Lester Pimentel Ong (Facebook)

It is high time for Philippine cinema to establish awards for action movies within the local film industry.

Lester Pimentel Ong, director of the popular series "The Iron Heart" on ABS-CBN, said that he supports suggestions to include best stunts category in local award-giving bodies such as Famas, Urian, Cinemalaya, Film Academy of the Philippines, PMPC Star Awards, and SPEED, during an intimate media conference in Quezon City on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Giving an award or recognition would empower producers and directors to make quality action series or movies.

"That would encourage the quality of the movie or TV series to increase. Siyempre kapag may competition, may pinaglalabanan kayong awards. At saka ang laki talaga ng part ng action film sa industry. Pero, there's no such thing as a best action movie award. Marami kaming action directors. Lahat ng action shows, may action directors," said Lester, former 

(Encouraging competition in the industry can improve the quality of action movies and TV shows. However, there are no awards specifically for action movies, despite the significant role of action directors in the industry.)

In June, "John Wick: Chapter 4" director Chad Stahelski, also a former stuntman, campaigned for best stunts category at the Oscars.

“In the last couple of months, we’ve been meeting with members of the Academy and actually having these conversations, and, to be honest, it’s been nothing but incredibly positive, incredibly instructional,” said Chad in an interview with Comic Book Movie.

According to Lester, some groups in the industry view TV series workers negatively.

"Yung ibang taga-showbiz medium mababa ang tingin nila sa teleserye because we are the lesser quality worker daw. Yun naman ng pinipilit nating baguhin from scriptwriting to cinematography. We cannot match the budget of the movies kasi mas mahirap kasi day-to-day ang series. But if you will see the quality of our cinematography, it has improved a lot," he said.

(Other showbiz mediums think less of the TV series because we are the lesser quality workers. That is why we are trying to change that impression from scriptwriting to cinematography. We cannot match the budget of the movies. It is more difficult because of the day-to-day life of the series. But if you will see the quality of our cinematography, it has improved a lot.)

Lester also said that producers avoid action projects because they believe they are expensive. "Many producers are shying away from action kasi ang tingin nila mahal. But dito, na-prove naman namin na with a budget for a drama show, we were able to create a good action series."

(Many producers are shying away from action because they think it's expensive. But here, we proved that with a budget for a drama show, we were able to create a good action series.)

Lester praised the cast of the series, led by Richard Gutierrez, Jake Cuenca, and Ian Veneracion, who have exemplified what an action star is all about.

"Our actors deserve na mapanood sila sa buong mundo because of their acting skills," he remarked.

In doing action scenes, Richard is one of the best, Lester said. "He's been doing martial arts since he was six years old. I would say Richard is one of the legit action stars we have."

Lester Pimentel Ong in Rome (Instagram)

Season 2 finale

Despite the show's high ratings, Lester announced that season 2 of "The Iron Heart" is ending.

"We're preparing for the finale right now without the assurance of being extended. When we went to Italy to shoot, ang mindset talaga namin finale na ang kasunod. We wanted to do something in the finale that we haven't done before. We're preparing for it. Marami naman tayong nagawa sa series na ito na hindi pa natin nagawa. After shooting on a day-to-day basis, halos lahat ng gawin sa action naibigay naman namin.

(We're preparing for the finale right now without the assurance of being extended. When we went to Italy to shoot, our mindset was that the finale was next. We wanted to do something in the finale that we haven't done before. We're preparing for it. We've done a lot in this series that we haven't done before. After shooting on a day-to-day basis, we've given almost everything to do in the action.)

"When we went to Italy we worked with Italian stuntmen and they were really surprised at how we worked. They realized shooting an action series on a daily basis was very intense. Akala nila once a week lang ang airing natin. Nagulat sila we had a very good workflow raw. I had collaborated with foreign productions before. Our workflow na ginagamit namin is how a Hong Kong set is working. Not your usual workflow. So it's efficient and mabilis. Kaya rin natatapos kaagad kami ng trabaho," Lester said.

(When we went to Italy we worked with Italian stuntmen and they were really surprised at how we worked. They realized shooting an action series on a daily basis was very intense. They thought we were only airing once a week. They were surprised we had a very good workflow. I had collaborated with foreign productions before. The workflow we use is how a Hong Kong set is working. Not your usual workflow. So it's efficient and fast. That's also why we finish work immediately.)

Lester also said that he does not concentrate on the ratings of the program.

"Basta sinabi ko sa team, let's try our best to shoot a quality action series. Hindi namin iniintindi yung ratings but we focus on the best of our abilities. At least we were able to elevate the action genre in the Philippines. Nagiiba na kasi ang landscape like meron ng mga streaming platforms so we attempt to level up the quality kasi marami na ang kakumpitensya. Pagdating sa series, dati wala silang mapapanood na Pilipino series. Pero ngayon, at the click of a button, they can watch foreign shows na free rin naman. So if we don't attempt to improve the game of the Filipino series, baka mawala na tayo sa existence," he added.

