MTRCB forum promotes responsible viewing

CEBU, Philippines - The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is betting on students to help them spread the ‘responsible and intelligent viewing’ mindset, aided by the regulatory body’s enhanced classification system for television and cinema.

MTRCB recently held back-to-back “Para sa Matalinong Panonood” campus forums at the University of Southern Philippines and at the University of Cebu-Banilad, attended mostly by college students.  The information drive aimed to raise public awareness and participation on MTRCB’s Revised Classification Rating for Television, Revised Classification Rating for Films, and Color Coded Film Rating Advisory campaign.

The forum panel was composed of MTRCB board members Mario Hernando, Jackie Aquino, Bobby Andrews, Joy Bautista and Francia Conrado.

“Nilalapit namin ito sa mga estudyante kasi we’re aware that nowadays, both parents are working. Sa bahay, wala masyadong naiiwan to care for the little kids. The Ates or the Kuyas, when they come home from school, they’re the ones responsible enough to filter or determine if the shows their younger siblings are watching are appropriate for them,” board member and MTRCB’s Child Protection committee chair Francia Conrado told The FREEMAN.

Conrado noticed that in most universities they’ve visited, there are less and less film viewers among students, who take advantage of free television instead. This is the reason MTRCB is more vigilant in reviewing television programs, she said.

“Walang status na pinipili ang television. Almost all households, merong TV. Hindi mo kailangang maging mayaman to own one. Kaya ang free television talaga ang binabantayan namin because it’s the easiest form of media na naaabot lahat. And we have a lot of TV shows these days that are not fit for children. That’s why if you notice now, those SPG-rated (Strong Parental Guidance) shows are not allowed to be aired during primetime. Nine o’clock in the evening onwards, doon lang pumapasok yung mga SPG.”

Parameters

Launched last October, the revised ratings for television are as follows: General Patronage (“G”), Parental Guidance (“PG”), Strong Parental Guidance (“SPG”) and Disapproved for Airing on TV (“X”); while the revised ratings for motion pictures are General Patronage (“G”), Parental Guidance (“PG”), Restricted-13 (R-13), Restricted-16 (R-16) , Restricted-18 (R-18) and Not for Public Exhibition (X).

There is a 10-second full-screen written and verbal stinger of the program’s classification rating immediately before the opening credits, plus a standard pictogram advisory is super-imposed on-screen all throughout the airing of a show.

“Kung nasa bahay ka, kahit hindi ka nakatutok sa TV, mapapalingon ka kapag narinig mo yung ‘Ang programang ito ay rated SPG.’ When you hear that, at alam mong nanonood yung batang kapatid mo, definitely, mag-iisip ka na ‘Palitan natin yan. Hindi pwede sa iyo yan,’” Conrado added.

Actor and fellow board member Bobby Andrews stressed that the advisories are designed to empower household members to exercise caution and vigilance with the viewing habits of children.

“With the new ratings, we are giving you parameters at home. We are also encouraging the public that if they see something objectionable, write to us at mtrcb.gov.ph. If it’s a valid complaint, you can be sure it will be acted on,” Andrews said.

Grassroots campaign

Almost every other week, MTRCB officers take turns visiting provinces to explain what the different kinds of classifications mean. This is in line with MTRCB’s belief that an empowered citizenry will usher in a more vibrant entertainment industry.

For instance, SPG emphasizes greater parental responsibility on children watching shows that contain more serious topics or themes, while the R-16 status represents a mid-ground between ages 13 and 18 on films.

Conrado further explained that the role of MTRCB is to age-classify and not impose on producers and filmmakers on what to show and what not to show.

“Pinapaunawa natin that MTRCB is not into censorship. We’re targeting to show everything on TV and even on films, kahit yung may maseselang eksena, provided that it has striktong patnubay at gabay ng mga magulang,” she said.

She feels MTRCB’s reputation of  “cutting” scenes not to their liking has been erased thanks to the leadership of former MTRCB chairperson Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares.

“Noon, pagka sinabing MTRCB, walang masyadong dating kasi hindi nagkaroon ng sapat na information drive. Ang iniisip kasi palagi ng pangkalahatan, censorhip, o pumuputol ng mga eksena. Actually, we are not into censorship. Hindi nga kami pumuputol sa kung ano man yung hindi namin nagustuhan. Kung hindi talaga siya puwede, then we give it an X rating. The correct terms for what we do are ratings and classification.”

New chief  Conrado said their recently-appointed chairman is bent on continuing MTRCB’s thrust on information drive efforts and consistent dialogue with industry stakeholders.

President Benigno Aquino III selected Atty. Eugenio “Toto” H. Villareal as the new MTRCB chairman effective first week of December, taking the post vacated by Llamanzares who is running for senator under the administration banner in next year’s elections. Villareal is a litigation officer and prior to his appointment, sat as one of MTRCB’s board members.

Conrado described Villareal as “very objective, articulate and a very, very religious person. He is a College of Law professor at the Ateneo de Manila. Mabait at makatao, just like our former chairman. Hindi na rin malayo sa kanya yung movie industry because he has been a favorite lawyer of the stars, like Judy Ann Santos, among others. For now though, he can no longer do that because there will be a conflict of interest.” (FREEMAN)