“Subic has great potential for int’l films” – Dir. Alabado, DOT IV-B

The country’s premier Freeport was affirmed “almost Hollywood-ready” during the 1st Sustainable Tourism Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) Awards night last September 11, 2025.

Department of Tourism Director Roberto Alabado III of the Office of Film and Sports Tourism and concurrent Region IV-B Director said that film production is not just about the beauty of the location. It also entails amenities and facilities that go with it.

 

“Subic has almost everything that is needed by a film production. Region 3 has a very big potential for Hollywood films, K-pop and soon Bollywood, which is a much bigger industry,” Alabado said during his inspirational speech.

 

He added that his office recently facilitated the filming of an A-list movie showcasing the sights and sounds, culture and destinations of the Philippines, which will have its premiere in Hollywood next year.

 

He emphasized that the film has the power to entice people to travel and see the film location in reality.

 

Meanwhile, eight tourism stakeholders in Central Luzon were recognized for their sustainable practices that are geared toward a greener future.

 

“The honorees we celebrate tonight have embraced the challenge of balancing development with responsibility, and progress with preservation. They are the trailblazers who remind us that sustainability is truly pragmatic, where decisions made on the ground, partnerships built with care, and actions that ripple across generations,” said Dr. Richard Daenos, Department of Tourism-Region 3 Director.

 

SBMA Tourism Department manager Mary Jamelle Camba shared that the 1st Sustainable Tourism Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) awards was created to celebrate and honor outstanding tourism establishments, organizations, and destinations in Central Luzon that are leading the way in sustainability.

 

Sustainable Sanctuary award celebrates recreation, health and wellness facilities that integrate eco-friendly operations, resource management and mindful guest experiences, and was awarded to ACEA Subic Beach Resort.

 

Salt of Sustainability award honors food and beverage establishments that elevate dining through sustainable practices by sourcing local, organic and ethically produced ingredients. These culinary leaders remind us that what we eat not only nourishes our bodies, but also sustain our farmers, our communities and our planet. The award was given to The Nest by the Sea of Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

 

Bridges of Change award recognizes tourism establishments whose corporate social responsibility programs create lasting positive impacts for local communities. These change-makers prove that empowering people build stronger, more resilient and more meaningful tourism for all. The award was given to The Lighthouse Marina Resort of Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

 

Resilient Destination award honors destinations and establishments that lead the way in climate resilience, disaster preparedness and risk reduction. These proactive leaders ensure the safety of visitors and communities, protect natural and cultural treasures, and keep tourism thriving despite challenges. The award was given to Municipal Tourism Office-LGU Guimba, Nueva Ecija.

 

Path to Purpose award honors tourism establishments that have overcome challenges, embraced innovations, and made remarkable progress in adopting responsible practices. Their stories remind us that the world of sustainability is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. And it paves the way for others to follow. The award was given to Emerald Manor Hotel of Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

 

Green Stay Excellence award honors hotels, resorts, and lodging facilities that showcase outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability. These leaders have integrated green practices into their operations, proving that comfort and care for the environment can go hand in hand. The award was given to Mimosa Cityscapes, Inc. of Clark Freeport Zone.

 

Community-based Tourism Legacy award honors establishments that engage and empower local communities through inclusive and sustainable tourism initiatives. These trailblazers uplift their host communities while delivering meaningful visitor experiences, ensuring tourism benefits both people and places. The award was given to Balangay Apuy Community Tourguides of Malolos, Bulacan.

 

Green Tourism Champion award, the pinnacle recognition of the STAR awards, honors a tourism establishment that demonstrates exceptional leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism practices. These champions not only integrate sustainability into their operations, they also influence entire communities and industries to embrace a greener, more responsible future. The award was given to Pulong Kabyawan Agricultural Farm of Pulilan, Bulacan.

 

“From protecting natural sanctuaries, celebrating culture, and empowering communities, to driving innovation, resilience and excellence in tourism services, these categories honor the full spectrum of what it means to be a sustainable tourism champion,” Camba said. (MPD-SBMA) 

 

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1st Subic Bay film festival set June 22-24

The Subic Bay International Film Festival (SBIFF), which aims to provide a platform for local filmmakers to create their art and to refocus the attention of the international filmmaking industry to the Subic Bay Freeport, will take off here on June 22 to 24 with the screening of six feature films.

Festival directors Vic Vizcocho Jr., publisher of Subic Bay News, and Arlyn Dela Cruz-Bernal, news director of Radyo Inquirer and Inquirer 990 TV, said the Subic Bay Freeport has long served as a localé for both international and local films, and remains to be a rich source of stories that could be made into movies.

“This is our chance to give back to the community by creating what we call waves of opportunities to filmmakers,” said Dela Cruz, who also has seven films to her credit either as producer, writer or director.

