Tourists Upset as Mantigue Island Closes for Julia Barretto’s Photoshoot
JULIA BARRETTO – The actress and her team faced criticism after a scheduled photoshoot led to the unexpected closure of Mantigue Island in Camiguin, leaving several tourists frustrated.
Visitors took to social media to express their disappointment, calling out both the local tourism office and the actress for disrupting their travel plans. Among those affected was tourist Nikka Kho, who shared her experience on Facebook.
According to her, she and other visitors were set to explore Mantigue Island last weekend but were informed upon arrival that the island was temporarily closed for a celebrity shoot. They were told it would reopen by noon, so they adjusted their plans accordingly. However, when they arrived on time, they found many other tourists waiting, including some who had flights to catch. Despite the given schedule, the shoot extended beyond 1 PM, forcing many to either cancel or reschedule their plans.
Kho criticized the local government of Camiguin for prioritizing a single celebrity over paying tourists. She stressed that if closures like this are necessary, authorities should provide at least a week’s notice to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.
She also addressed Julia Barretto’s team directly, calling their actions inconsiderate. While acknowledging their work, she argued that shutting down a public island for hours without regard for other visitors was unfair. She suggested that the shoot could have been scheduled earlier in the day to avoid peak hours. According to her, instead of gaining admiration, the situation only turned potential fans into critics.
As of now, neither Julia Barretto nor the Camiguin local government has responded to the complaints.
Mantigue Island is one of Camiguin’s top tourist attractions, known for its clear waters and white sand. The unexpected closure has sparked discussions about how public destinations should be managed when used for private events.
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