Hollywood films we didn't know were shot in Cordillera

Photo Courtesy || Marvel Studios

Cordillera - The Philippines, especially the Cordilleras is a perfect spot for shooting films. With its lush forests, picturesque scenery and tall mountains, the Cordillera is an inviting backdrop for international films like Hollywood.

Don't you know that a Hollywood film "The Year of Living Dangerously", starred by award-winning actor Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver was shot in Manila and Ifugao in the 80s?

Directed by Peter Weir, the film is a story of an Australian Journalist who went to Indonesia to report on the eventual ouster of its President. 

READ ALSO: Design for New NAIA terminal is inspired by Cordillera's Banaue Rice Terraces

The film was supposed to be shot in Indonesia but was denied permission. The crew moved their production in the Philippines but later halted after the film was perceived to be anti-islam by local Muslims in the country. You can notice the famous Banaue Rice Terraces in the background.

Two decades later, another Hollywood film, "The Avengers: Infinity war" was shot in Banawe, Ifugao. Produced by Marvel Studious, the film is a superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team. 

Premiered in April 2018, the last scene of the film featured the famous Batad Rice Terraces in Ifugao.

READ ALSO: The Banaue Rice Terraces was built by the Ifugaos of Cordillera, NOT by the Chinese

The Philippines Unit of the film, the Indochina Production confirmed that the areal scene was indeed shot in the Philippines.

In the scene, Thanos was seen sitting in a small hut gazing at a rice field in Batad which is home to best and well-preserved rice terraces in the Cordillera region.

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LOOK: Design for New NAIA terminal is inspired by Cordillera's Banaue Rice Terraces

Photo Courtesy || Megawide

Cordillera - People of Cordillera will have another thing to be proud of as the design for the new NAIA is inspired by the the Banaue Rice Terraces.

The company Megawide with its partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd (GMR) revealed the architectural design of the new NAIA Terminal 1 that cost around P109 billion. 

In the proposed design, the central landscape of the terminal will be called the "Hagdan" (Steps) which is a sunken garden that reflect the Banaue Rice Terraces. 

Their will be a walk-way in the middle of the terraces so passenger can go and relax while waiting for their flights. 

Photo Courtesy || Megawide

"Our intent is to create a dedicated, enjoyable space where people can relax while waiting for connecting flights or arriving passenger, and where departing passengers can spend more time with their loved ones," Megawide Executive Director for Infrastructure Louie Ferrer said.  

The terraces design can be viewed in upper levels that are intended for the parking and commercial building.

The Banaue Rice Terraces is one of the national heritage landmark of the Philippines and the called the 8th wonders of the world.

It was built largely by hand by the Ifugaos of Cordillera over 2000 years ago. 

Read the message from Megawide Corporation as it introduces the First-World NAIA Terminal "Hagdan".

“As the first and last impression visitors will have of the Philippines, NAIA itself should deliver a positive, unforgettable experience that people can equate with their stay, something truly Filipino. We’re not just rehabilitating an airport – we're creating a new symbol for the country,” said Louie Ferrer, Megawide Executive Director for Infrastructure Development.

The First-World NAIA celebrates the wonders of the Philippines. The vision for Terminal 1 is inspired by one of our national heritage landmarks, the 8th Wonder of the World: Banaue Rice Terraces. Designed with a woven roof structure and multi-level pathways, it will create a new "wonder" for the Philippines. 

The Banaue Rice Terraces are an organized system of irrigated rice terraces built more than 2,000 years ago by our Ifugao brethren. It is the product of perseverance, innovation, and community spirit, which we aim to celebrate. 

Our goal is to not only promote tourism to the area but also help preserve the culture, continuity, and natural beauty of the actual site. 

The transformed Terminal 1 is designed by Integrated Design Associates Ltd Hong Kong, the same architectural firm behind the MCIA Terminal 2 and the new Clark International Airport new passenger terminal building. 

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Stranded tourists in Banaue turn Community Quarantine into an unforgettable farm experience

Photo Courtesy || Sherwin Lee

Cordillera - Instead of worrying about what will happen to them in Cordillera due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine, these tourists decided to experience farming by helping locals in a farm. 

