The Movie and Television Regulation and Classification Board (MTRCB) has been making headlines for calling out the hosts of noontime programs It's Showtime and E.A.T.
But what is the agency really all about, and how did it even start?
MTRCB: The beginnings
1961
President Carlos Garcia signed Republic Act 3060 to establish the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures (BCMP).
1965
Ferdinand Marcos ascended to the presidency and gradually broadened the authority of the censorship board.
The censors' increased authority was in tune with Marcos's plan to monitor and limit content in media platforms, including films and television shows critical of the government.
Read: Netflix movie na 'El Conde,' may pagbanggit kay dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos
1981
Marcos would replace the BCMP with the Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television (BRMPT).
1983
Marcos renamed the agency to the Board of Review for Motion Pictures, Television and Live Entertainment.
1985
On October 5, Marcos dissolved the agency and established what we know today as the Movie and Television Regulation and Classification Board (MTRCB).
The MTRCB, according to its mission and vision, aims to provide "innovative and fresh ideas toward the improvement and development of the film and television industry" and to "improve, upgrade and make viable the industry as one source of fueling the national economy."
THE MTRCB POST-EDSA
1986
Less than a year after its founding, the historic EDSA Revolution happened with Corazon "Cory" Aquino assuming the presidency.
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The personnel within the MTRCB was overhauled to remove military and security officials in favor of civilian members.
Appointed to head the agency was Manuel "Manoling" Morato, whose strict moral values and drive to "preserve the morality of the youth" resulted in clashes with producers, liberal-minded artists, and directors, including influential filmmaker Lino Brocka.
With the MTRCB possessing broad authority, the agency exercised its powers to remove scenes deemed violent and sexually explicit.
This drove the local bold films, particularly the notorious "pene" movies, to go underground.
Under Morato's stewardship, movies such as The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Orapronobis (1989) were banned by the MTRCB.
Films such as the now-classic Macho Dancer directed by Brocka suffered commercially in local cinemas due to heavy censorship, but thrived overseas without cuts.
Read: Lapida ni Lino Brocka, dapat nang ipaayos at lagyan ng "National Artist"
1992
Taking over Morato was another ultra-conservative in Henrietta Mendez.
She picked up from where Morato left off, with the MTRCB going after films it deemed pornographic.
The Mendez-led MTRCB would ban the historical drama Schindler’s List in 1994, leading to controversy that made headlines both at home and internationally.
Mendez branded the film set during World War II “pornographic” because of a pumping sex act and shots of women’s breasts.
Lawyer and former COMELEC commissioner Haydee Yorac called the decision “idiotic,” while conservatives applauded the MTRCB's ruling.
Schindler’s List director Steven Spielberg was dismayed that he ordered the film to be pulled out in the Philippines rather than be screened with cuts.
President Fidel V. Ramos intervened and the film made it to local theaters in its entirety on March 9, 1994, with an R-15 rating.
Ramos would once again reverse the MTRCB's decision several months later when he allowed the period drama film The Piano to hit cinemas without cuts.
These incidents prompted Ramos to review the agency's function as a regulatory board.
The Appeals Committee was introduced to allow film producers and filmmakers to appeal MTRCB's initial decisions.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abolished the MTRCB Appeals Committee in 2004 but reinstated it in 2006 through Executive Order No. 572.
1995
Jess Sison took over MTRCB, stressing three objectives: promoting films depicting Filipino heroism, establishing self-regulation in the film industry, and giving the MTRCB a developmental dimension.
The emergence of the so-called "TF" (Titillating Films) genre challenged Sison's authority, and films like Priest, Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin, and Ang Lalaki Sa Buhay ni Selya became controversial at the time.
Sison's tenure also witnessed the implementation of classifications for television programs, with the terms General Patronage (GP) or Parental Guidance (PG) used based on time slots.
MTRCB ENTERs A NEW ERA
1998
This year marked the entry of film producer Armida Siguion-Reyna as censors chief.
Siguion-Reyna advocated freedom of expression and encouraged the film industry to self-regulate, which irked moralists citing the proliferation of daring films with provocative themes and suggestive titles to boot.
A prayer rally was even organized to call for Siguion-Reyna's resignation.
Next in line as the MTRCB head was film scholar Nicanor Tiongson.
Like his predecessor, Tiongson took a liberal approach that found him butting heads with conservative sectors of society.
His decision to allow the screening of Jose Javier Reyes' Live Show—a controversial film about the struggles of live sex workers—led to his eventual resignation.
Live Show, originally titled Toro, was denounced by the Catholic Church for being "immoral," prompting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to ban the film, much to the dismay of Tiongson.
Replacing Tiongson were Alejandro Roces and acting chairperson Marilen Ysmael-Dinglasan, both serving the agency briefly.
2003
Consoliza "Marissa" Laguardia was appointed, taking on a more conservative stand that divided public opinion.
Laguardia imposed strict guidelines and even had clashes with celebrities and TV personalities such as Vice Ganda, Willie Revillame, and Joey de Leon.
It was during her incumbency that the Da Vinci Code issue happened.
Despite Church protests, Laguardia allowed the film to be screened, giving it an R-18 rating. This created a stir and a slew of criticisms from the clergy and conservative groups directed against the MTRCB chief.
The issue got so heated that calls for the abolition of the MTRCB were led by Congressman Bienvenido Abante, Jr.
Meanwhile, Senator Franklin Drilon slammed the MTRCB under Laguardia, accusing the agency of serving as President Arroyo's "censorship body" after it gave a Triple X rating to a biopic film on the life of ex-President Joseph "Erap" Estrada.
