

The director noted that while "Incognito" uses fictional names for its story locations, filming in real places like Japan, Italy, Palawan, Benguet, Tacloban and Marawi added authenticity.

According to Ong, the decision to shoot in Marawi wasn't just for storytelling. They had another purpose—to help break certain perceptions about safety in the area.

"We wanted to help rebuild Marawi by boosting its image to the whole Philippines and even the world—that Marawi is a safe place."

It was also their way of giving back to the community.