'Bourne' Star Rachel Weisz's Heart Goes For Poor Pinoys

Barely three weeks since landing on Philippine soil, “Bourne Legacy” lead actress Rachel Weisz already expressed her deep concern for one of the country’s main problems – poverty.

This was according to actor John Arcilla, who shot a scene with the Hollywood actress in the film.

The fourth of the “Bourne” franchise is currently shooting in several Metro Manila locations.

Weisz, who is married to “James Bond” star Daniel Craig (also a recent visitor to the country to spend time with his wife), saw for herself the number of informal settlers around the metro. The shoot has taken Weisz to Manila, Navotas Fish Port, Marikina City and Pasay-Taft.

“Every break, nagkukuwentuhan kami ni Rachel and she’s more concerned with the poverty in the Philippines. She’s asking if the people in the squatters area on the side are just numbers of poor people in the Philippines or are there more. Hindi na ako nahiya, sabi ko they’re a lot... and sabi niya, ‘are these the poorest?’ I said no, they’re not the poorest,” Arcilla said in an interview with ANC.

The theater veteran, who has acted in international productions like “Born on the Fourth of July” (with Tom Cruise) and “McBain” (with Christopher Walken), said, “There’s this kilig... but sometimes you have to control it a little because sometimes you have this feeling you don’t wanna look like a fan... I have to be there as an actor to work with these actors,” he said. In the film, Arcilla plays the role of head security.

“The Bourne Legacy” is the fourth novel in the Jason Bourne series, written and directed by Oscar-nominated Tony Gilroy. Its lead stars are Jeremy Renner, Weisz and Edward Norton.

The film is set for August, 2012 release in the Philippines.

By JECELYN V. MACAHINDOG