Movie and Television Review and Classification Board

[[File:Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).svg|thumb|right|165px|"[[Bullshit|For intelligent and responsible viewing]]."]]
{{film}}

The '''Movie and Television Review and Classification Board''', commonly abbreviated as '''MTRCB''', is a [[Philippines|Filipino]] regulatory body for audiovisual works such as films and television programs.

==Background==
The MTRCB was initially created as the ''Board of Censors for Motion Pictures'' by virtue of Republic Act 3060 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia in 1961, where it answered directly to the Office of the President.<ref>[https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1961/ra_3060_1961.html AN ACT CREATING THE BOARD OF CENSORS FOR MOTION PICTURES]</ref> [[Dictator]] [[Ferdinand Marcos]] later expanded the scope of the organisation, to the point that it (unsurprisingly) was given the power to ban any and all films that were deemed by his regime to be "subversive".<ref>[https://lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1983/eo_868_1983.html REORGANIZING THE BOARD OF REVIEW FOR MOTION PICTURES AND TELEVISION CREATED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3060, AS RENAMED AND RECONSTITUTED UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDERS NOS. 585, 745 AND 757, AND EXPANDING ITS FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES]</ref> The sociopolitical turmoil of the 1980s forced the regime to reconstitute the Board to its current MTRCB incarnation, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1986,<ref>[https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1985/10/05/presidential-decree-no-1986-s-1985/ CREATING THE MOVIE AND TELEVISION REVIEW AND CLASSIFICATION BOARD]</ref> later replacing defense and military personnel with an all-civilian board, though the ban on "subversive" content remains.<ref name ="PEP">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/13859/mtrcb-heads-that-said-cut |title=MTRCB heads that said "Cut!" |website=PEP.ph |access-date=2023-03-01 }}</ref>

==Effects on art==
While the MTRCB touts itself as an agency with the goal of encouraging "intelligent and responsible viewing", in practice it has become something of a ''de facto'' [[censorship]] bureau, banning films which the board (and by extension the government) deems as either too offensive, subversive or contrary to national interests.

During the late 1970s the MTRCB, then known as the Board of Censors, implemented a ban on the cult anime series ''{{wpl|Voltes V}}'' under Memorandum-Circular No. 13-79, ostensibly due to pressure from [[Catholic]] civil groups who were appalled by the show's wanton violence and its [[think of the children|supposed effects on children]]. Popular speculation suggests that the ban was spurred by the anime's [[revolution]]ary undertones as it portrayed the toppling of a repressive dictatorship which was too close for Marcos's comfort;<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Manglinong|first=Dan|date=2018-07-06|title=The role Voltes V played in toppling Martial Law|url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/breaking-news/2018/07/06/130118/role-voltes-v-martial-law-philippines-anime/|access-date=2021-02-20|website=Interaksyon}}</ref><ref name=Bongbong>{{cite news|author1=ABS-CBNnews.com|title=Bongbong: Poverty is not a poor man's battle|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/06/12/bongbong-poverty-not-poor-mans-battle|access-date=21 July 2015|work=ABS-CBN News.com|publisher=ABS-CBN Interactive|date=6 April 2012}}</ref> the anime's producers took inspiration from the [[French Revolution]] and did not intend to make any apparent allusions to then-current events.<ref name="Limos">{{Cite web |last=Limos |first=Mario Alvaro |title=Voltes V Facts: How Well Do You Know the Anime Series? |url=https://id.summitmedia.com.ph?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.esquiremag.ph%2Fculture%2Fmovies-and-tv%2Fvoltes-v-facts-a00293-20200110 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Esquire Magazine}}</ref> At any rate, the ban on giant robot anime only led to outrage from [[children]] who were dismayed by the decision. Some of those kids angered by the ''Voltes V'' ban went on to join the [[People Power Revolution]] in their late teens, which, [[irony|ironically]] enough, toppled the 
real-life Bozanians
 Marcos regime with hardly any real-life violence ensuing; after all, it would be surreal to see those protesters slicing pro-government forces to death in an imitation of the giant mecha's finishing move.<ref name="VoltesVgeneration">{{cite news|last1=Imao|first1=Toym Leon|title=Ferdinand Marcos angered 'Voltes V' generation|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/640937/ferdinand-marcos-angered-voltes-v-generation|access-date=26 June 2015|work=Inquirer.net|date=27 September 2014}}</ref> The ban on the series was since lifted, though there had been attempts to reinstate it such as in 1999 when congressman Mayo Almario filed a bill seeking to take the anime off the air and give the MTRCB the authority to remove programming deemed too violent for children.<ref>{{cite news|last=Custodio|first=Rene S.|title=Voltes V banned again?|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O5QVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_QoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2725%2C358543|access-date=February 6, 2022|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=March 4, 1999|page=1|quote=Almario pointed out that children are again being exposed to extreme violence with the series.}}</ref>

