MARIBOJOC – A multi-million historical movie, currently on its pre-production stage, is set in a sleepy little village of northern Maribojoc. As early as this month, the pre-production activities were already attracting tourists far and wide. Toril is the main location site of “BARYO,” a film depicting the relationship of the poor villagers of San Isidro and the American soldiers in the early part of the latter's invasion in the Philippines. American independent film director and screenwriter John Sayles is BARYO's meg man and screenplay writer, with Maggie Renzi as producer. Actor Joel Torre and Mario Ontal co-produce Baryo. Chris Cooper, Oscar Award's winner for the film "Adaptation," plays an American colonel. Heading the Filipino cast are Torre who plays Rafael, a well-loved mayor, and dramatic actress Rio Locsin, as first lady Corazon. Aspiring local artists who auditioned for the film will act as bit players and village folk plus hundreds of extras.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Joel Torre said that he was excited about Sayles historical war drama. He said that he is in good company. Asked how he met Sayles, Torre replied, “I met John in 1999. He is a renaissance man. He is always on top of things, but he does not impose himself on others. Ours is a teacher-mentor relationship. He never runs out of ideas.” Aside from Toril, Aton Productions will shoot the Clarin Ancestral Home in Loay on the first shooting day (Feb. 2); the Basdacu Cave in Loon, where the Filipino guerrillas camped; the Panglao church sacristy; and the mangrove area managed by the San Vicente Mangrove Association (SAVIMA), a people's organization in Barangay San Vicente, Maribojoc. The first movie filmed in Maribojoc was a Cesar Ramirez starrer – the “Lagablab sa Maribojoc.” King of action movies, Fernando Poe, Jr., came in next with his action flick “Esteban,” which was shot in the historical Punta Cruz Watchtower. With the top-ranked, big-budgeted period picture “Baryo” mainly shot in this history-rich coastal municipality, Maribojoc is concededly the film capital of Bohol . (FCF)