THE Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is set to celebrate its 50th edition with a grand Parade of Stars on Saturday (Dec. 21) in Manila which serves as host city for the affair.
The parade, one of the most anticipated events leading up to the MMFF’s official opening, will showcase vibrantly-designed and colorful floats carrying celebrities from 10 official entries participating in the festival: The entries are “The Kingdom,” “Topakk,” “Espantaho,” “And The Breadwinner Is…,” “Uninvited,” “Hold Me Close,” “Green Bones,” “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital,” “Isang Himala,” and “My Future You”.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and MMFF chairman Romando Artes said this year’s parade promises to be an unforgettable experience for both filmmakers and audiences alike as it commemorates five decades of MMFF’s milestone edition.
“We are expecting large crowds to flock the parade route to see their favorite stars, so we have laid down measures and deployment plans to ensure everyone’s safety,” said Artes.
“At least 3,000 personnel from the MMDA, the Manila city government, the Office of the Civil Defense-National Capital Region, and the Philippine National Police, and other concerned agencies will be deployed along the parade route to manage crowd control and ensure a smooth flow of the activities during the parade,” he added.
The parade will start at 3 p.m. from the Kartilya ng Katipunan and cruise along Natividad Lopez St. then right at P. Burgos St. straight toward Jones Bridge to Quintin Paredes and Reina Regente Sts., proceed to Recto Ave. and Abad Santos Ave., then Tayuman St. toward Lacson Ave. to España Blvd. left to Nicanor Reyes St. (Morayta), then left to C.M. Recto Ave., right to Legarda St. straight to P. Casal St. to Ayala Blvd., left to Taft Ave. then right to T.M.
Kalaw St., right to Roxas Blvd. and back to P. Burgos going to Magallanes Drive toward the Manila Central Post Office.
The route will cover approximately 12 kilometers and is expected to last about two hours and 30 minutes. Street sweepers will clean the affected roads immediately after the parade.
Upon arrival at the Manila Central Post Office, the audience will have the chance to mingle with the stars followed by a music festival.
As part of the traffic management plan, temporary lane closures and stop-and-go scheme will be implemented from 12 noon to 8 p.m. along the parade route.
Motorists are advised to take alternate roads to avoid inconvenience.
The southbound lanes of MacArthur Bridge will be closed to traffic: All Vehicles must take Dasmariñas St., then turn left to Juan Luna St., left toward Plaza Cervantes, turn right at Quintin Paredes, go straight to Jones Bridge, turn right at Magallanes Drive to their destination.
