Filipino boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will star in two upcoming biofilms, “Malvar” under the JMV Film Productions and Inspire Studios’ Hollywood movie “Freedom Fighters”.
“Malvar” tells the real-life story of Batangas revolutionary hero Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino general to submit to American soldiers during the Philippine-American war. The head producer of the film, Jose Malvar Villegas Jr., is a grandson of the national hero.
The “fighting senator” started filming on October 18 and is expected to finish all his scenes after 30 days while he continues to attend senate hearings and other commitments.
“Karangalan natin na bigyang halaga ang ginawa ni General Malvar noong unang panahon. Nakakalimutan na natin ‘yon. Dito, mare-refresh ang mind ng tao especially the new generation kasi hindi nila alam who is General Malvar,” Pacquiao shared in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Arnold Vegafria, the head of ALV Talent Circuit, said the JMV Film Productions and other partner organizations chose Manny Pacquiao for the role of General Malvar as he is a worldwide Filipino icon and deemed perfect for the movie which is set for international release next year.
“Manny did not volunteer for the job and he is not even spending a single centavo for this venture. Hindi siya mag-i-invest dito, talent lang talaga siya and he was asked to do the role,” said talent manager Arnold Vegafria in an interview with Spin.ph.
“Sasalang siya sa workshop saka hindi naman talaga Batangueno accent ang ipo- portray, tagalog lang. Saka parang magmumukhang modern yung approach,” Vegafria added.
The 8-division world boxing champion will be joined on the set by actor and now Manila Mayor Isko Moreno who will portray the role of Andres Bonifacio, father of the Philippine Revolution and the Katipunan who, like Moreno, hails from Tondo, Manila.
Veteran actor and former Laguna Governor E.R Ejercito will play the character of General Emilio Aguinaldo, the same role he essayed years ago in the award-winning movie “El Presidente”. John Arcilla will also reprise his role from the film “Heneral Luna“.
Other seasoned actors such as Dan Fernando, Raymond Bagatsing, and Joel Torre are being considered for key roles.
Asian Star Prize winner Alden Richards is being considered for the role of Dr. Jose Rizal, the same character he essayed in the GMA Network TV series “Ilustrado“.
Filipino “Sentimental Songstress” and jukebox queen Imelda Papin is the film’s line producer to be directed by award-winning writer-director Jose “Kaka” Balagtas.
Manny Pacquaio, the first celebrity to have a cryptocurrency in his name, will also star in “Freedom Fighters”, a Hollywood period movie about Filipino and American soldiers during World War II to be produced by Inspire Studios.
The Philippines-Hollywood movie is based on the memoirs of Louise Spencer, an American resident of Hopevale – a community of patriots in Panay Island during the Second World War.
In Freedom Fighters, Manny Pacquiao will portray Col. Macario Peralta Jr., a guerrilla who led the Filipino resistance in Panay Island during the Japanese occupation.
“Having the charismatic and beloved Sen. Manny Pacquiao join by playing Col. Peralta is an exciting step in putting together a cast of top-tier actors for this movie. Manny is a worldwide hero and admired by people from all over the world, so stepping into this role is a natural for him,” said Francis Lara Ho, the CEO of Inspire Studios.
Aside from being an actor in the movie, Manny Pacquiao will serve as its co-producer. The movie “Freedom Fighters” will begin filming in 2020.
“Freedom Fighters will be a global, Hollywood studio-level release. We are currently in discussions with leading Hollywood and Philippine studios, financiers and distributors, as well as A-List directors and actors to bring this amazing, inspirational story to the global audience,” Ho shared.
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