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2006 Press Releases
March 28, 2006
February 23, 2006
March 28, 2006
The Editor
The Philippine Star
Sir:
We strongly denounce the front page article entitled: “Is
MTRCB promoting Satanism, blasphemy?”, written by Sandy
Araneta that the Philippine Star published last 23 March 2006.
The one-sided article was based on the libelous complaint
of one Aldo Filomeno, spokesman of the Philippine Alliance
Against Pornography (PAAP). Please be informed that Filomeno
once filed a formal complaint for several movies, which included
“Batman Begins”, with the Office of the President.
He claimed that the movies were not suited for children. He
affixed signatures of several PAAP officers, which was disowned
by the alleged signatories because Filomeno had not validly
secured their actual conformity and express consent, for which
he could have been held criminally accountable for Falsification
of Official Documents. His complaint was filled with perjurious,
false, inaccurate and slanderous statements, without any factual
foundation. MTRCB Board members against whom he filed the
complaint decided not to pursue any criminal complaint as
they felt then it was a waste of time and energy to prosecute
a malicious, hypocritical, and criminal-minded person, who
pretends to be morally righteous. But his continuing baseless
accusations can no longer go unanswered.
In the spirit of fairness, and true and accurate reportage,
however, and in behalf of the Board members identified in
the erroneous, false, and grossly exaggerated article, we
vehemently demand that your newspaper publish this response
with the same front page coverage that said article received.
MTRCB is a mere review and classification board. It does
not purport to be a censorship board albeit it provides for
specific guidelines in which some movies can be disapproved
for public showing if the dominant theme primarily focuses
on, and appeals to, extreme sexually prurient interests or
satisfies the craving or market for gratuitous sex or violence.
It does not produce or distribute movies, much less advertise
or promote them. Each movie is assigned to a review committee
composed of 3 Board Members. If there is anything objectionable,
a second review committee composed of 5 other Board Members
is assigned to submit its own recommendations. As a democratic
organization, the majority decision prevails but with due
consideration for the minority view.
“Hostel” was rated “R-18”, meaning
Strictly for Adult Audiences only. As it was classified for
adults and allowed only adults to enter the cinemas, how could
such a movie promote unhealthy ideas for children? Any cinema
that shows R-18 movies to children can be closed down or suspended.
In fact, it is the incumbent MTRCB administration that has
a record of suspending and closing down the most number of
cinemas, something achieved by any MTRCB official, or even
by present officers of anti-pornography movements when they
were still MTRCB Board members.
“Hostel” depicted nudity and prostitution in
Amsterdam, a country where prostitution is legally allowed.
It showed cultural realities of Western Europe in deep contrast
to social realities in Eastern Europe, where syndicates are
involved in slaughtering human beings for sado-masochistic
pleasure or for organ harvesting. It manifested a social reality
where adolescent children, neglected by their parents and
their communities, seek refuge in the streets with their peer
gangs. Raised in such unfriendly and hostile environments,
children become cruel, contaminated with criminal behavior
from their peers living in the streets. “Hostel”
conveys the message that failure in the nurturance of children
results in the creation of cruel human beings, with no regard
for human life, as they themselves have been consigned to
the meanness of a cruel, uncaring society. These are the children
who grow up to become abusive police, members of criminal
syndicates, and political leaders who care only for self-aggrandizement
and wealth. Although it showed cannibalism and cruelty, it
was not allowed for child viewers as the very same descriptions
were observed by the review committee.
In malice, Filomeno made it appears that the film was reviewed
exclusively by Lawyer Eric Mallonga and Betty Molina. Records
show that Molina was not even a member of the review committee
while Mallonga was the only one among 3 committee members,
who recommended an “X” rating. The review committee
was chaired by Alfred “Krip” Yuson, a columnist
of the Philippine Star. Yuson and Jaime Bengzon gave the movie
an “R-18” with the following Committee report:
“The committee votes 2 to 1 in favor of an “R-18”
classification, due to excessively gory scenes, nudity and
extreme violence. This is mitigated somehow by artistic control
& intention for this genre of film. However, the committee
still recommends strongly that an advisory be written warning
viewers, in this wise: ‘THIS FILM CONTAINS WHAT MAY
BE CONSIDERED AS EXCESSIVE SCENES OF VIOLENCE, APART FROM
FOUL LANGUAGE AND NUDITY. GORY SCENES ARE ALSO PRESENTED INCLUSIVE
OF TORTURE AND SAD-MASOCHISM. THIS SHOULD FOREWARN THE VIEWER
REGARDING THIS HORRIFIC FILM OF THE EXTREME HORROR GENRE.”
These comments, more particularly the advisory, appear in
the front window of the box-office and in the opening credits
of the movie itself to warn the adult viewers on the movie’s
thematic, visual and verbal content.
When Filomeno says, “Indeed, the film promotes Satanism
without due respect to God, life and children,” his
opinion may be what the movie is about, but not what the MTRCB
is about. By classifying the movie for adults only, the MTRCB
is not promoting the Satanism of Filomeno or his Satanic comments.