In a Facebook post by Sherwin Lee, two young tourists were seen transplanting rice seedling somewhere in Banaue, Ifugao. 

These tourists see the positive side of the ECQ and took the chance to learn how Cordillerans live and provide food to their families.

Netizens were delighted to notice the tourist and commended them for turning the ECQ into a unforgettable farm experience. 

"It's ok to be stranded in the province rather than Manila. There are lots of adventure and experience that will never be forgotten... Your experience will teach you how to survive in any crisis," a netizen wrote.

READ ALSO: Cordilleran farmers choose generosity over profit; Sell veggies for less to help government in relief operation

Netizen Christopher Calyaen said, "That's the good thing these virus send because tourist can learn from us on how we live and do our sources in life. We have to see the positive side of these ECQ. In other Cordillera places they enjoyed farming and do the usual things as they plant in the farm. While in urban they are fighting cock and full of covid mouth. Kudos to the tourist it's praticum time to plant rice and learn more."

Another netizen is inviting to the two tourists to come back after 4 months to experience harvesting the rice they had planted.

READ ALSO: Sadanga, Mountain Province refuses food packs, donates it to less fortunate instead

"Memories to tell in your home country. Come back after 4 months for the harvest time to complete the fun," Fely Pangwi said.

In Ifugao, There is a tradition called "Urpi", the planting season in Banaue where in only women are assigned to sow the rice seedlings for reason of fertility and good harvest, according to netizen Corazon Nacionales.

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The Banaue Rice Terraces was built by the Ifugaos of Cordillera, NOT by the Chinese

Photo Courtesy || Lonely Planet

Cordillera - A new video released by Lonely Planet - a popular travel guide book publisher has been criticized heavily by Filipino netizens when it described that the Banaue Rice Terraces were built by the Chinese. 

The famed Banaue Rice Terraces located in the Northern Luzon was dubbed as the "Eight Wonder of the World. 

According the Lonely Planet video, it noted that the rice terraces were "first built around 2,000 years ago by the Chinese."

A screenshot of the video at 0.50 mark clearly shows the texts over the video that says "These mud-walled rice terraces were first built around 2,000 years ago by the Chinese."

Many netizens who have watched the video were quick to correct the erroneous description via social media. 

An Instagram user named Jose Ruperto Martir posted in his account, "Dear @lonelyplanet, the Banaue Rice Terraces were built by the Filipino indigenous people, not by the Chinese."

Photo Courtesy || Jose Ruperto Martir

"The Banaue Rice Terraces was built by the Filipino natives, particularly Igorots. China did not invade Philippines in the past nor did they build any infrastructures in our country. Until recently," one Facebook user commented. 

The video was later taken down by Lonely Planet.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published in its website, the Banaue Rice Terraces are "priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity, Built 2000 years ago and passed of from generation to generation..." by the Ifugao people living in the area.

The rice terraces is located in the province of Ifugao, and it is one of the country's Natural Cultural Treasures.

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Watch: Banaue Rice Terraces featured in National Geographic YT Channel

Cordillera - The National Geographic YouTube Channel has featured the scenic Banaue Rice Terraces of the Cordillera Region.

Published on September 1, 2018, the video has now over 44,000 views and counting. The channel described Banaue Rice Terraces as a preserved cultural landscape that was passed down for 2,000 years.

Here is the additional description from National Geographic:

"A living cultural landscape is nestled into the remote slopes of the Cordillera mountain range in the Philippines. It serves as an example of sustainable agriculture with traditional techniques. For 2,000 years the mountains of Ifugao province have been cultivated with terraced fields that climb thousands of feet. These fields, and the knowledge to farm them, have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. They have long been central to the survival of the Ifugao peoples but they also occupy a central importance within their culture. Entire communities cooperate on seasonal systems of planting, pest control, and harvest. The coordinated efforts are tied to lunar cycles and sometimes accompanied with religious rituals. The UNESCO site encompasses five different clusters of rice terraces in the area. The Banaue Rice Terraces are the most famous of the lot. Banaue is approximately 230 miles north of Manila, and buses depart daily from the capital. It can take up to ten hours to make it up the mountainous terrain to the rice fields."

Watch the video below:
video credit: National Geographic

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