Arzen Rose Dulzura

20 heavy-hitting cameos and star-studded appearances that made “Incognito” pilot week extra epic

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

When a series is as grand and well-crafted as &quot;<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/incognito" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Incognito</a>,&quot; which started airing last January 20 on Kapamilya channels, you just know every detail has been meticulously planned—including the casting. From its lead stars to the supporting roles, every character is brought to life by powerhouse talents. But what made its pilot week even more exciting was the unexpected appearances of some of the industry&#x27;s heaviest, seasoned stars. Even those in special participation or short cameo roles, the characters will make you take notice, thanks to the gravitas brought by some of the most distinguished names in the world of acting.The pilot episode was already star-studded, with Raymond Bagatsing portraying Yangdon Ambassador Jigme Rai, whose daughter, Takako Rai, was abducted during a festive evening, launching Team Incognito’s first major mission. Adding to the surprise, taking on the role of the ambassador’s daughter was Belle Mariano, who&#x27;s earned loud praises from netizens for her compelling performance.Another unexpected participation came from Aljur Abrenica, who showcased his action skills in just a short but intense sequence as the Rai family&#x27;s head of security. The first episode also introduced Antonio Aquitania and Eric Tai as members of the terrorist group responsible for Takako’s abduction.With the kidnapping threatening to escalate into a larger crisis in the country, the highest authorities had to act fast. This led to the introduction of Jestoni Alarcon as General Novilla, who sought the expertise of military tactician General Greg Tecson—better known as The Contractor—played by Ian Veneracion.Even with limited screen time, Andi Abaya made a strong impression as the girl rescued by Daniel Padilla&#x27;s Andres from a terrifying attack by a group of men inside the train. And just when we thought the scene couldn’t get any heavier, Alwyn Uytingco appeared as one of the aggressors.As we followed Andres back to his hometown in Sagada, we were met with yet another perfectly cast role—his grandmother, played by Malou de Guzman, whose dynamic with Daniel felt so natural, and whose tears were heartbreakingly beautiful in the raw, gut-wrenching moments.Speaking of emotional gut punches, Cris Villanueva stepped in as Andres’ farmer father, Pedro. True to form, Cris didn’t need long monologues or extended sequences to showcase his brilliance—his deeply moving scenes with Daniel and the lingering pain of his character’s death were enough to tear our hearts apart just a few episodes in.Just when we thought the pilot episode had already packed in a lot of surprises, Polo Ravales showed up as Emilio, the cousin of the person Andres allegedly killed.Then there was Nicco Manalo, who popped up as Tomas&#x27; (Anthony Jennings) neighbor, who was drowning in debt and desperate to talk his way out of it. Their confrontation was already entertaining, but the scene just got even better when showbiz luminary Noel Trinidad stepped in as Nicco’s grandpa, trying to break up the fight and plead on his grandson’s behalf.Bembol Roco had just the right mix of heart and toughness as the &#x27;ninong&#x27; of Anthony&#x27;s character. And their chemistry was so authentic, it felt like they weren’t even acting. Whoever put these two together knew exactly what they were doing.And of course, there’s no questioning the rapport between Richard Gutierrez’s character, JB, and his father—because playing his dad, Antonio, is none other than his real-life father, Eddie Gutierrez.Then there’s the Escalera group, who are bringing their own brand of villainy to the series. Art Acuña leads the pack as Timor Escalera, the ruthless leader of the terrorist group that abducted Takako in exchange for the release of their imprisoned comrades. Joining him are a powerhouse lineup of actors: Elijah Canlas as Donato Escalera, Jane de Leon as Sylvia Escalera, Dino Imperial as Francis Escalera, Ryan Eigenmann as Eugene Escalera, and Agot Isidro as Isabel Escalera.Join the seven-member elite team—Greg, JB, Andres, Miguel (Baron Geisler), Max (Kaila Estrada), Tomas, and Gab (Maris Racal)—as they take on high-risk missions in &quot;<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/incognito" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Incognito</a>,&quot; weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z!

"Incognito" took its pilot week to a whole new level with unforgettable cameos and powerhouse guest appearances.

"Incognito" took its pilot week to a whole new level with unforgettable cameos and powerhouse guest appearances.