“We want to bring back the interest in Subic Bay as a premiere destination for filmmakers, local and international, because we have so much to offer in terms of story ideas, manpower, resources, talents and locations,” Vizcocho added.

One of the highlights of festival, they added, will be an opportunity for filmmakers to present storylines that may qualify for financing through SBIFF initiative.

For the first year of the festival, six feature films will be competing for awards: “Boy Intsik”, a film by Joel Lamangan; “Balatkayo” by Neil Tan; “Araw sa Likod Mo” by Dominic Nuesa; “Isang Hakbang” by Mike Magat; “Rolyo” by CC Woodruff Jr.; and “Old Skool” by Cia Hermosa-Gorge.

Organizers said four of the full-length feature films are old titles made in the last three years and had received recognition in other film competitions, while two others are yet to be released.

Dela Cruz explained that the first year of the festival will not be a competition for newly-made films, but a venue for filmmakers “to be seen by another group of audience, and to undergo judging for the merits of their films by another set of jury.”

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Wilma T. Eisma welcomed the festival project for creating a vehicle for the development of local filmmakers, and called on members of the film industry to help in promoting “malasakit” in the society.

“Filmmakers should go beyond box-office revenues because their influence on the social and cultural fabric of society is undeniable. It is a power they can and should use to build, not destroy; to grow, not to stunt the values and morals of our people,” Eisma noted.

“I ask the people in the film industry to harness the transformative power of malasakit in cinema because yours is, no doubt, a most compelling medium for positive change,” she added.

Entries in the film festival will be screened at a Harbor Point cinema here on June 22 to 24. The screening is open for free to the public from 10:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

The films will compete for the eight major awards: best picture, best director, best actor, best actress, best screenplay, best in cinematography, best in production design, and best in music. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Festival organizers and sponsors unveil the logo of the Subic Bay International Film Festival during its launch on June 8. L-R: Festival director Vic Vizcocho Jr., Olongapo Vice Mayor Jong Cortez, Director Arlyn dela Cruz-Bernal, SBMA deputy administrator Chot Kabigting (partly hidden), and Harbor Point manager Derek Quijano. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Festival organizers, along with film directors and actors, and project sponsors unveil the logo of the Subic Bay International Film Festival during its launch on June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic becoming top pick for movie and TV location shoots

The country’s so-called theme park capital is also earning raves as a prime location spot for filming movies and television shows because of its lush forests, scenic beaches and coasts, strong bio-diversity, and unique environment moods.

Jem Camba, head of the Tourism Department of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), said that a lot of movie and TV producers and directors prefer to bring their production to Subic because of the unique environment provided by the former US Naval Base.

Celebrity Car Wars film shoot in Subic Bay 

“Subic has almost everything you need for your required locations. We have here forests and mountains, rivers and the sea, theme parks, factories and entertainment facilities, and the remnants of the former military base,” Camba pointed out.

“This is the reason why a lot of local and some foreign movies, as well as Filipino tele-novelas, are being shot in the Subic Bay Freeport,” she added.

Camba also noted that Tourism Promotion Board CEO Cesar Montano had recently noted that a movie and television studios can be developed in the Subic Freeport.

In an interview with entertainment editor Ricky Lo, Montano said that he told SBMA Chairman Martin Diño that Subic is a perfect place for some kind of a Universal Studios.

“Subic has everything you need,” Montano said, pointing out that it has an an airport, an ocean park, a rain forest, a zoo, a port, a highway and other things that a film location must have.

Amelia Torralba-Perez of the Mandala Video and Events Production, had also described Subic as an excellent place for location shooting.

“We can find everything here in Subic,” Perez said. “We have world-class accommodations, we have good food, and for the longest time we’ve been here, people in SBMA are not giving us a hard time. That is why we are coming back here with all of our projects.”

Perez was in Subic recently for the location shoot of the History TV series “Celebrity Car Wars”, an Amazing Race-like show with cars and celebrities from Asian nations who do extreme challenges on cars like drifting and off-roading.

Perez said that since 2005, she has been referring Subic as a location site for various television and movie production, such as the Discovery Channel, BBC, TV-series Jack Irish, as well as some American, Japanese and French shows.

In June this year, an episode of the documentary series entitled “Before the 90 Days” for American Network’s The Learning Channel (TLC) was filmed in Subic with contributors American Lawrence “Larry” Passariello and his Filipino girlfriend Jenny de Guzman.

Among the first movies shot in Subic was “Goodbye America” which was released in 1997. It was an action-drama that portrayed the closing of the U.S. military base at Subic Bay and how it affected the lives of the people in the surrounding communities and the Americans who had served in the base. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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