How ‘Transformers’ rocked the MTRCB

The movie “Transformers” broke box office records, but moviegoers are unaware that a lot of jostling and board intramurals transpired before the movie got its “General Patronage” rating in the Philippines.

In the end, however, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chief Ma. Consoliza Laguardia stood by her agency’s decision to grant the GP classification for “Transformers” locally distributed by Solar Films.

She explained that MTRCB board member Edmund Sicam submitted his individual report giving the classification of “Parental Guidance-13” on the movie and affixed his signature on the committee report, as the committee initially agreed on a PG-13 classification.

The PG-13 rating was due to the unacceptability of one-time use of the word “masturbation” for a “G” classification in the original copy of the movie.

However, when the applicant was called for a conference, as required by the MTRCB rules and regulations, Sicam walked out of the screening room before any decision was reached after the conference.

Following MTRCB rules, the committee met with the film representative who had a valid proposal for the voluntary deletion and/or “bleeping” of the term “masturbation.”

The remaining board members, particularly Ricardo de Leon and Cristina Concordia, gave the G rating subject to “checking,” which requires the movie’s re-screening.

When Sicam heard about this classification, he withdrew his individual report and his signature from the committee report.

Laguardia said she did not insist on any reclassification as Concordia and De Leon already came up with their classification.

Laguardia also denied favoring Solar Films owned by Wilson Tieng, saying she has no personal dealings or transactions with the film distributor.