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| MANNY PACQUIAO with producer FRANCIS LARA HO |
SEN. MANNY PACQUIAO is going back to acting. He will play local hero Col. Macario Peralta Jr., leader of the Philippine Guerrilla resistance on Panay Island during World War II, in the Hollywood-Philippines global feature film entitled “Freedom Fighters.”
An incredible true story of courage, faith and hope in the face of unspeakable Japanese cruelty, the film will be produced by Inspire Studios, Inc., in association with a major US studio and is slated for 2020.
Producer/financier Francis Lara Ho, CEO of Inspire Studios, says: “‘Freedom Fighters’ will be a global, Hollywood studio-level release. We are currently meeting 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.
Having the charismatic and well loved Sen. Manny Pacquiao join us by playing Col. Peralta is an exciting step in putting together a cast of top level actors for this movie. Manny is an international hero and admired by people from all over the world, so stepping into this role is a natural for him.”
Ho, founder of Inspire Studios which will hold offices both in the US and the Philippines, has great vision for the company. “We want to impact humanity by creating world-class movies of hope, heroism and honor from stories based on true-to-life event; movies that go beyond mere entertainment and that showcase positive, human virtues… movies that inspire and inspire us to look beyond ourselves, and help us dream to be greater and encourage us to pursue something bigger than life itself!” he says.
“Freedom Fighters” is based on the memoirs of Louise Spencer, an American who was one of the residents of Hopevale, a community of patriots in Panay Island during WWII that played a great role in a most crucial time in Philippine history.
After the Japanese sneak attack invasion of the Philippines in WWII, staged to coincide with the attack on Pearl Harbor, a group of American doctors, nurses, missionaries and miners in Panay Island chose to stay hidden behind enemy lines to continue to help the local people and the Guerrilla resistance, led by Col. Peralta.
They built a community deep in the jungle called Hopevale and survived there for almost two years under constant threat of torture and execution if captured. They were supported by loyal, brave Filipinos who put their lives and the lives of their families on the line to help them survive and hold back the Japanese, allowing the triumphant Gen. MacArthur to return later.
Pacquiao will be busy playing hero next year as he has also been tapped to play Gen. Miguel Malvar in another movie. For more information about Inspire Studios, pls visit their website at www.theinspirestudios.com