Since then, the MTRCB's arbitrary and [[crank]]y rules became the bane of many a filmmaker in the country, and by extension international film studios looking to have their films screened in the Philippines. One [[Tumblr]] blog pointed out the utter incompetence the board exhibited with their poorly written classifications rendered in broken English,{{efn|Especially considering how the Philippines is historically and traditionally an Anglophone country by way of its status as a former American colonial subject.}}<ref>[https://shitmtrcbpermitssay.tumblr.com/ Shit MTRCB Permits Say]</ref> as well as the questionable verdicts they gave to certain films, such as in the 2015 romantic comedy ''{{wpl|Just the Way You Are (2015 film)|Just the Way You Are}}'' where they slapped it with a dubiously low General Patronage (G) rating and praised it to the skies as a "VERY INSPIRING FILM", never mind the thinly veiled allusion to [[oral sex]] in one scene as the blog noted.<ref>[https://shitmtrcbpermitssay.tumblr.com/post/123105417019/here-we-begin-our-journey-into-the-madness-that-is Just the Way You Are]</ref>

Speaking of ratings, some have questioned how family and children's films with some significantly questionable scenes and content such as those of the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series and superhero movies such as ''The Avengers'' and ''Transformers'' are let off the hook and given General Patronage ratings despite them depicting imagery which may upset younger viewers,<ref name="pelikula">{{cite web|url=https://pelikulamania.com/2016/06/17/reasons-why-the-mtrcb-failed-to-do-their-job/|title=Is the MTRCB Really Helpful With Their Ratings? – Pelikula Mania|date=June 17, 2016 |access-date=26 March 2017|archive-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326225607/https://pelikulamania.com/2016/06/17/reasons-why-the-mtrcb-failed-to-do-their-job/|url-status=live}}</ref> e.g. the 2017 ''Beauty and the Beast'' remake where the shift to live-action rendered the Beast and Gaston's final battle as well as the mob riot in a more visceral way than what the cel-animated original could muster. Paolo Barazon of ''CinemaBravo'' speculated that the board's lax treatment towards family-friendly [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] films was done out of financial gain.<ref name="Barazon">{{Cite web |last=Barazon |first=Paolo |date=2017-03-25 |title=OPINION: Cooling down on the MTRCB |url=https://cinemabravo.com/2017/03/25/opinion-cooling-down-on-the-mtrcb/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=CinemaBravo}}</ref> To put things to some perspective, [[Russia]]'s censorship board imposed a harsh 16+ rating on ''Beauty and the Beast'' on the grounds of "[[Homosexual agenda|gay propaganda]]" i.e. a blink-and-miss scene ''hinting'' of LeFou's [[gay]] romance<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/03/06/beauty-and-the-beast-russia-lawmaker-ban/ |title=Russia won't ban Beauty and the Beast—but will have an age restriction |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 6, 2017 |access-date=March 7, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170910205642/http://ew.com/movies/2017/03/06/beauty-and-the-beast-russia-lawmaker-ban/ |archive-date=September 10, 2017  }}</ref> yet the equally conservative MTRCB appears to have just glossed over the film on the basis of being a Disney feature.

