Actions speak louder than words; more so do they tell countless stories with every measured blow in combo punches to knock an enemy down, a good landing from a balcony where goons run after you, or a smooth execution of a thrilling parkour to escape an opponent. And all these stunts have been at the core of the action-packed narration of Lester Pimentel Ong—a director, storyteller, and a fierce dynamo, who continues to merge the power of filmmaking and martial arts.

With 25 years of working in the film and entertainment industry, Direk Lester has served us with some of the remarkable, thrilling action series that made us hold our breaths every time its characters get into intense physical fights. Who could forget Bagani in 2018, which featured another side of Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano executing some jaw-dropping stunts? His works also include the riveting series One Good Day and The Iron Heart, both shown in 2022.

In the present, we continue to see the undeniable passion of Direk Lester as he takes us into a rollercoaster of emotions and leaves us in awe of the intense fight scenes from his latest action-packed series: Incognito. As he continues to deliver compelling stories through the engrossing movements of martial arts, Direk Lester Pimentel Ong also shares the narratives of his rise, the mission he takes on, and his head-on grapple with life’s challenges.

Rise of the fierce dynamo

Among the distinct characteristics of the projects that Direk Lester has delivered to his audiences is their pragmatic visuals and stunts that suck us, not only into the intense combat scenes but also to the sensible messages that each of the stories try to convey. Some might say that it takes just a vision of a director to execute such, but Direk Lester reveals an interesting side of himself that explains how his action projects just feel so real. “I am a martial artist—Wushu. I am a national team member for Wushu, representing the country in sports,” he shares, as he bridges his journey from being a young athlete to the action director that the industry recognizes today.

The competitions he has joined representing the country have allowed him to travel and explore himself more in different countries, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and China, where he has met people who introduced him to the action film industry. “I was able to get exposed and work with some Singaporean teams in the action films. I worked as a stuntman, then I became an action choreographer, and eventually, a director,” the Incognito director narrates, recalling his early beginnings that taught him the art of storytelling through refined movements as both a filmmaker and a martial artist deep within his heart.

“Martial artists express themselves through fighting, teaching. Ako naman, I express my martial artist philosophy and lifestyle through film. I love making films, doing movements, and telling stories through movements.”

—Lester Pimentel Ong

His athletic heart, which began as a Wushu representative, allowed him to thrive in the action film industry. While every project requires a variety of physical activities as a stuntman and action choreographer in his early days before becoming a director, he knew he was taking the right path, living by the lifestyle and philosophy of the martial arts while also working on his craft as a storyteller in the film and entertainment industry. He felt this even more every time his projects reach and even touch the lives and hearts of their audiences.

“Kapag napanood na ng audience, and you see their reactions through social media, you would see na napapasaya mo sila. That’s the feeling that is so rewarding—napanood na nila tapos they appreciate it.“

—Lester Pimentel Ong

While he receives the applause and recognition that he deserves for his remarkable films and series, and his contribution to the action entertainment industry, Direk Lester had to go through a rough journey—some real-life riveting plots to his story that challenged the heart of the fierce dynamo in him. “In early 2000s, nagkaroon ng crisis ang film worldwide dahil sa piracy. Bumaba ang number of projects na ginagawa, lalo na’t ang unang tinamaan ay action films dahil mahal,” he reveals.

This crisis led not only the film industry to be confronted, but also Direk Lester himself, who at that time already had a family to provide for, together with his wife and two children. On the other hand, the true fierce dynamo in him that faces adversities head-on and the heart of a martial artist allowed him to rise from the situation, leading him to explore the world of business.

Direk Lester Pimentel Ong found the answers in his years of experience, both as an athlete and a filmmaker, who had to function on limited finances, even for food, leading to his love for affordable but mouthwatering street food. This idea became the soul of the business he started during the crisis: Rice In A Box, which became their bread and butter for about five years, with little to no entertainment projects, until things became better for him.

“Iyong discipline ko as an athlete, nadala ko siya sa pagiging part ng movie industry at entrepreneur—iyong didiplina, hard work, pagiging palaban at competitive. ‘Yon ang nag-shape sa amin sa pagsisimula.”

—Lester Pimentel Ong

Mission: incognito

Years after persisting through the crisis, Direk Lester continued to uphold the values of an athlete and the lessons he learned as a storyteller, consistently delivering outstanding projects after another. And proving such performance, this year, he directed one of the most awaited Filipino action series: Incognito, which continues to tell Filipinos a story of brave and nonconformist individuals who unveil and combat the world of underground crimes—an interesting story matched with good visuals, talents, and martial arts that justify how it topped in streaming platforms and stood on a solid ground in it’s free TV debut.

