GORGY RULA
Nag-trending sa X kahapon ang MTRCB, si Chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio, at ang Dear Satan, dahil sa X rating na ibinigay ng censors body sa pelikula.
Ang sabi ni Chair Lala sa budget hearing ng MTRCB sa Senado, na-offend daw siya bilang isang Kristiyano sa pelikulang ito ng Mavx Production.
Read: Lala Sotto justifies X ratings of Alipato at Muog, Dear Satan
Ang reaksyon naman ng ilang netizens dito ay: Porke’t na-offend ka bilang Kristiyano, hindi na namin ito mapapanood?
Pinutakti ng bashing ang ahensya, pati na si Chair Lala Sotto.
Hindi na nagbigay ng pahayag ang Mavx Productions kaugnay nito.
Nakatakdang ipa-review nila uli ang Dear Satan bukas, September 5, para iapela ito. Sana, mapagbigyan daw silang mapanood ito sa mga sinehan.
Ang unang in-announce nilang playdate ay September 18, pero marami ang nagsasabing isumite ito sa finished films ng Metro Manila Film Festival.
Wala pa silang napagdesisyunan.
Gusto lang nilang ipaglaban ang pelikula dahil wala naman daw itong intensyong purihin o gawing bida si Satanas.
PAOLO CONTIS ON DEAR SATAN
Nakausap ng PEP Troika si Paolo Contis, na gumanap na Satanas, sa Dear Satan, noong nakaraang look test ng pelikulang ConMom.
Ang isyu pa lang nung panahong yun ay ang title na Dear Satan. Hindi pa ito na-review ng MTRCB at wala pa ang X rating.
Iginiit ng Kapuso actor na, una, fiction ang pelikula; at pangalawa, naiparating nila ang mensaheng mas nananaig ang kabutihan sa kasamaan.
“Para sa akin, magandang mensahe siya na nabalot lang ng kung anu-anong isyu e,” pakli ni Paolo.
Sa katunayan, sabi ng ilang taga-Mavx, kinonsulta raw nila ito sa CBCP, at sinabi raw ng mga pari na hindi sila kontra sa pelikula dahil nga fiction naman ito.
Pahayag ni Paolo Contis: “I honestly thought they would see the difference ng art at ng movie na fiction kesa sa ano… I mean, wala naman kaming sinabing sambahin mo si Satanas e, di ba?
“I think the trailer was very clear that I was trying to influence her, but it never happened, because her faith was strong.
“Sana they’ll give it a chance.”
Read: Paolo Contis airs side on Dear Satan title change controversy
JERRY OLEA
Tila nasagot ni Paolo ang sinabi ni Chair Lala na si Satan ay never ever magiging good. Pambata ang pelikulang ito, sabi ni Paolo.
“Isa sa feeling ko na nakita nila, na bakit si Satan parang ang bait ng dating? Of course, pambata yung ginagawa naming pelikula, e, di ba?
“Kasi puwede naming gawing malalaki yan, di ba? Tapos may bata. E, di mas pangit siyang tingnan.
“I think, yung pinakaturo… naniniwala rin ako na ang pinakaturo sa mga bata na, yes, manonood ka ng pelikula. Pero at the end of the day, yung pagtuturo sa mga bata kung ano yung tama at mali, siyempre pag-uwi niyo na yun, pag-usapan niyo yun.
“But again, we made sure na ang pelikulang ito will not… the kids will not question their faith. It will just show na ang taong mabait ay hindi mo maimpluwensiyahan… good will always prevail,” saad ni Paolo sa look test ng pelikulang ConMom.
JL BURGOS ON X-RATING OF ALIPATO AT MUOG
Samantala, ang direktor ng Alipato at Muog na si JL Burgos ay may Facebook post ngayong araw kaugnay sa justification ng MTRCB sa X-rating ng documentary film.
Read: Docu film Alipato at Muog, rated X ng MTRCB. Bakit?
FB post ni Direk JL ngayong Setyembre 4, Miyerkules: “Before anything else let me clarify the screenings and the ratings Alipato at Muog got during the Cinemalaya run of the film.
“The Cinemalaya Festival PG rating of Alipato at Muog is self-rated. There is an agreement between Cinemalaya and the MTRCB for self-rating. It is not the MTRCB who gave the rating.
“Secondly, the UP screenings are independent and not within the scope of the MTRCB. In fact, all State Universities and Colleges are independent of MTRCB. Which means the MTRCB CANNOT stop such screenings.
“So citing these screenings as NOT CURTAILMENT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION is not accurate -- the MTRCB did not allow such screenings, they simply don't have jurisdiction in theaters inside SUCs.
“Yesterday at the senate budget hearing, MTRCB Chair Lala Sotto-Antonio defended the X rating given by the 1st reviewers. Stating that ‘Freedom of expression is not absolute nor limitless. That’s why there’s a law in place, that’s why there exists MTRCB.’
“In response, let me show my letter for the justification of our 2nd review. The details given to us by the 1st reviewers are in this letter. Kayo magdecide kung censorship ba ito o hindi.