The MTRCB also imposed bans on certain films deemed contrary to the country's national and geopolitical interests, particularly with the "nine-dash line" (conflicting territorial claims by different countries in the South China Sea). Among those banned for displaying the verboten map were the animated feature ''Abominable'' and the live-action theatrical adaptation of the popular Sony [[video game]] franchise ''Uncharted''; the 2023 [[feminist]] comedy film ''[[Barbie (film)|Barbie]]'' was due to be banned for a map deemed too close for the authorities' comfort, but was also let off the hook when Warner Bros. agreed to have the questionable map edited.<ref name="Mario Ritter Jr">{{cite news|url=https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/philippines-objects-to-abominable-movie-map/5126516.html|title=Philippines Objects to 'Abominable' Movie Map|author=Mario Ritter Jr.|work=Voice of America|date=October 16, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017160142/https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/philippines-objects-to-abominable-movie-map/5126516.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/348657/mtrcb-bans-abominable-over-china-map|title=MTRCB bans 'Abominable' over China map–report|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=October 18, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018153758/https://entertainment.inquirer.net/348657/mtrcb-bans-abominable-over-china-map|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nguyen|first=Phuong|date=July 3, 2023|title=Vietnam bans 'Barbie' movie over South China Sea map|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-bans-barbie-movie-over-south-china-sea-map-2023-07-03/|work=Reuters|access-date=July 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Argosino |first1=Faith |title=MTRCB deliberates whether to screen 'Barbie' movie in PH following Vietnam ban |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/507608/mtrcb-deliberates-whether-to-screen-barbie-movie-in-ph-following-vietnam-ban |access-date=5 July 2023 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=4 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> As with the Disney Princess movie example above, it could be that the MTRCB was reluctant to ban a family film{{efn|If you could call ''Barbie'' that, even if its complex themes and occasional crude humour may be too highbrow for the dolls' target audience to comprehend.}} on the grounds of national security and let that shit slide because it's a film about girls' toys yet they couldn't do the same request to have ''Abominable'' and ''Uncharted'' edited and cleared for exhibition. The 2023 action thriller ''{{wpl|Plane (film)|Plane}}'' starring Gerard Butler was also pulled out of public exhibition in the country as both the MTRCB and local legislators objected to the film's depiction of southern Mindanao as a rebel-infested shithole; on the other hand, the Directors' Guild of the Philippines opposed the proposed ban, saying that it constitutes as censorship, and argued that the ban could set a precedent on the freedom of artistic expression of any depiction of the country. They also argued that the film was not a reliable commentary on the country's affairs, stating that ''Plane'' was just "mindless B-movie entertainment".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/gerard-butler-plane-may-be-banned-screening-philippines-085441298.html |title=Gerard Butler's Plane may be banned for screening in Philippines |first=Martin Joseph |last=Ang |publisher=Yahoo! |date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=February 24, 2023 |archive-date=February 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221082704/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/gerard-butler-plane-may-be-banned-screening-philippines-085441298.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2023/02/20/2246350/why-trolls-historical-revisionism-allowed-filipino-directors-question-banning-hollywood-film-plane |title='Why trolls, historical revisionism allowed?': Filipino directors question banning of Hollywood film 'Plane' |first=Jan Milo |last=Severo |newspaper=The Philippine Star |date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=February 24, 2023 |archive-date=February 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225033401/https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2023/02/20/2246350/why-trolls-historical-revisionism-allowed-filipino-directors-question-banning-hollywood-film-plane |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Also of note is the board's tendency to let the members' petty [[religious]] [[morality]] cloud their judgement, which isn't surprising considering the Philippines' predominantly [[Christian]] population, in spite of the country being ''de jure'' secular as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution with clauses guaranteeing [[freedom of religion]] and [[separation of church and state]].<ref>[https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/ The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines]</ref> Even films that tackle deep and serious issues such as the [[Holocaust]] epic ''{{wpl|Schindler's List}}'' were banned not because of the overarching themes and graphic violence (or alleged promotion of [[Zionism]] as in the case of [[Muslim]]-majority countries like [[Indonesia]] who banned the film on [[antisemitic]] grounds<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/06/16/the-manila-envelope-please/f6c16223-3278-4d27-b506-9c46a5098274/|title=The Manila Envelope, Please...|website=www.washingtonpost.com|access-date=March 19, 2024|archive-date=October 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030111134/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/06/16/the-manila-envelope-please/f6c16223-3278-4d27-b506-9c46a5098274/|url-status=live}}</ref>) but because of a few incidental [[nude]] scenes which the MTRCB deemed too raunchy for their tastes; the board unsuccessfully called for Stephen Spielberg to edit out the scenes in question.<ref name="Branigin">{{cite news | last = Branigin | first = William | title = 'Schindler's List' Fuss in Philippines – Censors Object To Sex, Not The Nazi Horrors | date = March 9, 1994 | newspaper = The Seattle Times | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940309&slug=1899178 | access-date = June 1, 2020 | archive-date = June 12, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200612004403/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940309&slug=1899178 | url-status = live }}</ref> The ban was overturned in 1994<ref name="upi">{{cite news |last1=de Ramos |first1=Abe |title=Manila bans 'Bridges of Madison County' |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/08/29/Manila-bans-Bridges-of-Madison-County/6315809668800/ |accessdate=1 June 2019 |work=United Press International, Inc. |date=29 August 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601181337/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/08/29/Manila-bans-Bridges-of-Madison-County/6315809668800/ |archive-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> with the film's historical merits cited as a reason.<ref name="pepmtrcbheads">{{cite news |title=MTRCB heads that said "Cut!" |url=https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/13859/mtrcb-heads-that-said-cut |accessdate=1 June 2019 |work=PEP.ph |publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal |date=21 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601181339/https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/13859/mtrcb-heads-that-said-cut |archive-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The 1988 religious epic ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' (based on a 1955 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis) was also permanently banned by the board for perceived perversion of the life of Jesus Christ.<ref name="pepmtrcbheads">{{cite news |title=MTRCB heads that said "Cut!" |url=https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/13859/mtrcb-heads-that-said-cut |accessdate=1 June 2019 |work=PEP.ph |publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal |date=21 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601181339/https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/13859/mtrcb-heads-that-said-cut |archive-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 2004 religious slasher epic ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' garnered a reluctant yet questionable Parental Guidance (PG) rating<ref>[https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?s=95ee24d370d17ab550c6a16bab9b399c&p=17379397&postcount=626 BBFC decisions you agree/disagree with...]</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Flores|first=Wilson Lee|title=Mel Gibson's 'Passion' is powerful, disturbing work of art|url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2004/03/29/244365/mel-gibson146s-145passion146-powerful-disturbing-work-art|access-date=April 2, 2021|work=The Philippine Star|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=March 29, 2004|location=Gottingen, [[Germany]]|archive-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425234846/https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2004/03/29/244365/mel-gibson146s-145passion146-powerful-disturbing-work-art|url-status=live}}</ref> and was even endorsed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP),<ref>{{cite news|last=Aravilla|first=Jose|title=Bishops endorse Mel Gibson film|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/03/11/242128/bishops-endorse-mel-gibson-film/amp/|access-date=April 2, 2021|work=The Philippine Star|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=March 11, 2004|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406022833/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/03/11/242128/bishops-endorse-mel-gibson-film/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref> who previously condemned the 2002 animated feature film ''{{wpl|The Powerpuff Girls Movie}}'' and labelled it as "disturbing", conveniently [[willful ignorance|ignoring]] the graphic and disturbing imagery of [[Jesus]] getting maimed and [[Crucifiction|crucified]] while deeming the arguably cartoonish violence of ''Powerpuff'' as a "saturation of violent acts carried out with a fierce vengeance."<ref name="Araneta">{{Cite news |last=Araneta |first=Sandy |title=CBCP movie review finds ‘Powerpuff Girls’ disturbing |url=https://www.philstar.com/news-commentary/2002/07/14/168170/cbcp-movie-review-finds-145powerpuff-girls146-disturbing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828064801/https://www.philstar.com/news-commentary/2002/07/14/168170/cbcp-movie-review-finds-145powerpuff-girls146-disturbing |archive-date=2024-08-28 |access-date=2024-08-28}}</ref> The film adaptation of [[Dan Brown]]'s ''The Da Vinci Code'' also sparked {{wpl|The Da Vinci Code in the Philippines|controversy}} in the country owing to perceived [[anti-Catholic]] themes especially when the MTRCB gave it an R-18 rating despite calls from religious groups for a ban.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.php?index=1&story_id=76039 | publisher= inq7.net| title= 'Da Vinci Code' for adults only, says film review body  | location=Philippines| date=May 17, 2006}}</ref>

