Team Lakay stars take talent to big screen

For more than a decade now, fans have known Team Lakay as a group of soft-spoken warriors who have carried the flag of the Philippines in the world of mixed martial arts. 

Now fans are bound to see a different side of them.

The warriors of the highlands are set for a new challenge, although it won’t come inside the ONE Championship Circle. It’s going to be in acting, as they are set 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.”

Seen 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.

The film is set to be submitted to various international film festivals. It will make its rounds through several famous streaming sites, which will make the film accessible to fans of the team in the 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.”

They join former ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera on the list of local ONE athletes who’ve taken on acting roles after Vera starred in a feature film in 2018 and in several local TV shows.