The parade of stars for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will be held on Dec. 19 via a fluvial parade that will highlight the beauty of the Pasig River.
The event will feature ferry boats which will serve as floats carrying celebrities of the eight official movie entries.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and MMFF concurrent chair Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the fluvial parade, replacing the traditional motorcade parade, is one of the highlights of the MMFF making a comeback at cinemas for the holidays.
“The fluvial parade will showcase the ferry service and at the same time encourage the public to ride the agency-operated Pasig River Ferry Service, an alternative transportation across Metro Manila,” said Abalos.
“Through this fluvial parade, we hope to encourage the public to ride the ferry service which sails from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig to Escolta in Manila. This alternative transportation is traffic-free and you’ll get to appreciate the beauty of the river and the arts along the riverbanks,” he added.
The parade will start from Guadalupe Ferry Station and will go straight eastbound to before C-5 Bagong Ilog Bridge. It will take a U-turn, stop at the Pasig City side, and then straight to Makati Circuit which will be the endpoint.
One lane along J.P Rizal from Guadalupe Ferry Station up to University of Makati will be utilized as a drop-off point for MMFF guests and participants. No parking is allowed along the road.
Last year, the MMFF Parade of Stars was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The MMFF 2021 will showcase a diverse line-up of eight movies, ranging from social drama, horror, action, suspense, romance, to comedy-horror starting Christmas Day until January 8, 2022.
The MMDA stated the Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Trade and Industry have set guidelines to ensure that cinemas adhere to all the safety protocols as “we are still facing threats of COVID-19 despite the easing of restrictions.”
The MMFF is an annual event organized primarily to help promote and enhance the preservation, growth, and development of local films.