The 2006 documentary film ''{{wpl|To Live for the Masses}}'' — which chronicled the life and career of former actor and president {{wpl|Joseph Estrada}} — was given an X rating by the MTRCB on "libel" grounds, effectively banning it from mainstream exhibition.<ref name="MTRCB">{{cite news | title=MTRCB gives final 'X' rating to Erap biopic | url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/14137/news/nation/mtrcb-gives-final-x-rating-to-erap-biopic | publisher=[[GMA News and Public Affairs]] | date=August 29, 2006 | accessdate=December 18, 2014 | archive-date=December 31, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231095222/http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/14137/news/nation/mtrcb-gives-final-x-rating-to-erap-biopic | url-status=live }}</ref> The ban was seen by some as arbitrary and politically motivated within the backdrop of the presidency of his successor, {{wpl|Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo||,}} who took office after Estrada was ousted in a {{wpl|Second EDSA Revolution|political protest}} spurred by a decision during Estrada's impeachment over corruption allegations.<ref name="CA">{{cite news |author=Dedace |first=Sophia |date=December 1, 2008 |title=Erap bioflick subject to MTRCB review, CA rules |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/136781/news/nation/erap-bioflick-subject-to-mtrcb-review-ca-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231095308/http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/136781/news/nation/erap-bioflick-subject-to-mtrcb-review-ca-rules |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |accessdate=December 18, 2014 |publisher=[[GMA News and Public Affairs]]}}</ref> In lieu of a traditional film release due to the ban, Estrada's camp instead released the film for free as a four-part presentation on the erap.ph website as a series of Windows Media Video files.{{efn|[[YouTube]] was already online at that point, but for unknown reasons Estrada's camp chose to host the film locally on their website.}}<ref name="MTRCB"/>

