Daniel Padilla Leads Star-Studded Cast in ABS-CBN's Multi-Platform Series 'Incognito'

Daniel Padilla Leads Star-Studded Cast in ABS-CBN's Multi-Platform Series 'Incognito' | Daily Tribune

Though he is without a love team now and without a major TV show or movie project for some years now, actor Daniel Padilla remains a major personality in Pinoy entertainment. That is what his creator as a showbiz idol, leading media content creator ABS-CBN, practically takes pain to impress upon showbiz fans in the country with the forthcoming series Incognito.

In all the publicity yarn for the project, ABS-CBN explicitly or implicitly highlights the fact that Padilla is the series lead actor. He is the “incognito” and major actors Ian Veneracion, Richard Gutierrez, Baron Geisler and the currently beleaguered Anthony Jennings are supporting (satellites?) roles to the “incognito” character. The “incognito” shines and stands out (should one dare to mouth “eat your heart out, ex-girlfriend Kathryn Bernardo!”?)

And, oh, yes, there are two unignorable female actors in the lead cast: Kaila Estrada and Jenning’s ex-sweetheart on- and off-screen for now, Maris Racal.

As if to further prove its magnitude in the firmament of entertainment dazzlers, ABS-CBN has begun to publicize Incognito as a multi-platform show when it begins airing in January next year.

And to make sure Incognito penetrates public consciousness crowded with dazzling stars, the Incognito cast appears prominently in the ABS-CBN Christmas ID 2024 titled “Our Stories Shine This Christmas.” “Their presence offers a glimpse into their off-cam camaraderie — and let’s just say their chemistry is as sparkling as the holiday lights!” points out the publicity for the 2014 Christmas ID.

In behind-the-scenes clip, we see Padilla vibin’ with his co-stars Gutierrez and Veneracion in what feels like a fun and genuine display of friendship. And then there’s Geisler, known for his badass on-screen characters, but is all smiles during the Christmas ID shoot as he spreads Christmas cheer with his bros.

Racal and Jennings, aka MaThon, are, of course, the source of bubbly energy on set. This is MaThon’s second Christmas ID shoot together in the same frame, having also been featured last year with their Can’t Buy Me Love co-stars. Meanwhile, Estrada looks super invested as she listens intently to the stories shared by the scouts they’re filming with.

In the “Our Stories Shine This Christmas” music video, which beautifully honors the inspiring narratives of everyday Filipino heroes, the Incognito cast is seen sharing holiday warmth with members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. And together, they prepared heartfelt gifts for the Philippine Navy as a tribute to their bravery and service to the country.

But what roles do they portray in Incognito?

The publicity yarn says each character brings a unique skill set to the team, ensuring a dynamic interplay of abilities and personalities. Padilla leads the group as Andres Malvar, a resilient former scout ranger, while Gutierrez portrays Jose Bonifacio, an ex-Navy SEAL aiming to return to the military.

Kaila Estrada’s Max Alvero serves as the team’s top hacker and hand-to-hand combat expert, while Geisler’s Miguel Tecson combines his sniper skills with a troubled past. Racal’s Gabriela and Jennings’ Tomas round out the ensemble with their respective expertise in espionage and raw bravery.

“Every character has depth and a story that connects them to the audience. That’s what sets this series apart,” Veneracion practically brags.

“The focus on mental health and individual journeys makes Incognito a compelling story that resonates with viewers on multiple levels. This mix of action and personal redemption makes it a standout show,” Pimentel, the director adds

To ensure authenticity in their roles, the cast underwent rigorous training for four months, including martial arts, Muay Thai, tactical combat, and war games. The actors emphasized the physical and emotional preparation needed to portray their characters effectively.

“We had to master so much before day one — weapon handling, tactical moves, everything. It was challenging but worth it,” Racal said.

Veneracion highlighted the importance of team chemistry, saying, “During training, we learned room-clearing techniques and other tactical strategies, which really showed how well we worked together.”

They had a two-week stay in Italy, with non-stop filming on the agenda — “Bakbakan lang nang bakbakan, recalls Padilla.” If they got a break, it might just be a single day off.

Racal and Jennings were brought to Italy where it’s pressumed they really fell in love with each other for reall--though that’s water under the bridge now, so to speak, as they have just had a scandalous break-up due to the series of Instagram exposes of Jennings’ original girlfriend, the content creator Jamela Villanueva.

But before the really damning expose, both Racal and Jennings excitedly talked about what they did in romantic Italy as it was their first time there. They recalled being eager to finally put to use everything they’ve learned from months of intense training in the Philippines, which included martial arts and tactical drills. Maris even learned how to ride a motorcycle — something she never thought she’d get the chance to try in this lifetime. “Magaling na ako mag-motor!(I ride the motorcycle well),” she exclaimed. The duo also took acting workshops together as part of their preparation.

“Hindi siya basta-bastang action na suntukan o puro stunts lang. Iba talaga ‘yung concept ng series na ‘to kasi serious talaga ‘yung action. They even got professionals to train us (It isn’t all about fight scenes or just doing stunts. It is a different concept with a lot of action scenes),” shared Maris.

The plot and other details about Incognito are still tightly under wraps, but the first teaser shows the cast wielding rifles and wearing bulletproof vests, which has fans buzzing with anticipation. Daniel appreciates the enthusiastic support from his followers, which only heightens his own excitement for what’s ahead.

Fans can look forward to streaming Incognito on Netflix starting 17 January. It will also premiere on other Kapamilya platforms, including iWantTFC on 18 January, followed by its television debut on Kapamilya Channel, Jeepney TV, TV5 and A2Z on 20 January.

There are no talks, aa of this writing, that the scenes of Racal and Jennings will be removed or shortened. it would be the height of silliness to do that. It’s okay though if ABS-CBN will decide to exclude the ex-couple from promo appearances since their presence in those events might invite untoward reactions that could physically harm the ex-couple. We maintain that Racal’s and Jennings’ mistake was being vulnerable to each other. Even Villanueva might be harmed physically by mentally-imbalanced fans. It may serve Villanueva well to consult a psychologist. She needs it to restore her emotional balance.