The map of the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Parade of Stars. Image: MMFF/Facebook
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has advised motorists in Manila to avoid certain roads on Dec. 21 as the city will host this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) traditional Grand Parade of Stars.
The parade will start at 3 p.m. from the Kartilya ng Katipunan monument near Manila City Hall and pass through Natividad Lopez Street, turn right on P. Burgos Drive, cross Jones Bridge toward Quintin Paredes, Reina Regente Streets, followed by Abad Santos Avenue, Tayuman Street, Lacson Avenue, España Boulevard, Nicanor Reyes (formerly Morayta) Street, C.M. Recto Avenue, then right on Legarda Street and P. Casal Street.
It will then cross Ayala Bridge, traverse Ayala Boulevard, go around Rizal Park via Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Roxas Boulevard and P. Burgos Avenue, before ending at Liwasang Bonifacio in front of the Manila Central Post Office (MCPO). A music festival will be held afterward at the MCPO.
The MMDA said the parade would cover a distance of approximately 12 kilometers and could last around two hours and 30 minutes.
Traffic plan
As part of the traffic management plan, temporary lane closures and a stop-and-go scheme would be implemented from 12 noon to 8 p.m. along the parade route.
The MMDA advised motorists to take alternate routes to avoid inconvenience.
MacArthur Bridge southbound will be also closed to traffic so all vehicles must take Dasmariñas Street then turn left on Juan Luna Street, turn left on Plaza Cervantes, turn right on Quintin Paredes, go straight to Jones Bridge and turn right on Magallanes Drive to their destination.
MMDA Chair Romando Artes, who is also the MMFF chair, said this year’s parade “promises to be an unforgettable experience for both filmmakers and audiences” as it commemorates the film festival’s 50th year.
READ: MMFF 2024 Parade of Stars set for Dec. 21 in Manila
The parade will feature floats of the 10 official entries to the MMFF: “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.”
“We are expecting large crowds to flock to the parade route to see their favorite stars so we have laid down measures and deployment plans to ensure everyone’s safety,” Artes said in a statement.
He said at least 3,000 personnel from the MMDA, Manila City government, Office of the Civil Defense-National Capital Region, Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies would be deployed along the parade route for crowd control.