In 2007, the action thriller film ''{{wpl|Banal (2008 film)|Banal}}'' (lit. ''Holy'') was initally given an X rating by the Board for perceived "anti-Church" themes, i.e. an attempted assassination of [[Pope John Paul II]]. The film was eventually cleared for exhibition when the committee, which included Catholic priest Nico Cruz, concluded that the film lacked any such [[anti-Catholic]] themes (as it was merely a fictionalised portrayal loosely based on the aborted {{wpl|Bojinka plot}} where Islamist terrorists plot to rub out the Pontiff as part of a wider terror attack, something which has already been depicted in fiction with little to no controversy).<ref name=ratedx>{{cite news |last1=Erece |first1=Dinno |title=MTRCB changes rating of MMFF entry "Banal" from X to R-13 |url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/1434/mtrcb-changes-rating-of-mmff-entry-banal-from-x-to-r-13 |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=PEP.ph |publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. |date=18 December 2007 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, the [[supernatural]] comedy-horror film ''{{wpl|Dear Satan}}''{{efn|Not to be confused with the similarly-themed comedy ''{{wpl|Dear Santa (2024 film)|Dear Santa}}'' starring Jack Black.}} which is about a young girl writing a letter supposedly to [[Santa Claus]] but ended up innocently misspelling the name and thus addressing it to [[Satan]] instead, went unreleased as the MTRCB vetoed its theatrical exhibition due to religious objections on part of the board particularly with chairman Lala Sotto&nbsp;– daughter of actor and politician [[TVJ|Tito Sotto]]&nbsp;– who personally watched the film and stated that she was offended by its themes of Satan's redemption contrary to popular Christian belief that Big Red Lou is an irredeemable monster unworthy of praise, and that such portrayals are gravely dangerous to one's faith.<ref name=offended>{{cite news |last1=Argosino |first1=Faith |title=‘Dear Satan’ offends me as a Christian, says MTRCB chief Lala Sotto |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/574586/mtrcb-chief-lala-sotto-explains-x-rating-on-dear-satan-im-offended |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=3 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The studio sought to appeal the decision by re-titling it as ''Dear Santa'', but the board upheld its X rating, saying that the film’s positive depiction of Satan served as “an attack on fundamental belief of the Catholic and Christian faiths.”<ref>{{cite news |title=MTRCB upholds X rating of ‘Dear Satan’ |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/mtrcb-upholds-dear-satan-x-rating/ |access-date=6 September 2024 |work=Rappler |date=6 September 2024}}</ref> Groups such as the Director's Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) pointed out [[double standards]] on MTRCB's part when they singled out ''Dear Satan'' despite having previously approved the exhibition of other similarly-themed films about the Devil or [[demons]]&nbsp;– ''Hellboy'', ''Lucifer'' and ''Little Nicky'' to name a few&nbsp;– without any perceived moral or religious implications or objections.<ref name="Purnell">{{Cite news |last=Purnell |first=Kristofer |title=DGPI condemns MTRCB's actions toward 'Alipato at Muog', 'Dear Satan' |url=https://www.philstar.com/movies/2024/09/11/2384333/dgpi-condemns-mtrcbs-actions-toward-alipato-muog-dear-satan |access-date=2024-12-18 |work=Philippine Star}}</ref> The DGPI also called into question the board's X rating for the indie documentary ''{{wpl|Alipato at Muog}}'' (transl. ''Flying Embers and a Fortress'') about forced disappearances of activists by suspected military personnel in 2007. The MTRCB insinuated that ''Alipato'' undermined "the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly-constituted authorities",<ref name="laments">{{cite news |last1=de Villa |first1=Kathleen |title=Jonas Burgos’ brother laments 'X' rating for abduction docu |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1976106/jonas-burgos-brother-laments-x-rating-for-abduction-docu |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=August 24, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> but was later re-rated as R-16 after a formal appeal and protests by JL Burgos and various activists at the MTRCB office, who argued that their classifications of both ''Dear Satan'' and ''Alipato'' are an "evident overreach" of their mandate.<ref>{{cite news |last=Abad |first=Ysa |title=MTRCB reclassifies 'Alipato at Muog' to R-16 rating amid protests |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/alipato-at-muog-director-jl-burgos-leads-protest-mtrcb-x-rating/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=Rappler |date=September 5, 2024}}</ref> Similarly in 2025, the biblical horror film ''{{wpl|The Carpenter's Son}}''—based on the apocryphal {{wpl|Infancy Gospel of Thomas}}—was banned by the MTRCB after they deemed it to be "rebellious, malicious, or seemingly under demonic influence", along with "contemptuous" and "violent, sexual, or degrading".<ref>{{Cite news |title=MTRCB bans biblical horror ‘The Carpenter’s Son’ from public screening |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/mtrcb-bans-screening-the-carpenters-son/ |access-date=December 1, 2025 |work=Rappler}}</ref>

