Arzen Rose Dulzura

The Kontraks’ silent battles in “Incognito” that reveal true strength and courage

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744770725477Thumb (35).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>&quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/incognito"><strong><u><em>Incognito&#x27;s</em></u></strong></a>&quot; action-packed visuals are meshed with gripping backstories with themes of good versus evil, and of hope and resilience. The narrative revolves around the high-stakes missions of the Kontraks, former military men and women now operating as members of a private army. </p><p>The Kontraks are badass and lethal on the battlefield. But behind their armor lie hearts that have been shattered, haunted, and hardened by pain. </p><p>In this Holy Week feature, we zoom in through the Kontraks&#x27; silent battles. Because even the fiercest warriors carry wounds no one sees, and not all of them were earned in combat. Sometimes, the fight within is the hardest mission. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Andres&#x27; search for his missing brother </strong></div><p>He moves like a true wolf, the kind of soldier who doesn&#x27;t flinch in the face of danger. But when the mission ends and the silence creeps in, so do the memories he can’t outrun. Maybe Andres (Daniel Padilla) often works alone, not because he doesn&#x27;t trust others, but because solitude has felt more familiar when his father, a farmer, was killed after years spent defending their land. But perhaps the hardest part is not what he&#x27;s lost, but what he&#x27;s still searching for—his younger brother, who is believed to have been taken by a human trafficking group. It’s this unfinished story that follows Andres wherever he goes.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTUYZlLpgS-CR-J"></script></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>JB&#x27;s burden with his sickness and his father&#x27;s legacy</strong></div><p>JB (Richard Gutierrez), a.k.a. Shark, was once the pride of his father, Antonio (Eddie Gutierrez), a retired army chief. But everything changed when he got involved in a mutiny against the president, leading to a dishonorable discharge from the military and a deep rift between him and his father. Adding to the hurt was the discovery that the man he had spent his life trying to make proud was tied to a crime syndicate, the ghosts of which continue to haunt him. JB is caught between the loyalty of a son and the moral code of a soldier.</p><p>Unknown to his teammates, JB also secretly battles a rare incurable illness, similar to the condition that his mother had until she died.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTtWRmka5Rm3w_D"></script></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Max&#x27;s grief over a dead love story</strong></div><p>Max (Kaila Estrada) has always been a force to be reckoned with as Team Incognito’s most valuable cyber asset. The gang&#x27;s &#x27;Eagle&#x27; never backs down from a mission. But while her nonchalant exterior makes her look tough, her eyes don&#x27;t lie about the flicker of pain lingering beneath, as she moves on from the memories of her ex-fiance, Sevi (Victor Silayan), who died from protecting her during a military operation.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABWvYGalIZxNQURh"></script></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Miguel&#x27;s fight for fatherhood </strong></div><p>Jaguars are predators built for survival. But even the fiercest hunter isn’t immune to wounds that cut deeper than any battlefield encounter. For Miguel (Baron Geisler), the &#x27;Jaguar&#x27; of Team Incognito, his hardest fight isn’t just in the crosshairs of his sniper scope, but it&#x27;s in the quiet agony he faces as a father kept from his son.</p><p>Miguel, or Migs, was introduced as a skilled doctor and former army sniper and EOD specialist, discharged from military service due to alcoholism. But as the story unfolded, we learned that beneath his hardened exterior is a man desperate for redemption. He underwent rehabilitation, not just for himself but for the chance to be a father to his son, Mickey (Lucas Andalio).</p><p>However, being with his son without barriers is still just a dream. And until that day comes, Miguel will fight for a second chance at being the father he longs to be.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABUt6XEj8PUxC9UN"></script></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Tomas&#x27; pursuit of his military ambitions </strong></div><p>Tomas (Anthony Jennings) may be the playful and funny guy in the group, yet has quite a dramatic backstory. He&#x27;s always dreamed of becoming a soldier, but was held back by the harsh realities of poverty. He eventually joined the military academy, where JB became one of his instructors, but his dream was derailed when he was accused of stealing by a classmate, who easily got away with it due to connections to a high-ranking officer. Before JB recruited him to join Team Incognito, Tomas worked for his godfather, the only family he’s ever known.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABT3ZkFXcpvBgfWt"></script></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Gab&#x27;s pain over her mom&#x27;s memory and dad&#x27;s betrayal</strong></div><p>Gab (Maris Racal) is the team&#x27;s ultimate chameleon. She can change her identity in a snap, making her the best bet for spying missions. But one thing she can&#x27;t hide is her grief as a daughter. For us viewers, it was surprising to learn that Gab&#x27;s father is well off, considering the times we&#x27;ve seen her struggle with money. It turns out that she decided she doesn&#x27;t want anything to do with her dad, who is involved in illegal activities, and disapproved of her joining the military to the point that he spread lies to get her discharged from service. Adding to the hurt, Gab is devastated by how easily her father moved on after her mother&#x27;s loss, for which she blames her dad and his mistress, and letting go of the property that held the last memory of her mom. This is why Gab is determined to earn enough money to buy back that property, which is the only tangible connection she has left to her mother.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABUM-fcktdlkjRL0"></script></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Greg&#x27;s hidden emotional scars </strong></div><p>Ian Veneracion’s character, Greg, or codename Noah, leads the highly specialized team of military contractors. He exudes this cool, Hollywood action-hero vibe, making us wonder if he&#x27;s also hiding a secret past. And in recent episodes, we got to see the emotional weight he still carries from the fate of a fallen comrade, Lion (Joko Diaz). It turns out even the &#x27;Kontraktor&#x27; has emotional scars he’s been carrying. Maybe the Kontraktor isn’t as unbothered as he seems on the surface—perhaps he has wounds he’s yet to reveal.</p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABWzE9ZQEvi9WIf5"></script></div><p>The Kontraks&#x27; stories remind us that everyone carries scars, and it’s through confronting these wounds that we find the courage to heal and move forward.</p>

<p>In this Holy Week feature, we dive deep into the Kontraks' emotional scars. </p>