Uncensored: What you should know about the MTRCB

On Aug. 25, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB, meeting en banc, approved a resolution, which chairperson Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares then sent as Memorandum Circular No. 05-2011 to all television networks, blocktimers, program producers and distributors — anent a “Revised Classification Ratings for Television Programs.”

In brief, “Pursuant to Section 3(a) of Presidential Decree No. 1986,” the Board amended Section 2, Chapter IV of the 2004 Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. 1986 regarding classification ratings for TV programs. Added to the long-standing General Patronage or “G” and Parental Guidance or “PG” ratings was the new Strong Parental Guidance or “SPG” classification.

If anything, this reflects the dynamic character of the board of 2011 under the leadership of chair Llamanzares, vice-chair Emmanuel Borlaza, and executive director Victorino Muring, Jr.

What used to be a seasonally controversial agency that is sometimes still derogatorily called “Board of Censors” — under the Office of the President of the Philippines — now manifests a pro-active character that assiduously reflects on the rational evaluation of contemporary public standards vis-a-vis the need to keep up with the times.

While ultra-liberals have always decried the MTRCB’s existence, or questioned its fountainhead that is a possibly antiquated presidential decree, and while certain legislators have long been pushing for either its abolition or a revamp of its legal basis, the argument can always be made that the State has to protect minors and all sorts of interest groups from what could be an extremist interpretation of freedom of expression.   

I must say that this current board has been the most progressive I have had the privilege of serving. I first joined the MTRCB in 1999, when it was chaired by the formidable Armida Siguion-Reyna, who certainly knew how to run the agency, inclusive of steering it decisively through meetings.

When President Estrada was unceremoniously replaced by GMA, Nicanor Tiongson served perhaps the briefest term among MTRCB chairs. An outcry over a controversial movie that escaped an “X” rating led to his principled resignation. Followed rather turbulent years when Alejandro “Anding” Roces took over as chair. This period saw the unfortunate slaying of our fellow board member Nida Blanca at the Atlanta Center where we rented a couple of floors.

The MTRCB had to move to another building, whose manager once saw fit to cut off power on our floor of tight little cubicles, supposedly due to delayed bill payment. We had to move again, to President’s Tower on Timog Avenue, where yet another chair’s term saw protest action mounted by the staff over her allegedly questionable ways with funds as well as treatment of the rank-and-file.

MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe Llamanzares

After a brief stint, she was replaced by Marissa Laguardia, who also eventually faced resistance from the “organic” personnel, especially after there seemed to be attempts at union-busting that involved the dismissal of the then union president — who of course filed a case that I understand she has practically won, after more than a couple of years. 

But Chair Laguardia can be credited for being well-liked by the industry, and more importantly, for leading the move to acquire a permanent home for the MTRCB. Now we have our own modest, yet spic-and-span, three-and-a-half-story building on Timog Avenue, inaugurated early in 2010. It looks quite pretty from outside, with a simple white façade with a Philippine flag and that yellow-ribbon motif that tells everyone under whose administration we are now. Inside, it’s pretty nifty, too, with three preview rooms for materials that can be viewed on TV monitors and a comfortable theater for projecting films — apart from office rooms and meeting rooms, and a roof-deck hall for en banc and party gatherings. Why, we even have usually dependable Wi-Fi now.

That’s not the only manifestation of how progressive the current board is, under Chairperson Llamanzares, surely one of the most inspired choices by the President for heading an important agency.

Ihad initially served continuously through a little over 10 years — several months during the Erap admin and almost all of the nine years of GMA’s term. But I was “viced” — meaning replaced — early in 2010, I suspect because either someone whispered to President Gloria that I might become instrumental in gaining over a million votes for candidate Noynoy, or worse, that I had been credited for editing Atty. Frank Chavez’s novel, Blighted, a searing work of fiction that had Palace “fix”-tures as characters.

A year passed before I regained my board seat, this time together with many new faces that I have yet to successfully attach names to, given my absences during full board meetings. The length of my previous service has made me one of the few remaining veterans. Only fellow journalist Mario Hernando outranks me in terms of “seniority.” Benny Tarnate also came into the board earlier, but suffered “vicing” earlier than I did under GMA.

Other relative veterans the three of us have worked with in recent years include Tess Daza, Fr. Nic Cruz, Jackie Gavino, Atty. Eric Mallonga, Atty. Noel “Boyet” del Prado, “Direk” Joey Romero, Tessie Villarama, Allan Bengzon, and Marra PL. Lanot. That makes a dozen of us who have served in previous years.

Eighteen new members came onboard last February when the 30-man Board was finally filled up, somewhat inexplicably, a good six months since the President started on his term. These are: Robert Andrews, Ma. Lourdes Bautista, Patrocinia Datu Binungca, Manuel Buising, Atty. Gabriela Concepcion, Francia Conrado, Marta Ines Dayrit, Catherine Babao-Guballa, Carmencita Guerrero, Liezl Martinez, Ma. Carmen Syquia-Musngi, Leah Navarro, Cecilia Nubla, Jay Revestir, Milo Sogueco, Gladys Reyes-Sommereux, Atty. Jose Antonio Veloso, and Atty. Eugenio Villareal.