As far as television programmes are concerned, the MTRCB gained notoriety for its conservatism and swift enforcement of their censorious agenda, particularly its suspension of noontime variety shows for obscene content such as in ''Wil Time Bigtime'' where a young contestant was made to perform a lewd dance in front of a live audience,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |title=Willing Willie and the boy who wouldn't smile |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20110325-327581/Willing-Willie-and-the-boy-who-wouldnt-smile |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807125606/http://globalnation.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20110325-327581/Willing-Willie-and-the-boy-who-wouldnt-smile |archivedate=August 7, 2011 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref> and ''It's Showtime'' where an errant guest host made a series of derogatory remarks towards schoolteachers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pep.ph/news/24361/MTRCB-suspends--Showtime--for-20-days-for-Rosanna-Roces's-statements-against-teachers|last=Santiago|first=Erwin|title=MTRCB suspends ''Showtime'' for 20 days for Rosanna Roces's statements against teachers|publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal|date=January 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 14, 2010|title=After 'Showtime,' MTRCB now mulls suspension of 'Magpasikat'|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/14/10/after-showtime-mtrcb-now-mulls-suspension-magpasikat|access-date=November 22, 2020|website=ABS-CBN News}}</ref> ''Showtime'' would later face another ban in 2023 when two of the show's main hosts, prominent gay comedian Vice Ganda and his{{efn|Vice identifies as non-binary, but does not mind the use of male pronouns or being called the female honorific "ate" which is Filipino for an older sister.}} life partner Ion Perez, made an on-screen gesture where they shared tufts of vanilla icing to each other in a July 25 episode of the "Isip Bata" segment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/4/mtrcb-suspends-it-s-showtime|title=MTRCB suspends noontime program 'It's Showtime!'|work=Manila Bulletin|date=September 4, 2023|access-date=September 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2023/09/06/2294276/its-showtime-suspension-not-yet-final-lala-sotto-not-involved-decision-mtrcb|title='It's Showtime' suspension not yet final; Lala Sotto not involved in decision — MTRCB|work=Philstar|date=September 6, 2023|access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref> Some viewers saw conflict of interest with the MTRCB's suspension of ''Showtime'' even when rival programme ''[[TVJ|Eat Bulaga!]]'' saw relatively fewer sanctions for its content,<ref name="capstone">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-05 |title=Amid calls to abolish MTRCB, Capstone-Intel says censors board ‘needed’ to regulate video content; highlights need to ‘revolutionize’ its mandate on inclusivity and awareness |url=https://www.capstone-intel.com/amid-calls-to-abolish-mtrcb-capstone-intel-says-censors-board-needed-to-regulate-video-content-highlights-need-to-revolutionize-its-mandate-on-inclusivity-and-a/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Capstone-Intel Corporation}}</ref> in spite of its principal hosts' less-than-wholesome remarks and wisecracks they made over the years at the expense of certain groups.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 24, 2023 |title=Joey de Leon pinagmumura ng netizens dahil sa 'lubid' joke sa 'E.A.T.', MTRCB kinalampag: 'Galaw, galaw Lala Sotto!' |trans-title=Joey de Leon cursed by netizens for the 'rope' joke in 'EAT', MTRCB slammed: 'Move, move Lala Sotto!' |url=https://bandera.inquirer.net/363391/joey-de-leon-pinagmumura-ng-netizens-dahil-sa-lubid-joke-sa-e-a-t-mtrcb-kinalampag-galaw-galaw-lala-sotto |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=bandera.inquirer.net}}</ref>

