Standards

The movies or the shows that you already watched on either theatre or television have been rated and reviewed, and it is the job of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to review films, VCD, DVD, and Television shows in the Philippines. MTRCB has the power to suspend or ban a certain movie or show that defies their regulations. Standards set the board’s ratings as follows; General Patronage (G); Parental Guidance 13 (PG-13); Restricted – 13 (R-13); Restricted –18 (R-18) and not for Public viewing (X); most of them are subjected to  Article  201, “Offenses Against Decency and  Good Customs” of the Revised Penal Code which summarizes against; crime, racism, pornography and illegal drugs.

Brillante Mendoza’s Serbis that brought the Philippines honor in the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, was given by the MTRCB an X rating. There are sexually provocative parts like the performance of fellatio in the dark area of the old movie house and the part where Coco Martin showed his thing while having sex with Mercedes Cabral. However, the film also depicts incidents that happen in real life, including poverty and immorality. The MTRCB has stands on giving the film an X rating because there were inappropriate scenes for young audiences but I think it must be rated down to R-18 where it can be seen by the adults and not totally banning it for public showing for it also shows the reality of life in the country. 

A commentary from Vera says that MTRCB just recommends the parts to be cut and during the Marcos regime, Filipino films like Scorpio Nights (1985) were the most provocative, presumably, so that people will be distracted from political turmoil. Scorpio Nights depicts scenes that have frontal nudity, illustrate adultery, demonstrate violence and show the condition of the country during the Marcos regime. However, this bold film has been approved for public viewing.

Leaders have the power over MTRCB for it is under the government. We can draw the idea that the regulations that were set can be modified by the leaders of our nation. Most of them can impart their own moralities to us and from the idea of the corruption and many more, who are they to set the moralities which they, themselves, lost because of their greed for power and money. In the end, MTRCB just suggests and is not an agency that conceals immoralities set by the regulations made by the government.