Hollywood icon Sam Neill basks in Filipino warmth while filming ‘The Last Resort’

Hollywood royalty walked among us this week, and if there’s one thing clear from his visit, it’s this: Sam Neill might as well be an honorary Filipino.

The veteran actor — best known for his iconic role in Jurassic Park — recently visited the Philippines for the filming of “The Last Resort,” a Hollywood romantic comedy that proudly showcases the country’s breathtaking beauty and heartwarming culture.

And just like the title of the film, Neill’s experience was nothing short of a retreat for the soul.

In a rare opportunity, we were invited to have a chat with the Hollywood great at his hotel suite.

Dressed proudly in a traditional Barong Tagalog, Neill welcomed us into his lounge with genuine warmth and candid stories about his time in the country.

Fresh from his visit to Malacañang, he recounted the honor of being received by President Bongbong Marcos, calling the moment “charming” and “deeply meaningful.”

“It was a great honor. We just met the President and had an audience with him — he was very much charming,” Neill shared with a smile.

Produced by the MVP Group, “The Last Resort” is more than just a film — it’s a cinematic love letter to the Philippines.

Megged by “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” director Donald Petrie and written by “Legally Blonde” screenwriter Karen McCullah, the film brings together an A-list cast led by “Star Wars” stars Daisy Ridley and Alden Ehrenreich.

In the story, Neill plays Daisy’s father, a powerful business tycoon who owns a chain of resorts. “He’s a powerful business guy. He probably owns a lot of resorts… and I loved working with this cast,” Neill explained.

President Bongbong Marcos meets with Neill and other members of the cast and production crew of Donald Petrie’s ‘The Last Resort,’ including Daisy Ridley and Alden Ehrenreich, during a courtesy call at Malacañang. Filmed in the Philippines, the Hollywood rom-com is produced by business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, along with Ernesto Sta. Maria Jr. and Raja Collins.

Though much of Neill’s scenes were shot in Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Bataan — far from the turquoise shores of Palawan or the powder-white sands of Boracay — what truly captivated the actor wasn’t the scenery, but the people.

“The Filipino crew was so lovely and helpful,” he recalled fondly with matching closed eyes. “It was a very enjoyable experience. I’m so happy to be back. So professional… They work very hard, they know exactly what to do. They’re enormously helpful, friendly and so warm.”

Neill’s deep admiration for Filipinos goes beyond the set. While he didn’t get to visit the exotic resorts that are the backdrop for the most parts of the film, Neill said that what truly stood out to him was the essence of Filipino hospitality and humanity — something that etched a permanent mark on his heart.

“Manila is so interesting to me. It’s not a pretty city — in fact, some of it is a bit of a mess — but there are cities in the world that are all about humanity, and this is one of them,” Neill said.

“It’s about the richness of human life. And if I had to choose between architecture or humanity, I’d choose humanity. The people here are so warm,” he added.

He even mused about Manila’s infamous traffic with fascination, marveling at the seeming chaos that somehow works because of the patience and politeness of Filipino drivers.

“I’ve never seen traffic like this before… You’d think there would be accidents all the time, but there aren’t — because people are just so nice and okay going about their day,” he added, laughing.

This is not the 77-year-old actor’s first time in the country, he had been here back in 1976 when he did a documentary about Kiwi architecture. His team went to Tondo as well with warning from people around him but he went anyway to check out the area.

With this columist during an exclusive interview.

Neill said he experienced the opposite of what the people were telling him about. “Of course, I wanted to get in the Tondo and everybody said, of course, you should not, you cannot get into Tondo, that is dangerous.

“But we said we wanted to and we met a priest who said if you want to come to Tondo, come with me. We said we were coming with you. And we went into the Tondo and it was so moving for me because I have never been anywhere where people were so sweet and so pleased to see us.

“So, it was an incredible afternoon I will never forget it. How beautiful the people were there living under the most difficult of circumstances and that was a great lesson for me.”

Fast forward to this decade, Neill also became emotional recalling a personal chapter from a few years ago, when he underwent surgery and was cared for by Filipino nurses during his recovery.

“About three years ago, I had a little operation. It took a while to recover and I needed good nursing care. Most of my nurses were Filipino and they were wonderful — so attentive and so good to me. I’ll never forget them. They were the best,” he said, his voice softening.

And in true Pinoy fashion, Neill didn’t leave the country empty-handed. He made sure to pick up some pasalubong from Tagaytay before flying out.

As Hollywood looks to the East for its next cinematic treasures, “The Last Resort” is shaping up to be a vibrant, feel-good showcase of what the Philippines truly offers — not just sun-soaked islands, but world-class talent and world-famous heart.

Catch “The Last Resort,” proudly produced by the MVP Group.