So what’s the difference between the MTRCB and the FRB?

Up to now, a lot of people still can’t make the distinction between the Movie & Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the Film Ratings Board (FRB). For those who are still confused with regard to the functions of these two agencies, here’s a brief explanation. The MTRCB was set up by the government to determine the audience suitability of films (both local and foreign) that are going to be shown in the country. Their classifications are as follows: X, R (for adults only), PG-13 and GP or general patronage.

The FRB, on the other hand, is only concerned with the artistic merits of a Filipino-made movie. (Foreign films exhibited in the Philippines do not pass through the FRB.) Movies that are rated A get a 100 percent tax rebate, while those that get a B rating are given a 65 percent tax rebate. (Vilma Santos’ Anak benefited a lot from its B rating last year because it was a box-office and its producer, Star Cinema, got a huge amount in tax rebates.)

The FRB has been around since the time of Marcos. The composition of its board, however, changes with every new administration.

In 1999, I was appointed to this board by the Estrada government. But when Erap was forced to leave Malacañang last January, all of us board members had to submit our courtesy resignation.

Two weeks ago, I was told that I had been reappointed to the board by the administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Actually, I didn’t know if I was going to be happy or sad about my reappointment to the FRB.

The first time around - during Estrada’s term - I was already hesitant to accept the position because it would require me to go to Louie’s Cinema for the screenings. And Louie’s Cinema is in the very heart of Makati and this meant that I had to subject myself to this premiere city’s one-way streets and forever clogged arteries. Not a very thrilling idea.

But I remember it was Bibeth Orteza who convinced me to say yes two years ago to this presidential appointment. She said I had to do it as a civic duty.

The job in itself isn’t really difficult. You only have to watch a movie and give it the corresponding grade afterward. Of course, there are occasions when you get stuck with really lousy films that you have to finish up to the very end. This happens a lot of times. But on really lucky days, you encounter gems and this makes the FRB screenings a very pleasurable experience.

Getting to the FRB screenings, however, is the difficult part. The screenings are usually scheduled at 12 noon. But lunch is served at a little past 11. I live in La Vista in Quezon City and to get to Louie’s Cinema, I have to give myself more than two hours of travel time.

I usually leave the house at 9:30 a.m. and waste a good 30 to 40 minutes negotiating traffic in Katipunan (Ateneo side) and in White Plains. EDSA - which is a nightmare to most people during rush hours - surprisingly becomes a motorists’ paradise late in the morning.

My real ordeal begins when I get to the mouth of Makati - starting in Buendia. Given a choice, I’d much rather trek the Himalayas than traverse the length of Paseo de Roxas from Buendia to Ayala Avenue at 11 in the morning. And from Ayala Avenue to Louie’s Cinema via Herrera Street, you have to stop at every tiny intersection - and there are eight of them! In fact, I have already committed to memory every street I have to pass just to get to Louie’s Cinema: De la Rosa, Ormaza, Esteban, Bolanos, Legaspi, Sotto, Salcedo, Adelantado and - finally, pant, pant, pant - there it is... Louie’s Cinema THX! (Why did they have to build this theater in that far end of the world?!) I’m telling you, every time I have to attend the FRB screenings, I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.

When I get to the theater (after wasting a full hour battling the traffic in Makati), lunch is almost over and I only have time to inhale my food (usually chopsuey and one other viand).

After lunch, we are ushered inside the theater by Wilma and Loida of the FRB staff and we all wish each other good luck - hoping against hope that we’d end up with a good movie to watch.

When the screening is over, we discuss the film over crackers and coffee (Diet Coke for me) at the theater lobby. Usually, it is Bart Guingona (the son of the Vice President) who is most passionate about his views.

With our discussion over, it’s usually way past 2 in the afternoon and I spend another 2 to 3 hours on the road just to get home.

But in spite of the traffic I go through every time I have to attend an FRB screening, I have to say that I enjoy my stint with this organization.

Last week, the new FRB board convened and the first film to be screened was Mila. Sadly, I wasn’t able to make it that time. But last Tuesday, I finally made it to the screening of Red Diaries (a film by Maryo J. de los Reyes) and I saw old familiar faces along with new ones.

Below are the names that compose the new Film Ratings Board:

Zeneida Amador - FRB chair

Digna Santiago - FRB vice chair

Members: Caridad Sanchez, Mary Rose Moreno, Bernadette Paterno, Carmelita Samson, Susanne Santos, Monique Villonco, Joy Virata, Alex Cortez. Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., Lourd Ernest de Veyra, Don Escudero, Butch Francisco, Peque Gallaga, Bart Guingona, Ricardo Herrera, Joel Lamangan, Teodoro Lopez, Tony Mabesa, Emmanuel Mallonga, Leo Martinez, Christian Enrique Monsod III, Jess Navarro, Eric Quizon, Freddie Santos, Nestor Torre and Ernie Zarate.