THERE’s something new brewing for die-hard fans of Team Lakay in the Philippines.
Though fans are used to seeing their mixed martial arts heroes taking center stage in the ONE Championship Circle, these athletes are breaking the mold and taking their martial arts skills outside of the ring and onto the big screen.
The team announced last Sunday that some of their athletes were tapped to play Cordilleran warriors in a true-to-life World War II film set in the highlands.
“Be Unrivaled Production and Sine Cordillera signed some Team Lakay athletes to star in a movie depicting World War II based on true-account scenes in the Cordillera,” the team said in a statement.
“One of the [objectives] of the movie is to showcase Cordillera talents, Cordillera history, and the region as a place to love – and the project is a product of passion for art and culture.”
Present in the initial shoot is current ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio; former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio; Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang; and newcomers Stephen “The Sniper” Loman and Jhanlo Sangiao.
Though the release date hasn’t been revealed, the film is expected to make rounds in the country, international film festivals, and several famous streaming sites in the near future.
“The versatility of the athletes is also to be commended. They can be actors or talents in the field of cinema. They will not be hearing the referee shout, ‘Fight!’ today, but a director saying, ‘Lights, camera, action!’” the statement continued.
“Team Lakay is also known for supporting movements that promote Cordilleran culture, talents, and art. Being one of the showcasing teams of the Cordilleran talents, Team Lakay drives the movement forward, and thus, being a part of this film is a must-see for both the fans of the athletes and the team.”
The team is not the first local ONE star to break onto the big screen, as former ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera has also dabbled in acting, being part of a major film in 2018 and several local TV shows in the Philippines.