==Calls for abolition?==
As a result of these gaffes they made over the years and partly due to it being a holdover from the Marcos dictatorship,<ref name="Teodoro">{{Cite web |last=Teodoro |first=Luis V. |date=2012-05-14 |title=Censorship in disguise |url=https://cmfr-phil.org/inmediasres/luis-teodoro/censorship-in-disguise/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility}}</ref> some have called for the MTRCB to be abolished and replaced with a self-regulatory body run by a civilian organisation ''a la'' MPAA or ESRB rather than a state-run agency,<ref name="pep">{{Cite web |title=To abolish or to retain: Is MTRCB censorship still relevant in the digital age? |url=https://www.pep.ph/peptionary/176138/mtrcb-a755-20231008-lfrm2?s=hgg6marmlf5054f44ibgaiiolu |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241007123149/https://www.pep.ph/peptionary/176138/mtrcb-a755-20231008-lfrm2?s=hgg6marmlf5054f44ibgaiiolu |archive-date=2024-10-07 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=PEP.ph}}</ref> particularly from film-making guilds who are clearly sick and tired of their artistic freedom being stifled in the name of religious morality.<ref name="Advox">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=‘Truth deserves to be seen’: Artists decry film censorship in the Philippines |url=https://advox.globalvoices.org/2024/09/20/truth-deserves-to-be-seen-artists-decry-film-censorship-in-the-philippines/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Global Voices Advox }}</ref><ref name="Fernandez">{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Daniza |date=2023-02-23 |title=Abolition, not expansion, film director tells Senate amid plans to broaden MTRCB’s powers |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/487523/abolition-not-expansion-film-director-tells-senate-amid-plans-to-expand-mtrcbs-powers |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref> Others opined that a more moderate approach should be done instead, i.e. reforming the Board to be more mindful of changing societal attitudes especially [[progressive]] voices in society who call for a more inclusive environment,<ref name="capstone"/> while legislator Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte advocated for the board to be defunded, accusing the MTRCB of having an "imbecilic mindset", such as with their planned regulation of streaming platforms which would arguably set a nasty precedent amongst Filipino netizens; Villafuerte also pointed out how Filipinos would [[Streisand effect|still have access]] to even worse content on social media and the broader web anyway.<ref name="lray">{{Cite web |title=LRay eyes MTRCB budget cut, if not abolition |url=https://ptvnews.ph/lray-eyes-mtrcb-budget-cut-if-not-abolition/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=PTV News}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Comics Code Authority]] — ''de facto'' censorship body for the comics industry
*[[National Legion of Decency]] — the US movie censorship board

==External links==
*[http://mtrcb.gov.ph/ Official website]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Censorship]]
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Government incompetence]]
[[Category:Media hysteria]]
[[Category:Moral panics]]
[[Category:Philippines]]
[[Category:Theocracy]]
[[Category:We're on a mission from God]]
[[Category:Purity culture]]

Categories: Censorship, Culture, Films, Government incompetence, Media hysteria, Moral panics, Philippines, Theocracy, We're on a mission from God, Purity culture