FAMOUS lawyer and film producer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio expressed hope that the Philippines will emulate Prague when it comes to showing support to film makers and the industry in general, particularly in handling tax rebates.
Speaking at the premiere night of ‘Spring In Prague’ which was produced by his very own Borracho Films, Topacio shared that when they shot in Prague, they were able to get the necessary permits for location shoots and even the tax rebates faster than they expected.
It was learned that they had a Czech staff who helped them get permits to shoot in Sto. Nino de Prada and the airport in Prague, among others.
Topacio expressed admiration as to how the Film Council of the Czech Republic treated their party, saying: “Bilib ako… eight days kami doon (Prague)…hindi pa ako nakakaalis, ‘yung tax rebate naibalik na ulit eh. Sana ganun din kabilis ang fillm development council natin. Dito kasi, inaabot ng taon ang rebate eh.”
The said movie which is slated to be shown in Philippine cinemas nationwide on February 4, 2026, is about love that bloomed between a Czech woman (Sara Sandeva) and a Filipino resort owner (Paolo Gumabao) and how despite great odds, fate and destiny prevailed.
He shared that the movie came into being following a visit he made to Prague with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo years ago, where they learned from those who feted the former President about many Czech women falling in love with Filipinos.
Topacio said though, that the movie is no ordinary love story or romantic-comedy but a multi-layered one, citing how it is full of symbolisms especially between democracy and communism.
“The scenes have symbols… the resort, ‘yung tubig, diving, all symbolize freedom, fate, destiny, liberation as well as renewal. Puerto Galera represented summer and freedom, winter was oppression, spring was liberation… ‘yun ang historical context niyan,” he added.
“It made reference to the Prague spring, ‘yung revolution in 1968 that was brutally suppressed by the Soviets when Czechoslovakia was still part of the Soviet orbit. Nung di pa bumabagsak ang USSR, komunista po dati sila, nagrebelde sila nung 1968 kinanyon sila ng Soviets o USSR until ung 1990s, nung mag-collapse na ang Soviet Union, sa experience nila sa oppresssion ng communism, dinisband nila ang communist party and they became a democratic party. ‘Yun ang Spring in Prague, ‘yung ‘Velvet Revoluton’ na sinasabi nung lead star. So, it’s historical,” Topacio explained.
He also said that the scene which featured the annual ‘burning of witches’ festivity in Prague was supposed to herald the beginning of spring, adding: “sinusunog nila ang winter to reborn…’yun ang allusion dun sa Spring in Prague, ‘yung oppression was cast off by the people of Prague, naging malaya sila.”
According to Topacio, the movie is full of symbolisms between democracy and communism, oppression and freedom, liberation and renewal, as well as fate and destiny.
He expressed pride over how the men and women behind the film contributed to efforts to raise the bar when it comes to Filipino filmmaking.
“This is how movies should be made— pinaghihirapan, inabot ng ilang taon hindi slapped togeher very quickly na parang ginawa ng paa. This is art. We are not concerned with gross, we are concerned with greatness because a movie is forever,” he said.
Topacio added: “Ang aim namin ay para itaas ang antas ng pelikulang Pilipino na makakabalik tayo sa golden age of the 70s, 80s and 90s na talagang maganda ang pelikulang Pilipino.”
