MANILA, Philippines — The Cinemalaya Special Jury Prize-winning documentary "Alipato at Muog" can now be screened in local theaters after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) reportedly lifted its initial X-rating.
"Alipato at Muog" filmmaker JL Burgos went live on Facebook earlier today to share his good news about his appeal to have its initial X rating reviewed.
"Inalis po ng MTRCB, ng second reviewers, ang X-rating ng 'Alipato at Muog,'" Burgos said during his Facebook live.
The film director said during the live video that they were still waiting for the official document that states the MTRCB's overturned X-rating.
"Binigyan ng R-16 ang pelikula, ibig sabihin pwede na po itong ipalabas sa iba pang mga sinehan," Burgos said.
"Sila ay tinamaan sa puso ng pelikulang ito at sila ay nanindigan din ng katotohanan at katarungan kaya't nais namin magpa-salamat sa MTRCB," Burgos said.
In his own Facebook account, the director said that the Parental Guidance (PG) rating of the docu during its Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival run last August was "self-rated." He said that there was an agreement between Cinemalaya and MTRCB for "self-rating" for the participating films, stressing that the review board was not the one that gave the PG rating.
When the docu was set for commercial release, it initally earned an X-rating. The first reviewers reasoned out that the film "tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities."
MTRCB chair Lala Sotto-Antonio defended its X-rating at the Senate finance subcommittee's hearing yesterday.
"Alipato at Muog" tackles the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos in a mall in 2007.
JL is the brother of Jonas.
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