(I just told the team, let's try our best to shoot a quality action series. We don't understand the ratings but we focus on the best of our abilities. At least we were able to elevate the action genre in the Philippines. Because it's different the landscape is like there are streaming platforms so we attempt to level up the quality because there are many competitors. When it comes to series, they used to have no Filipino series to watch. But now, at the click of a button, they can watch foreign shows. It's also free. So if we don't attempt to improve the game of the Filipino series, we might disappear from existence.)

Asked if there would be season 3 of the series, Lester said: "Kung meron man season 3, I would aspire for a break muna. Sa US, before they continue with another season, magpapa-hinga muna sila. Yun ang aspirations namin kung magkakaroon ng season 3. Action kasi is very exhausting. We work 12 hours pero talagang exhausting yun. Nakakapagod talaga."

(If there is a season 3, I would aspire for a break first. In the US, before they continue with another season, they will take a break. That is our aspiration if there is a season 3. Action is very exhausting. We work 12 hours but that's really exhausting. It's really tiring.)

"We're grateful to ABS-CBN for allowing us to do what we dream of doing. For example, to shoot a sequence in a river with a jet ski, or speedboat. Kasama yun sa wish list and we were allowed to shoot it. Mararamdaman mo naman na ang management na gusto talaga nilang i-level up yung series. So we don't want to fail them," Lester said.

(It was included in the wish list and we were allowed to shoot it. You can feel that the management really wants to level up the series.)

Female action star

If there is anything missing in Philippine showbiz today, it is a female action star.

"Matagal ko na rin dream na magkaroon ng female action stars sa Philippines. Nananawagan kami na sana magkaroon na rin tayo ng female action star," Lester said.

(It has been my dream for a long time to have female action stars in the Philippines. We are calling for a female action star.)

He added: "So far wala akong nakikitang pwedeng maging female action star ngayon. Mas maganda if they are female martial artists. Parang in the mold of Jackie Chan and Jet Li noon, they are martial artists turned into actors. But I'm sure maraming martial artists diyan na puwede. Yung ganung klaseng skill dapat inaral mo noong sobrang bata ka pa para maging natural sa'yo."

(So far I don't see anyone who can be a female action star today. It would be better if they are female martial artists. It's like in the mold of Jackie Chan and Jet Li back then, they are martial artists turned into actors. But I'm sure there are many martial artists. That kind of skill you should have learned when you were very young so that it becomes natural to you.)

Filipinos are ready for a female action hero, Lester believes. "Dati conservative ang mga Pilipino. Ayaw nila sa babae ang brusko. But now iba na ang reactions nila when they see women doing action scenes. Natutuwa na sila sa girl power na concept."

(Filipinos used to be conservative. They don't like women who are brusque. But now their reactions are different when they see women doing action scenes. They are happy with the girl power concept.)

Richard Gutierrez (left) and Ian Veneracion on the set of 'The Iron Heart' (ABS-CBN)

Martial arts fan

A former national athlete, Lester admitted that he’s a big fan of martial arts before he joined showbiz.

“I used to be a Chinese martial artist in wushu. I used to train in the school of Jet Li for several years. While competing, I was able to meet people who were into wushu and showbiz," he said.

Born on July 25, 1974, Lester is a Filipino athlete of Chinese  descent who also has notable contributions as a film director, entrepreneur and vlogger. He was born as the youngest of the five children to a third-generation Chinese-Filipino couple. At an early age, he  already developed a passion for sports. He started Wushu or Chinese Martial Arts training at eight years old and during  his primary and secondary education at Philippine Cultural High School, he played for the school’s varsity basketball team and varsity player for track and field.  

Lester represented the Philippines as a national Wushu athlete, competing in various local and international competitions where he has won every possible medal an athlete can.

His mastery of the sports later led him to the film industry where he has  been known as Direk Lester and has directed Panday, Lastikman, Imortal, La Luna Sangre, Indio and Bagani, to  name a few.

As an entrepreneur, he ventured into another one of his passions, food. He founded RBX Rice in A Box,  Wangfu Chinese Café and Kyu Kyu Ramen 99, all with a mission to provide world-class quality food products that  are affordable for every Filipino.

Lester has brought honor to the country by winning the international competitions he had joined. In 1991, he won a  bronze medal during the SEAGames held in Manila, Philippines. This was followed by three gold medals and one silver medal in the 1995 Southeast Asian Wushu Championships in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In the same year, he also won  another gold medal at the World Wushu Championships held in Baltimore, USA. In the following year, he won  another gold medal in the 1996 Asian Wushu Championships.

After a brief break from the national team, he again won a gold medal in the 2005 SEAGames held in Manila, Philippines.