Some Moviegoers in the Philippine capital, tired of lengthy COVID -19 restrictions, are now opting for taste of Venice, bobbing in front of the big screen in socially distanced gondolas.
What is Gondolier?
Basically the gondolier are in their stripped uniforms who steer and position each boat in an outdoor canal to watch a full length films, which is a rare chance to visit the cinema after nine months of lockdowns.
“Riding a boat made it a unique experience,” said Patron Violet Gatchalian. “It’s also one of the first Cinemas to reopen so we wanted to try it”, he added.
Philippine cinema have been closed since mid- March, when President Rodrigo Duterte imposed one of the world’s toughest and longest lockdowns. With more then 456,000 corona virus cases and 8,875 COVID-19 deaths, the Philippines is the Southeast Asia’s hardest-hit country after Indonesia.
The government started gradually reopening the economy in June, but most of the non-essentials businesses remains shut in Manila, the gondola cinema and a drive through theatre are the only movie venues.
Gondola moviegoers may sit two at a boat, with upto 10 guests per screening and boats kept metres apart. Admissions is 500 pesos, roughly the minimum daily wage in the capital.