“Casanova,” was rated “R-13”, meaning
strictly viewable by ages 13 and older. The movie depicted
a nun having sex with a man within the confines of a convent
and also group sex, as well as a bishop and his assistant
torturing three men. The nun having sex and the group sex
involved people fully clothed or wrapped in blankets. Such
sex acts were merely suggestive and implied, not even evident,
and which only a man with a malicious imagination could conceive
as graphic. It was a period movie that depicted the medieval
era wherein cardinals and bishops tortured people for adultery,
sacrilege, and blasphemy. It captured the hypocrisy of the
Catholic Church, which claimed moral righteousness, yet its
very own officials engaged in sexual liaisons, which even
Jose Rizal exposed in his novels. It was such a beautiful
movie that depicted the legendary Casanova turning his back
on a life of pleasure, wealth and gratification to be forever
with the woman of great intellect, who captured his heart
and soul. Because it was based on real narratives and depicted
in such an inoffensive manner, MTRCB reviewers Mallonga, Molina
and Carmela Padilla gave it R-13. What is blasphemous in such
a movie? And further, what is blasphemous in approving such
a movie for cinematic release? We observe that the only blasphemous
acts are committed by Filomeno, who treats God at the same
level as nuns and priests.
“Munich”was rated R-13. But what is “dehumanizing
and traumatizing” about Jews seeking out the assassins
of their Jewish sports heroes in the famous Black September
massacre. The movie was, in fact, a faithful depiction of
a historical narrative in the continuing story of the Jewish
aspiration for a homeland. Sexual nudity and breast exposures
were mere incidents, manifesting the all-too-human character
of the person assigned to seek revenge upon the Black September
assassins. Reviewed by Marra Lanot, Lucia Orense and Ricardo
de Leon, it was so classified because it is a value-laden
movie about loyalty to family and country, which conveniently
escapes Filomeno’s malicious mind.
“Derailed,” rated R-13, allegedly depicts rape,
marital infidelity, harsh words, sadistic scenes, as well
as a man assuring his victim of many rounds of sex. But there
is nothing graphic and most sex scenes are merely suggestive.
Assurances of sex are merely fictional. Reviewed by MTRCB
reviewers Joey Romero, Edmund Sicam and Teresita Villarama,
the movie was not offensive, and was essentially about the
sophistication of con-artists who ruin a man by taking away
his life savings.
“V for Vendetta,” rated R-13, is a film about
crusader against evil injustice and societal corruption, which
galvanizes an entire country to rise up against the government.
Reviewed by Molina, Tarnate and Butch Bautista, there was
nothing offensive about a crusader who fights corruption,
injustice and crime. Filomeno may perhaps want corruption,
injustice and crime to flourish by suppressing beautiful movies
that expose such events.
“Brokeback Mountain,” rated R-18, is about a
haunting, sensitive love story that spans some 20 years breaks
old stereotypes of the macho cowboy. Love scenes with some
nudity and the complexity of the relationship between the
two men warranted mature viewership, which is the reason for
the restricted adult audience classification. Reviewed by
Mario Hernando, Orense and Butch Bautista, the scenes of nudity
were merely incidental to the loving relationship between
two gay cowboys.
The answer to the query: “Is MTRCB promoting Satanism,
blasphemy?” is clearly in the negative. It is none other
than Aldo Filomeno, who is promoting Satanism and blasphemy
in his malicious and criminally libelous acts. We ask that
your news daily refuse the trash being fed the public by a
hypocrite who claims to be concerned about Filipino children
yet shows no evidence of his work for children languishing
on the streets, in jails, in slums, and in the orphanages.
Anticipating your faithful publication of this response,
we thank you.
Very truly yours,
MA. CONSOLIZA P. LAGUARDIA
Chairperson
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23 February 2006
MTRCB Chairmperson Ma. Consoliza P. Laguardia called the cable
program producer that broadcast the allegedly controversial
cartoon program “South Park” aired on JACK TV
channel to the MTRCB for a preliminary conference on the issues
raised by concerned citizens on the allegedly offensive nature
of the program to Roman Catholics. Laguardia immediately ordered
Solar Entertainment, Inc. to submit the tapes of the cartoon
program and the review of the program’s tapes aired
on several dates, more particularly from the period January
28 to Febrauary 15, 2006.
An investigating committee had been created to review and
investigate the cartoon program “South Park” comprised
of MTRCB Board Members Orlando Ros Olgado, Alfred Yuson and
Atty. Paulino Cases. The committee has been tasked to submit
its findings and recommendations with dispatch.
MTRCB Chairperson Laguardia immediately took the necessary
measures to determine whether the program should be placed
under preventive suspension pending investigation. As a result,
the involved cable program producer voluntarily agreed to
desist from airing the cartoon program “South Park”
until further notice.
In the meantime, the alleged complainants have been invited
by the MTRCB Chairperson to submit their sworn complaints
before the MTRCB.
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