Philippines yet to confirm France invites for Hollywood stars, royalty

MANILA, Philippines — The French government is still waiting for Philippine officials to agree with the invitation for world leaders and A-list Hollywood stars to visit Manila next month.

French Embassy press attaché Camille Conde confirmed Monday that possible invitations are being drafted by Élysée Palace for big-name personalities to join the delegation of French President François Hollande for his state visit to the Philippines to push for efforts against climate change.

"The list has been sent to [Foreign Affairs] Secretary Albert del Rosario," Conde said in a phone interview with Philstar.com.

She said the Department of Foreign Affairs will have to approve the list after considering its security, procedural and logistical implications.

The agency is likely to approve only some of the endorsed names, Conde added.

Among the movie stars reportedly drawn up for the visit are notable actors and advocates Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Leonardo di Caprio, Julia Roberts, Jeremy Irons, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Marion Cotillard and Melanie Laurent.

Business mogul Richard Branson, British Prince William, Monegasque Prince Albert, former American Vice President Al Gore and Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. were also invited.

Nobel laureates and key United Nations climate and environment officials may grace the occasion.

Hollande will visit the Philippines on February 26 and 27 to appeal for action on climate change ahead of an environmental agreement in Paris this year.

French President François Hollande and President Benigno Aquino III meet in Paris in September 2014. Élysée Palace/Released

The Philippine visit will be the first for a French leader.

Hollande's environment envoy Nicolas Hulot said the visit is aimed at sending a "common message to the international community."

"It can be a symbol, even a spark that can mobilize will and bring us back to our senses and to reason," Hulot said, citing the destruction caused by Supertyphoon Yolanda in the Philippines in 2013.