Japanese actress appointed as Philippines Tourism Fun Ambassador

Dr. Carl E. Balita Productions strengthens his advocacy of promoting Philippine Cinema by extending his support to local independent filmmakers through the Independent Film Producers Association of the Philippines which he is organizing this July.

He believes that cinema is a unique way of immortalizing stories, a testament and validation of the stories of people. It was thru this vision that CBP (Carl Balita Productions) was put up and one of its important projects is “Maestra,” a film by Lemuel Lorca which tells the story of three teachers.

 “Cinema has the capacity to educate and entertain people, and we want to be part of that via our own new microcinema – the CBRC Dream Theater,” he said.

 Dr. Balita says one of the biggest problems of the local film industry is the lack of access to theatres and cinemas. “Many times, films lose their reach. They’re easily pulled out from commercial cinemas and they are shelved for a long period of time. Thru CBP and our CBRC, we can help by using our facilities, marketing and network.”

 The CBRC Dream Theater formally opened on June 22. A 250-seater “medium” microcinema (the biggest so far in Manila), it boasts a 5000-lumens projector and a 5.1 Digital Surround Sound which impressed “Ang Larawan” star and producer Ms. Celeste Legaspi who claims she heard the secret geckos in particular scenes during the film’s Dream Theater screening.

 But a special distinction of the CBRC Dream Theater is its eco-friendly chairs – manufactured in Valenzuela City –that are made of “jeepney loads of pet bottles.”

Since its opening, the CBRC Dream Theater has hosted screenings of “Ang Larawan” and “Maestra.”

 Dr. Balita is also creating cinemas in 100 branches of CBRC and is even interested in building an outdoor theatre in far flung areas of Surigao, Vigan, Calapan and Kabankalan.

 He has also embarked in creating cinemas in 100 branches of CBRC, and is even interested in building an outdoor theater in far-flung areas of Surigao, Vigan, Calapan and Kabankalan. He is also keen on building a cinema at CBRC Cebu, recognizing the strength of Cebuano films that are rarely screened in Manila. These cinemas will also work as venues especially for future theater caravans around the CBRC branches.

 Aside from CBRC students as potential audiences, Dr. Carl Balita emphasizes that another potential market are the teachers – influencers who often require viewing of films and plays to a market of millennial and Gen Z students.

 Dr. Carl E. Balita is spearheading the creation of an organization called Independent Film Producers Association of the Philippines, composed of the best independent producers who will showcase a “local, indigenous and independent cinema.” He is inviting all independent producers to a producer’s summit this month for a dialogue on films, cinema and distribution.

 “It will be exploratory,” he notes, ready for filmmakers to join in his vision of a cinema that is safe in the Dr. Carl E. Balita Review Center.

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Tourism has been a dynamic sector in the Philippine economy. According to the Department of Tourism local news earlier this year, a peak of 6,620,908 foreign tourists visited the Philippines in the 2017, marking the remarkable growth of the country’s tourism industry.

 Among the many strengths of the Philippine tourism is that the country has been home to one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the one of the New 7 Wonders Cities, the Heritage City of Vigan. Majority of the Filipinos can understand and communicate in English, making it easier to attract tourists and in turn helping the country’s economy.

 This opened the door for Hiro Nishiuchi to explore the beauty of the Philippines.

 Hiro is an actress and a model primarily working in fields of TV, magazines and advertisements both in Japan and internationally. She is an avid traveler, visiting over 30 different countries and has a book published about it. She loves scuba diving so much that she decided to own a license for it.

 When she became the first runner-up of Miss Universe Japan 2014, she realized the importance of taking care of one’s self and inspiring others to do the same so she started giving value to wellness and beauty. This also led her to expand her career internationally.

 Her willingness to diversify her experiences allowed her to become part of the promotional activity of the Philippine Department of Tourism in 2014 where she visited the country for the first time.

Among the places she had been were Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Coron and Iloilo. Hiro shared that she fell in love not just with the beautiful sceneries but also with the kindness of the Filipinos. She will never forget the warm welcome and hospitality of the people she met during her stay in the country.

 Hiro has since then become active introducing the Philippines to the Japanese public. Last June 25, Hiro Nishiuchi was officially appointed as Philippine Tourism Fun Ambassador.