Censoring criticism
Bulatlat (via) reports that the Philippine Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has been criticised for censoring two short films created by independent film makers.
Southern Tagalog Exposure’s (ST Exposure) A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo and Sine Patriyotiko’s Mendiola have been rated “X” or disapproved from public exhibition by the MTRCB. Said films are part of an eight-film compilation scheduled to be shown at the Kontra Agos Resistance Film Festival on December 5-11, Indie Sine, Robinson’s Galleria.
In an interview, RJ Mabilin, director of A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo, said that the MTRCB justified the rating by saying that the films “undermine the faith of the people in government.”
A Day in the Life of Gloria ArroVo is a political satire while Mendiola is a short documentary critical of the Arroyo government’s calibrated preemptive response (CPR).
Mabilin said, “It goes to show that there exists institutionalized repression. The MTRCB has the final say whether a film should be viewed or not. It will never allow the propagation of films which carries dissenting views to the current administration.”
In September, the MTRCB also rated “X” the compilation of films titled Rights which deals with the human rights situation in the country.
A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo is currently available on YouTube.
Friday 07 Dec 2007 | Paul | The Philippines
