Para sa matalinong panonood ni Juan at Juana

MANILA, Philippines - I didn’t know that the MTRCB (Movies and Television Review and Classification Board) has a project called Para sa matalinong panonood ni Juan at Juana until Tempo’s Ronald Constantino and I attended the birthday lunch for MTRCB member Tessie Villarama at the MTRCB Building on Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

“Actually,” said Mario Hernando, the manunuri who, like Tessie, has been with the MTRCB for years, “we have been going by groups to various provinces on an information campaign. We explain what the MTRCB ratings (General Patronage, Parental Guidance, etc.) mean.”

Only one-third of the more than 30 MTRCB members showed up at Tessie’s bash (see pictures).

“I’m happy,” said the birthday lady, “very, very happy.”

Also present were Tessie’s husband Willie Villarama and their children and a grandchild.

If Tessie looks familiar, it’s because, yes, she moonlights as an actress, usually playing glamorous mother roles in TV shows and movies. Her last cameo appearance was in an episode about Senatoriable (former MTRCB chief) Grace Poe-Llamanzares in Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK).

“But I devote more time to my obligation as MTRCB,” said Tessie who is so youthful-looking that she doesn’t look her age (confidential).