'Bourne' star Jeremy Renner visits P-Noy at Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines - Dressed in barong Tagalog, white shirt and fatigue-colored cargo pants with matching shades, Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner redefined the country’s traditional formal wear during his courtesy call on President Aquino in Malacañang yesterday. Renner, along with the cast and crew of “Bourne Legacy” who all wore barong Tagalogs, arrived early for their 10 a.m. appointment with the President.

They thanked the government for its assistance during the filming of the fourth installment of the “Bourne” series. Present at the meeting with the President were Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino.

Carandang said the producers of the movie expressed admiration for the Philippine crew and producers for their professionalism and dedication. 

Renner came with Bourne Legacy executive production manager Daniel Stillman, executive producer Patrick Crowley and his Filipino counterpart, Jun Juban. “They were happy that they chose to film in Manila rather than the other locations they considered in Vietnam and Indonesia,” Carandang said. 

“The President in turn thanked them for choosing the Philippines and expressed hope that this would boost tourism and lead to more film productions being done in the country,” Carandang added. 

Aquino gave Renner and his companions a box of chocolates bearing the presidential seal and reading materials about his journey to the presidency, including a book titled, “Noynoy’s Sisters,” which May Tobias-Papa worked on with the Aquino sisters.   

Renner and company gave Aquino DVDs of the three “Bourne” movies – “The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” – and of the films “The Town” and “The Hurt Locker.”

Renner chatted with reporters and accommodated requests for photographs with him.

Actor Edward Norton and actress Rachel Weisz, who were also part of the film, were not able to join the courtesy call. Weisz had left and had been quoted as saying she could live in Palawan since it was so beautiful. 

Portions of the movie were shot in Metro Manila and Palawan over one and a half months.