“HON. DIORELLA MARIA SOTTO- ANTONIO CHAIRPERSON
“Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) 18 Timog Avenue Quezon City
“Dear Chairperson Sotto-Antonio.
“The team of Alipato at Muog, a documentary about the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos, would like to appeal the decision of the board's first reviewers who classified the film NOT SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING.
“According to the reviewers, we were given an X rating mainly because 'the film tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly-constituted authorities.'
"These are also some of the details they raised relative to the MTRCB decision:
“1. The case is still ongoing. One of the reviewers even went out of his way to call his contacts in the Court of Appeals to ask about the case if there is still an ongoing case. His contact said the case is still ongoing.
“2. Reviewers also said that we should have included the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions in the documentary for fairness.
“3. The reviewers also cited this clause in the MTRCB blue book: Those which may constitute ‘contempt of court’ or contempt of any quasi-judicial tribunal or those that pertain to matters which are sub-judice in nature; If we can, however, present an ORIGINAL with a Court Stamped document of the decision of the court with finality, then they can reconsider.
“4. They also said that there are some scenes pertaining to some evidence presented which may have not been presented to the court, like the names of the persons involved, they are not comfortable with that.
“5. According to the reviewers, a disclaimer should have been attached to the scene when a military official claims that the military was trained to kill. That the opinion was his own.
“6. Footages that were shot by the team were also questioned on how we were able to shoot it. Specifically the scene at the senate hearing on the appointments of military officials. They claimed that it should be labeled that it came from a news agency. They asked how we were able to shoot it and under whose courtesy.
“7. Military official named in the film—General Año who is now the sitting National Security Adviser, should have been given a chance to explain. The reviewers also said that General Año is not convicted in the same breath fearing retribution from the General. While they didn't think it would happen, they feared General Año might get back at them. Reviewers suggested a disclaimer should be included in Gen. Año’s footage.
“8. Subversiveness — when asked about the specifics they said NAPAKARAMI.
“9. At the last part of the movie, where chants and voice over were heard to continue to fight for justice and fight for the disappeared, PARANG LEFTISTS DAW ANG DATING, pwede naman daw sabihin ipaglaban pero ipapalabas daw ito sa mas marami, sa kanilang mandato bawal daw ito.
“Madam Chair, The Jonas Burgos case has been finalized since 2017. An affidavit is attached to this letter of appeal. The Supreme Court Ruling, including the Court of Appeals and Regional Trial Court decisions were all included in the documentary contrary to what the reviewers insisted during the meeting.
“The reviewer’s claim that there is still an on-going case is hearsay. A photocopy of the rulings will also be provided to your good office. Should your good office still insist on a court-stamped document, we would like to ask for a certification from the Court Of Appeals about the reviewer’s claim.
“All of the names of the persons involved in the case, as mentioned by the reviewer, were all presented in court. We based our documentary on all available information. The rest of the information we have provided in the documentary was vital in truth-telling so that the viewers will fully understand the story.
“With regards to the reviewers’ discomfort that there are no disclaimers especially for the military official expressing his own opinion, it is usually understood that individuals in documentaries are expressing their own opinions. It is also the discretion of the director/filmmaker whether to put a disclaimer or not.
“For the senate hearing footage, please know that we own the video from start to finish of the senate hearing included in the documentary. It is properly labeled on the upper left part of the screen. We also feel there is no need to divulge under whose courtesy was secured to film in the Senate.
“The same goes for Gen. Año’s senate hearing footage. Apart from the director’s discretion, we have included the part where public officials in the senate hearing championed Año which paved the way for his appointment. Also, at the end of the documentary, an epilogue was flashed on black background with white text font stating that he is now the National Security Adviser.
“As to the reviewers’ fear of retaliation from Gen. Año, we feel that one documentary would not put their lives at risk. It is our hope that your good office can alleviate their fears.
“With regards to ‘subversiveness,’ there is nothing subversive about a family’s search for justice. Alipato at Muog is a stand against enforced disappearance and human rights violations. Additionally, there is no subversion law in the Philippines.
“In line with being left, may we know the definition of being LEFT? Are we penalizing a political belief here? Because again we will reiterate our stand that the documentary is not subversive at all and it is a basic right in a democratic country for victims of injustices to voice out their grievances.
“We request your good office to take another look at Alipato At Muog with an open mind and an open heart. Our documentary is not fiction. It is a story of a family searching for their missing loved one. It is about human rights and the pursuit for justice.
“Thank you for your attention and consideration.
“JL Burgos “Alipato at Muog Director”
NOEL FERRER
Sa isyu ngayon ng Dear Satan at Alipato at Muog, gusto nating malaman ang stand ng mga taga industriya at mga guilds lalo na.
Ano ba sa tingin nila ang role ng MTRCB?
Ngayon magandang pag-usapan ito dahil kapapasa pa lang ng bagong budget nito from the lawmarkers — ano ang sine-serve nitong purpose sa mga tao?
Naghihintay tayo ng mga sagot mula sa ating mga kaindustriya at mga kababayang taxpayers na rin!