While what we enjoy on our screens is the packaged version of their storytelling, Direk Lester appreciates seeing everything unfold behind the scenes. He enjoys the process of how his wild ideas of stunts translate into the craft of the actors he works with on Incognito, such as Richard Gutierrez, Ian Veneracion, Daniel Padilla, Baron Geisler, Maris Racal, Kaila Estrada, and Anthony Jennings.

“They are really superb actors. Ang gagaling talaga! And seeing them every day in the same acting space, collaborating is like magic unfolding in front of you.”

—Lester Pimentel Ong

He also shares the success of Incognito with the team he worked with behind the scenes, including the management, for giving them the freedom in their storytelling approach. “We tried to be very unconventional, kaya may mga kaparaanan kaming ginawa and way of telling the story, na nag-work naman—out of the conventions, out of the box,” he narrates.

On the other hand, every successful project requires a rigorous process from planning to its execution. True enough, Direk Lester Pimentel Ong also had to deal with some challenges in working on Incognito, specifically on its financial aspect. “The budget is very limited, so you have to be very strategic, systematic, precise, and efficient, ” he reveals, giving credit to all the dedicated people who formed their team and worked with him day in and day out.

Meanwhile, Direk Lester also shared memorable experiences while shooting Incognito, which at first, they considered an obstacle, but soon enough, turned out to help deliver the essence of their project. He recalled shooting one of their scenes in Japan at -10°C, then went back to the Philippines and traveled straight to Itogon, Benguet for another sequence at 24°C. Although admittedly exhausting, the Incognito director believes that its worth lies in the warm reception of many Filipinos after it aired and the fact that the ideas in his mind came to life.

“Every time you would finish, go back to your hotel, and rest, sobrang fulfilling kasi lahat ng inisp mo at pinlano mo, nangyayari—with the help, of course, ng mga actor and other people from the production. It’s a collaboration of minds of different people e, and it’s so satisfying to see it in action.”

See Also

—Lester Pimentel Ong

‘What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger‘

Every success that Direk Lester enjoys in the present, either as an entrepreneur or a filmmaker, always speaks volumes about the journey he had to persist through. And the majority of his persistence he gives credit to the discipline and values he has gained as an athlete, along with the experiences life has given him when he entered the industry of storytelling. This principle placed the fierce dynamo in him in constant momentum of passion for the things he does, be it in filmmaking, martial arts, or food businesses.

Life seemed to have required the action series director to create his real-life stunts when faced with adversities—some true-to-life powerful blows when challenges dared to smash his dreams, good landing every time he jumped to take the risks out of every uncertain situation, and a strong block to keep the dream and passion burning. And so Direk Lester, with the heart as persistent and resilient as an athlete, delivered.

“It became my second nature to solve problems, and the more problems you solve, the better you become. Sabi nga nila, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.“

—Lester Pimentel Ong

In the present, as he continues to deliver compelling stories through the fusion of lens and martial arts, Direk Lester Pimentel Ong While carries on with his eyes fixed on a dream that goes beyond himself—a vivid manifestation of his athletic values, sharing every conquest with the people he works with. The Incognito director reveals his great hope for the industry, especially Filipino action films and series, to thrive—if not now, then at the very least, to take a step towards global recognition.

“Sa filmmaking right now—I feel like I’m a start-up, working on something na sinisimulan para sa better future ng industry.”

—Lester Pimentel Ong

While the world awaits the ultimate rise of the Filipino entertainment industry, our local films and series continue to tell us stories that reflect not only our realities as a nation but also mirror the creative force innate in all of us. And this we do with every measured blow, a good landing, and a smooth parkour with the likes of Direk Lester Pimentel Ong—a director, storyteller, and a fierce dynamo that keeps film rolling.

Publisher | Richie de Quina & Gwynn Crisostomo
Editor-in-Chief | John Luke Chica
Junior Editor | Lei Sedero
PR & Advertising Manager | Josh Austria
Digital Manager | Allen Esteban
Words by Chud David Dulay

Creative Director | Chookie Cruz
Photographer | Chris Cantos
Stylist | Rodel Briñas
Styling Associate | Bobi Aranas
HMUA | Joel “Varda” Atienza

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