Imee wants to build cinematic trail for Ilocos Norte

Superstar Nora Aunor looks at the sculptiure unveiled during the Himala sa Buhangin event at Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The sculpture features the superstar in her iconic character "Elsa" in the award-winning movie "Himala", which was filmed at the Paoay sand dunes. (PGIN photo)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

As part of the Ilocos Norte government’s effort to boost tourism industry, Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos wants to build a cinematic trail here, aside from the existing heritage and historical trails that attract domestic and foreign tourists to visit the province.

Over the years, the cinematic landscape of Ilocos Norte has been enticing filmmakers to come over and shoot in the different tourism destinations here.

In 2012, the Ilocos Norte government through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan created the Media Incentives Desk (MID) under the Communication and Media Office to assist and provide incentives to film enthusiasts and movie producers who are interested to come to Ilocos Norte.

This resulted in a number of movie producers lining up to have Ilocos Norte as their next film location as the desk works on the needed arrangements through a network.

As part of the promotional activity, a fiber glass statue of multi-awarded Filipina actress and movie icon Nora Aunor was unveiled on May 10 during the culminating program of Ilocos Norte’s provincial festival dubbed “Himala sa Buhangin.”

“We hope to continue to trace the history of Ilocos Norte in cinema. But we have to take it slowly. We will focus on the most important and I believe that it will be part of our cinematic trail in Ilocos Norte,” Ms. Marcos said.

Reports in the past few years have shown a steady increase in on-location shooting in the province which expands the Ilocos Norte market for the arts and media production industry.

Among the recently filmed movies in Ilocos Norte include the international Thai actor Mario Maurer movie “Suddenly It’s Magic” and the Metro Manila Film Festival entry of actors Vic Sotto and Bong Revilla, “Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Si Ako”.

“Suddenly It’s Magic” was a film produced by Star Cinema, where 70 percent of the movie was shot in Ilocos Norte, particularly in the towns of Paoay, Burgos and Pagudpud.

According to Ms. Marcos, the publicity and the exposure we can get from these movies result in savings for the advertisement for purposes of tourism.

On the other hand, locals could also get an extra income since the production look for “extras” for the projects.

Other movies that were shot in Ilocos Norte were the classic Filipino film “Himala” and segments of Hollywood films such as those of “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Mad Max” shot on location in the La Paz Sand Dunes of Laoag City.

Local TV shows such as ABS-CBN’s “Kabuhayang Swak na Swak” and GMA Network’s “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” have also featured Ilocos Norte in one or more of their episodes.

Frequent sites for productions include the century-old Paoay Church, Paoay Sand Dunes, Bangui Windmills, Patapat Viaduct in Pagudpud, the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos, and Sitio Remedios in Currimao.