DOT Invites Hollywood Execs to Film in PH

With its beaches, hinterlands and cityscapes, the Philippines is a perfect setting for international films, especially those from Hollywood, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said at a meeting with US film executives and Filipino-American actors in California last week.

- GHIO ONG and LOUELLA DESIDERIO

She said the Philippines provides a "perfect canvas for filmmaking... because of the diversity of our destinations."

"From our pristine beaches of Boracay, Palawan, Siquijor, Cebu, Camiguin and so many more, to our lush landscapes in the northernmost part of the Philippines, Batanes, to the hinterlands of the country in Bukidnon in Mindanao, to our urbane cityscapes – from the historic walls of Intramuros in Metro Manila to the bustling city of Cebu – there’s a wealth of destinations at which you can make your films,” Frasco said.

She also cited the country’s “wealth of creative talent,” including Filipinos’ proficiency in English “as well as a robust ecosystem of filmmakers that is now invigorated because of the efforts of our First Lady” Liza Marcos.

Furthermore, Hollywood filmmakers may take advantage of tax breaks and “the competitive advantage of a relatively lower cost of filming, from cost of goods, cost of labor and the like,” she said.