MANILA, Philippines — The tropical beauty of Cebu took center stage in the new Netflix romcom “Boyfriend on Demand”, where Blackpink’s Jisoo plays Seo Mi-rae, a webtoon designer who dreams of escaping to the island paradise.
Premiering on March 6, the series opens with Mi-rae riding a train after a busy day at work. As she puts on her headphones, she imagines herself strolling along Cebu’s beaches, greeted by warm resort staff and tropical drinks, with the country’s tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines,” highlighted in the montage.
“Last summer in the Philippines was the best. I wish I could go swimming. When is summer coming?” Mi-rae muses in the fantasy sequence, before snapping back to reality after a playful encounter with a child.
The sixth episode revisits Cebu, where Mi-rae is joined by her officemate Park Kyeong-nam (played by Seo In-guk) to explore more of the island’s crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches. Filming locations included the Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Shangri-La Mactan, and other scenic streets across the province, according to the Department of Tourism and the resort’s Facebook pages.
While the exact filming dates are not confirmed, Jisoo and Seo were reportedly spotted in Cebu in February 2025. Neither Netflix nor the series’ production team has disclosed additional details.
“Boyfriend on Demand” follows Mi-rae as she turns to a boyfriend-simulation app to escape her mundane life. She meets various idealized virtual boyfriends based on dream date locations and personality traits but eventually finds herself drawn to Kyeong-nam, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.
The show’s vibrant depiction of Cebu is expected to boost tourism interest, showcasing the province as a prime destination for both local and international travelers.
