Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMFF) Monday released the routes of the first-ever Fluvial Parade of Stars for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), to be conducted in Pasig River on December 19.
According to MDDA, the parade will start from Guadalupe Ferry Station and will go straight eastbound to before C-5 Bagong Ilog Bridge.
It also said that it will take a U-turn, stop at the Pasig City side, and then straight to Makati Circuit which will be the endpoint.
It added that one lane along J.P Rizal from Guadalupe Ferry Station up to University of Makati will be utilized as drop-off point for MMFF guests and participants.
“No parking is allowed along the road,” MMDA said.
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, also MMFF concurrent chairman, said the first-ever Fluvial Parade of Stars will highlight the beauty of Pasig River as it resumes this year, following the opening of cinemas and easing of quarantine restrictions in the metropolis.
He added that it will feature ferry boats which will serve as floats carrying the stars of the official movie entries in this year’s film festival.
“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,” he said.
Through this fluvial parade, Abalos said MMDA hopes to encourage the public to ride the ferry service which sails from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig to Intramuros in Manila.
He added that this alternative transportation is traffic-free and allows passengers to appreciate the beauty of the river and the arts along the riverbanks.
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.
It is an annual event organized primarily to help promote and enhance the preservation, growth and development of local films.
In 2020, the MMFF Parade of Stars was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. — Noel Talacay
