It never hurts to be careful

The head of the Movie Television Review & Classification Board (MTRCB) — and even during the time it was called BRMPT (for Board of Review for Motion Picture and Television) — had always been looked upon with suspicion and even considered the enemy of the local entertainment industry. This kind of reaction from the industry members is to be expected because these government-appointed people are forever watching our every move and nobody really wants that.

But in fairness to some of those who sat as chair of the MTRCB, there were a few who tried to be friends with the industry. Manoling Morato may have gotten it from some film practitioners who fought for artistic freedom, but he was generally well-liked. I may not have agreed with his views all the time, but I admired him for having behaved like a true gentleman through all those battles.

Jess Sison, who was MTRCB chief in the mid-’90s, didn’t have much problems relating to people in the movie industry even if he was faced with an avalanche of sex films with equally titillating titles like Patikim ng Piña and Basa sa Dagat. A journalist by profession, he was quite liberal and very reasonable as head of the classification board.

Then came Armida Siguion-Reyna, who didn’t have any trouble dealing with the industry (except maybe for a few abusive ones) because she was the industry and understood all their problems. Under her reign, artistic freedom flourished. (She may have had Sutla, Burlesque Queen Ngayon and other semi-pornographic movies, but this was also around the time we had Jose Rizal and Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?.)

The current MTRCB boss Ma. Consoliza Laguardia, however, is Miss Congeniality. Everyone seems to be happy about her performance — and we have yet to hear howls of protest from either the film industry or the conservative sector of society. So far so good — knock on wood.

Although very amiable, she knows how to draw the line between friendship and her job as classification board head.

Last March 31, Eat, Bulaga! gave mainstay Julia Clarete a baby shower and during the turnover portion (which is called seamless by people on television) from the noontime show to Startalk, Lolit Solis cracked a joke about showing the baby’s delivery on nationwide TV and in the process mentioned the word "puerta."

Now, puerta means door or gate in Spanish, but in the vernacular, it is also used as a clinical term for you know what. I saw the panic in the eyes of Startalk executive producer Reylie Manalo after Lolit said that, but I assured everyone that everything would be okay for the time being because it was going to be Holy Week and offices would be closed. The MTRCB didn’t have office from Maundy Thursday down, all right, but after Araw ng Kagitingan, there was a GMA 7 delegation before Chairman Laguardia who thereby decreed that Lolit Solis would be suspended for a week in Startalk.

The penalty was really just a walk in the park — like a stroll in Intramuros’ Puerta Real — (pun very much intended).

Lolit was actually just downstairs waiting in her car when Ms. Laguardia made her decision. Lolit later took the news calmly from the Channel 7 representatives (she was no longer asked to proceed to the MTRCB office upstairs).

Actually, she could also have been suspended in 2005 after saying the word singit during a promo of Darna — when Angel Locsin complained about how tight her costume was. Lolit was made to report to the MTRCB office after that, but eventually got off the hook. There was no escaping this time.

During a phone interview with Joey de Leon in last Sunday’s Startalk, Chairman Laguardia explained why Lolit had to be suspended. It was a very pleasant (and funny!) interview because Joey and the MTRCB chair are text mates. Joey — in fairness to him — never crossed the line. He was naughty at times, but he treated the MTRCB boss with respect and reverence in general.

Lolit was actually in the studio that time (I’d like to think she misses me — her favorite son — so much that she couldn’t afford to let a week pass without seeing me.), but we made sure she wasn’t seen nor heard.

After the show, as I demolished my lunch of menudo and rice, Lolit said that she holds no rancor against Ms. Laguardia and doesn’t resent her suspension at all. Of course, no work, no pay — that was her biggest punishment.

I also expressed to her my personal views about it and for the first time, Lolit and I were in agreement: The current classification board had always been fair.

As an adult, I don’t like my films being censored — or being told what movies to watch. But as a member of the broadcast and print media, I do realize that we have a huge responsibility to the public — to the young in particular — and I believe that it wouldn’t hurt to be careful at all times.