Cesar MontanoCine TurismoDepartment of TourismEVENTSFilm TourismPress ReleaseTourism Promotions Board
Tourism Promotions Board Supports "Cine Turismo’
The
Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism
(DOT) today gave recognition to 10 Filipino-made and two foreign movies that
have showcased the beauty of the Philippines and have helped promote Philippine
tourism through film.
Serving as one of the launch activities of Cine Turismo, a new
campaign Spearheaded by TPB under Chief Operating Officer Cesar Montano, the
recognition were given to honor Filipino directors and their films that were
shown in 2016 and 2017.
“Film tourism is a steadily
growing industry in the country,” says Cesar Montano, Chief Operating Officer
of the TPB. “This project is created to acknowledge the many films and
filmmakers that, through their wonderful portrayals of the Philippines, have
aroused interest and boosted tourism in local tourist spots.”
“DOT seeks to honor the efforts of Filipino filmmakers and
producers to display the country’s vast beauty,” said Tourism Secretary Wanda
Corazon Tulfo-Teo.
Honorees have been chosen based on the following criteria:
1)
made by a Filipino production house;
2) is a full-length film (minimum of 75
minutes);
3) commercially released within the last two years;
4) was shown in
the Philippines or at international film festivals;
5) showcases the
destination extensively or must be a setting for majority of the scenes;
6)
portrays the country in a positive manner, provides a general awareness of the
locale, and has created a positive impact on the community and perception of
its people;
7) has promoted and preserved culture and heritage and reflects the
country’s history; enriches Filipino values and traits such as resilience,
the Bayanihan spirit, hospitality, and patriotism;
8) has inspired and excited
the viewer to visit the country, and must have induced travel among moviegoers;
and
9) has generated revenues and created jobs in their locations, as well as
new trade and businesses.
Films that were honored are Sakaling Hindi Makarating,
directed by Ice ldanan and shot in llocos, Siquijor, Batanes, and Zamboanga;
Director Ellen OngkekoMartil’s Lakbay2Love, which
showcases Timberland Heights and Benguet; Paglipay from Director
Zig Dulay, set in the mountains of Zambales; Camp Sawi by Director
Irene Villamor, set in Bantayan island; Patay na si Hesus, directed
by Victor Villanueva; Director Mario Cornejo’s Apocalypse Child, set in
Baler; Siargao by
Director Paul Soriano, which showcases the island of the same name; Director
Bona Fajardo’s I
Found My Heart in Santa Fe, set in Santa Fe in Cebu; Requited by
Director Nerissa Picadizo, which features Mt. Pinatubo; and Director Thop
Nazareno’s Kiko
Boksingero, filmed in Baguio.
On her speech, Lakbay2Love director
Ellen-Ongkeko-Marm said that it is awesome when we hear people recommending the
film to those who want to see how beautiful the Philippines can be. Along the
way, we hope, the story communicates to viewers the need to take care of such
beauty.
For lce
ldanan, whose protagonist for Sakaling
Hindi Makarating goes on a journey around
the Philippines, there was an intention to display these places. “l’ve been to
those places and l chose locations that are hard to go to at bihirang-bihirang puntahan ng mga tao dahil hindi sila sikat like Cebu, Boracay, or Palawan.”
Film
Tourism Bill
Meanwhile, TPB called for passage
of the pending Film Tourism Bill (SB 1330) sponsored by Sen. Grace Poe and
introduced by Sen. Sonny Angara.
The Film Tourism Bill recognizes
the “potential of international and local motion picture production to create
jobs, grow the economy and raise the nation’s international profile” and seeks
to offer incentives to production companies who choose to showcase Philippine
destinations and the nation’s historical and cultural heritage, or
champion Filipino film practitioners and artists in foreign productions.
“Film tourism is a steadily
growing industry in the country,” says Montano. “We’ve seen how wonderful portrayals
of the Philippines in various films, local and international, have roused
interest and boosted tourism in local tourist spots.”
The passage of the Film Tourism
Bill will facilitate the promotion and marketing of the Philippines as a
location through a website or manual, providing easy access to information on
how foreign productions can shoot in the country. It will also assist in the
implementation of reward and incentive packages for foreign productions
planning to shoot in the Philippines, as well as the processing
of documents and permits.
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