Written by: Frances Nito
As much as we love traveling and watching international travel films, our local destinations and Filipino travel movies still hold a special place in our heart because we are #LoyalAkoSaLokal. What about you? Have you also traveled to some of the top local destinations in the movies mentioned below?
That Thing Called Tadhana
Directed by: Antoinette Jadaone
Starring: Angelica Panganiban, JM de Guzman
Setting: Benguet | Session Road, Baguio | Sagada
Plot: Struggling with having excess baggage, Mace meets Anthony who offered to help her out. The two formed a bond and embarked on a journey to mend their hearts and move on from their past.
Our take: According to the prescription of this movie, a good walk on the Session Road in Baguio and a trek to Mt. Kiltepan in Sagada is, if not a good enough cure, a temporary alternative for the heartbroken. Because of this movie, Baguio and Sagada not only became our favorite summer capital in the Philippines, but also the go-to escape of the broken hearted.
Crazy Beautiful You
Directed by: Mae Czarina Cruz-Alviar
Starring: Kathryn Bernanrdo, Daniel Padilla
Setting: Tarlac | Zambales
Plot: Rebellious Jackie was sent to her mom’s medical mission in the Aeta community in Tarlac where she meets local boy Kiko, who helped her find herself and realize the importance of family and love.
Our take: Not only did this movie fascinatingly portray the local version of the classic obnoxious city girl meets cute local boy, it also offered a glimpse of the simple life in the Aeta Community in Capas, Tarlac, attaining the perfect balance of portraying the point of view of an outsider and an insider in an indigenous community. Last but not the least, this movie also offered the most gorgeous view of the “beautiful disaster,” Mt. Pinatubo.
Sakaling Hindi Makarating
Directed by: Ice Idanan
Starring: Alessandra de Rossi, Pepe Herrera
Setting: Zamboanga | Marinduque | Ilocos | Siquijor | Batanes
Plot: Cielo embarks on a journey throughout the Philippines to find the sender of the series of postcard paintings she received, also known as the mysterious ‘M.’
Our take: According to the director, Ice Idanan, this movie is her love letter to the Philippines, an ode to the simple beauty and amazing wonders of our country. More than the soul searching portrayed in this movie, what we really love is how Cielo interacted and completely immersed herself with the local communities she came across, even to the point of exchanging her phone for swimming lessons. We believe that is the true essence of traveling, be it local or international.
Can’t Helping Falling In Love
Directed by: Cathy Garcia-Molina
Starring: Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla
Setting: Camotes Island | Dalaguete | Argao | Boljoon | Oslob
Plot: After they mistakenly ended up marrying each other, Gab and Dos go on a journey in search of the person who can dissolve the contract of their marriage.
Our take: Though the actual traveling started in the second half of the movie, it was well worth the wait as our favorite Kathniel tandem takes us to an incredible sightseeing trip all over Cebu, awakening in us a new equal sense of wonder and appreciation for the Queen City of the South.
Mr. and Mrs. Cruz
Directed by: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Starring: Ryza Cenon, JC Santos
Setting: Puerto Princesa | El Nido
Plot: A supposed “me-time” of Raffy and Gela’s getaway into Palawan turned into a blooming romance between two individuals escaping from the reality of their life.
Our take: This movie is the third movie in our list about broken hearted individuals traveling to escape the reality of their lives. As cliché as it may sound, we believe that traveling is indeed a way to move on with life by breaking the bubble and meeting new people, gaining new experiences, and seeing the world from a bigger perspective.
Siargao
Directed by: Paul Soriano
Starring: Erich Gonzales, Jericho Rosales, Jasmine Curtis-Smith
Setting: Siargao Island
Plot: In order to escape public humiliation, Diego flies back to his hometown in Siargao and meets Laura, a vlogger trying to find herself after her failed relationship.
Our take: Though this movie did not fare well with critics and movie lovers, we believe it was still one for the keeps about travel movies in the Philippines as it stunningly captured the beautiful beaches, waves, and even the lifestyle in the Surfing Capital of the Philippines, Siargao.
Heartbroken or not, there is no excuse to #TravelTomorrow to all the beautiful provinces in the Philippines. Once traveling is allowed again, make sure to pack up your bags and head straight to any of these six provinces!
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