MANILA -- Soldier trainees of the First Scout Ranger Regiment have found online fame after a video of them doing the mannequin challenge in San Miguel, Bulacan went viral on Facebook.

The video, which lasts one minute and 42 seconds, showed different scenes of 10 SROC Malawi Class 86-16 trainees seemingly frozen in place while preparing for battle in a forested area.

The second scene shows the trainees undergoing military training inside Camp Tecson in Bulacan, while the third scene shows the trainees clowning around - still frozen in place.

As of posting, the mannequin challenge video has received 125,000 views and 2,545 shares.

In an interview, freelance videographer John Mark Gatchalian said he was approached by a friend about doing a mannequin challenge video for an upcoming Christmas party.

They then conceptualized the mannequin challenge video with the help of Technical Sergeant Cesar Barrameda Cuenca, drill instructor of candidate soldiers of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, and the permission of Col. Rene Glen O. Paje INF (GSC) Philippine Army Commander First Scout Ranger Regiment.

During the shoot last Friday, Gatchalian - who also does drone videos for weddings, corporate shoots and prenups - had to explain the concept of the mannequin challenge to the trainees and even showed samples.

"Hindi kasi nila alam 'yung mannequin challenge kasi nasa training, walang internet... Mabilis naman nila na-gets," he said.

Each scene took two to three takes to get right, he said.

Gatchalian said the purpose of the video was to show the hardships of soldiers during training and war, as well as their fun side.

"We thought of three scenes for the mannequin challenge: war, training and wacky scenes. We thought of thinking a wacky scene in the end because soldiers are always shown as being serious, not smiling. They can be fun too," he said.

For his part, Cuenca said the trainees also enjoyed doing the shoot.

"Enjoy naman sila sa ginagawa nila. Bigay todo, yung iba grabeng pawis. Hindi sila humihinga," he said in a separate interview.

Cuenca also participated in the mannequin challenge and is seen wearing a black beret in the first part of the video.

The drill instructor said the mannequin video shows a snapshot of what a regular soldier undergoes during training. He said that after joining the Army, trainees for the Scout Rangers must undergo an orientation course, deployment and then the regular Scout Ranger training.

"Nakaka-boost din ng morale...Ang kagandahan kasi, napapakita yung samahan namin," he said.