BEAUTIFUL BARCELONA – “A Love Untold: Barcelona,” directed by Olive Lamasan and topbilled by Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, is set in the capital of the Catalan region, beautiful Barcelona. Olive and her staff must have had a “difficult” time selecting location sites. You see, everywhere you look at Barcelona are beautiful and fabled places, be they historical or cultural.
To name some: La Rambla, Plaza Independencia, Olympic Village, Barri Gothic (old district), and Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Mila, Casa Bahtlo. Not to forget Montserrat, Marian sanctuary and Benedictine Abbey.
Long before Barcelona, Olive shot in Milan, Italy (“Milan,” starring Piolo Pascual and Claudine Barretto) and San Francisco, California (“Sana Maulit Muli,” with Aga Muhlach and Lea Salonga).
Gil Portes also shot in Barcelona, starring Alessandra de Rossi, Luis Alandy, Alan Paule, Tina Paner, and Robert Arevalo. Title of the film is, but of course, “Barcelona.” Joey Reyes’ sequel to “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo” was also partly filmed in Barcelona, with Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo, and Dominic Ochoa.
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SHOT ABROAD – Direk Gil likes to say that he holds the distinction of shooting six films abroad, including “Barcelona.”
Look he filmed in New York “Merika” (Nora Aunor) and “Minsan May Pangarap” (Dina Bonnevie, Ariel Rivera).
He shot in Amsterdam, The Netherlands “Miss X” (Vilma Santos) and in Rio, Brazil “Carnival Queen” (Alma Moreno).
An episode of “Wanted Wives” was filmed in Hong Kong.
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MORE & MORE – More movies shot abroad as they come to mind.
Rory Quinto’s “Dubai” and “Love Me Again” (Australia).
Elwood Perez’s “Pinay, American Style” (New York) and “Waikiki.”
Mike Tuviera’s “Imagine You and Me.”
Maryo J. de los Reyes’ “Pepe en Pilar” (San Francisco).
Eric Quizon’s “Langit sa Piling Mo” (All over USA).
Chito Roño’s “Caregiver” (London).
Actually, as early as the ‘50s, a few Filipino films were shot abroad. Think “Hong Kong Holiday,” “Pitong Gabi sa Paris,” “Bon Voyage,” “Saigon.”