Board members enjoying downtime: from left, Mario Hernando, Jackie Gavino, birthday celebrator Atty. Boyet del Prado (with mic), Atty. Toto Villareal, Keats Musngi, indie “Direk” Milo Gosueco, Atty. Gabby Concepcion, and “Direk” Joey Romero

At least five lawyers have to be included. Sectors such as the industry, media, the academe and the religious are amply represented. It’s decidedly an intelligent and outspoken group, so that en banc meetings can go on for hours. It helps that our chairperson is herself very smart, efficient, inestimably personable, and herself highly articulate.    

This has led to spirited engagement with various specific concerns, so that numerous standing committees have been formed, addressing areas from adjudication to child abuse.

Two Fridays ago, a public awareness campaign was launched with the publication of the Memo Circular. The board will announce the actual implementation of “SPG” and its guidelines after the completion of this campaign. Following are certain salient points that detail the expanded classification and new guidelines.

“Section 2. Guidelines for Television Classification — Applying contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard, the following are the guidelines for television classification:

“A. General Patronage (G) — Suitable for all ages. Material for television, which in the judgment of the Board does not contain anything unsuitable for children.

“B. Parental Guidance (PG) — Parental guidance suggested. … (M)ay contain some adult material that may be permissible for children to watch but only under the guidance and supervision of a parent or adult. The ‘PG’ classification advises parents to exercise parental responsibility in their children’s viewing of the program… The television program classified as ‘PG’ must, in the judgment of the Board, meet the following criteria:

“Language — Very mild swear words only shall be allowed. Use of a strong expletive in a sexual context, or sexually-based expletives shall not be allowed. Neither shall prolonged and/or successive use of expletives be allowed.

Vice-chair “Direk” Maning Borlaza explains a point at a workshop while chair Llamanzares looks on.

“Nudity — Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual activity, is permissible.

“Sex — Graphic depiction of sexual activity shall not be permitted. Sexual activity may be implied but with no details shown.

“Violence — There should be no glamorization of weapons and crimes. No detail of fighting or other dangerous techniques. No detail or prolonged showing of violence or suffering. There should be a redeeming social value at the end.

“Horror — Scary sequences must be mild and brief.

“Drugs — There may only be implied depiction of prohibited drugs and/or substances or their use provided it does not condone, encourage or glamorize drug and/or substance use and it should be necessary to the theme and characterization.

“C. Strong Parental Guidance (SPG) — Stronger and more vigilant parental guidance is suggested. Programs classified ‘SPG’ may contain more adult topic and theme, which may not be advisable for children to watch except under the vigilant guidance and presence of a parent or adult.

“The ‘SPG’ classification warns parents to exercise greater parental responsibility in their children’s viewing of the program. A pictogram advisory accompanied by full-screen written and verbal advisory to the effect that the program is classified as ‘Strong Parental Guidance’ shall be broadcast for at least ten (10) seconds immediately before the opening credits of the particular television material classified as such. The text of the full-screen written advisory shall be written in font 15 of arial-narrow. The pictogram advisory showing a capital letter ‘SPG’ written on a red box with an MTRCB logo at the top and the phrase ‘Strong Parental Guidance For Young Viewers’ at the bottom shall be clearly superimposed at the bottom right corner of the television screen throughout the entire showing of the program classified as such. The superimposed pictogram advisory shall be 45mm x 55mm in size.

“Midway in the full showing of the particular television material classified as ‘SPG,’ the pictogram advisory and the full screen written and verbal advisory shall again be shown on screen in the same way as in the opening credits….”

And then of course there may be certain materials that could be “Disapproved for Airing on Television (‘X’).”

“The material shall be disapproved for television broadcast if, in the judgment of the Board applying contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard, it is objectionable for being immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs, injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines or its people, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence, or of a wrong, or crime, such as but not limited to:

“(1) The work depicts in a patently lewd, offensive, or demeaning manner, excretory functions, and sexual conduct such as sexual intercourse, masturbation and exhibition of the genitals. (2) The work clearly constitutes an attack against any race, creed or religion. (3) The work condones or encourages the use of illegal drugs and substances. (4) The work tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities. (5) The work glorifies criminals or condones crimes. (6) The work is libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or dead. (7) The work may constitute contempt of court of a quasi-judicial tribunal, or may pertain to matters, which are sub-judice in nature.”

Being an MTRCB “censor” isn’t easy; take it from a vet. One still has to interpret the legal guidelines, no matter how carefully these may have been crafted, depending on one’s liberal inclinations. But it helps to have colleagues and officers who take all of that preview and extra-committee work seriously.

We’ve also begun to feel like family. At the wake last week for our youngest member Milo Sogueco’s dad Ramon, practically all the BM’s (board members) were in attendance. So it’s not all just over preview work and occasional KTV sessions that we’ve been bonding.