For context, Estrada's tenure as president was cut short due to corruption allegations leading to his downfall.
Taking over Estrada as mandated by the Constitution was Arroyo, who was then vice-president. Some believed that Arroyo remained wary of giving Estrada media mileage as he was still popular with the masses.
Add to the fact that the documentary titled Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa questioned the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency.
Likewise, filmmakers, producers, and non-conservative sectors lambasted Laguardia on several occasions for her alleged moralistic stand and political bias.
The Laguardia-led MTRCB would also dish out numerous suspensions on TV programs, with the ABS-CBS noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan (MTB) being a frequent target.
To start with, the show's main hosts Randy Santiago, John Estrada, and Willie Revillame were often called out for their irreverent humor deemed unfit for television. This led to numerous suspensions.
It got so intense that Willie's contract with the show reportedly got terminated after an incident where he jokingly told diminutive host and birthday celebrant Mahal, "Sana ma-devirginize ka na."
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The MTRCB also suspended for three months Ang Dating Daan, the TV program hosted by Eli Soriano, televangelist and founder of the religious group of the same name. The suspension came after members of the highly influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) complained that Soriano was using the show to hurl insults against their group.
Laguardia weathered all issues and became MTRCB's longest-serving chairman at eight years.
Read: Censors chief says showbiz will miss her: "Wala nang magsasabing, 'Huwag magsasalita ng bastos!'"
"It's hard to say goodbye, but then again, I leave with a happy heart... because I know I've done my job and what I was tasked to do here. And I also felt the love and concern of the entertainment industry," Laguardia said teary-eyed in a farewell press conference on October 19, 2010.
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MTRCB STRUGGLES to STAY RELEVANT
Present Times
After Laguardia's exit, the MTRCB had seven chairpersons to date: Grace Poe-Llamanzares (2010-2012), Atty. Eugenio "Toto" Villareal (2012-2017), Rachel Arenas (2017-2021), Jeremiah Jaro (2021-2022), Jose "Johnny" Revilla (2022), and present head Diorella Maria "Lala" Sotto-Antonio.
The MTRCB under their leadership would continue the agency's mandate, often resulting in rulings that would make showbiz headlines.
Some that came to mind were issues with the reality show Pinoy Big Brother, and calling out TV programs like Impostora, The Better Half, On the Wings of Love, ASAP, and Party Pilipinas for showing scenes too sensual for MTRCB's taste.
Read:
15 TV shows summoned by MTRCB for controversial scenes
PBB All In issues apology; MTRCB imposes penalties on ABS-CBN reality show
MTRCB summons Impostora for Kris Bernal-Rafael Rosell love scenes
MTRCB summons On The Wings of Love execs over James Reid striptease scene
Party Pilipinas ordered by MTRCB to issue public apology over controversial dance number
Frequent MTRCB customers like Willie Revillame, Joey de Leon, and Vice Ganda would continue to collide with the agency and its revolving door of leaders.
Recently, noontime programs It's Showtime and E.A.T., were on the hot seat after incidents involving hosts Vice Ganda, Ion Perez, and Joey de Leon.
Read:
MTRCB summons It's Showtime over Vice Ganda-Ion Perez scenes in "Isip Bata" segment
MTRCB suspends 'It's Showtime' for 12 days
Netizens call out Joey de Leon for "lubid" joke on 'E.A.T.'; dare MTRCB to step in
As for movies, the agency in July this year stated that it would sanction or ban movies exhibiting the "nine-dash-line" map of China.
However, Barbie was screened nationwide despite showing in one of its scenes a depiction of the "nine-dash-line" or the territory China claims ownership in the South China Sea.
Before Barbie, the MTRCB banned the movies Abominable (2019) and Uncharted 2022) for similar issues.
Since its founding in 1985, the MTRCB's authority, though heavily criticized at times, has been clear and well-defined.
But with the advent of the Internet came the entry of streaming platforms where people can access content, whether shows or movies, online.
The pandemic and the resulting lockdown only expedited the public's shift to online viewing websites.
Suddenly, the MTRCB finds its jurisdiction being questioned by the public and industry players.
The agency's scope, after all, only covers traditional media platforms, namely, television and movies to be exhibited in public cinemas.
The MTRCB has publicly stated its desire to expand its jurisdiction to cover streaming services like Netflix and local platform Vivamax, the latter being known for its sexually charged content.
Read: MTRCB, magiging istrikto sa censorship ng streaming platforms?
"Different groups, mainly concerned parents, have been asking the MTRCB to clamp down on the movies, programs, and videos shown on various online streaming platforms, some of which they claim should be subjected to regulation," the agency said in a statement released in September of this year.
Some people, however, were not into the idea of allowing the MTRCB to dip its hands on these modern platforms.
Many fear that giving the agency access to streaming services might lead to increased subscription rates or, worse, discourage online platforms from doing business in the country.
The reasoning is that these streaming websites are already regulating their content by categorizing the movies they carry according to age.
The agency would also need sizeable manpower to review all the content carried by these platforms — an unrealistic and unsustainable scenario, according to lawmakers.
Senator Franklin Drilon said in September 2020, “It’s very impractical. There are thousands of shows on Netflix alone — how will MTRCB review each one?
"Can the MTRCB review every single content that can be accessed through the Internet? What will they do about virtual private networks that allow users to access content from other countries?
"If they insist on it, then taxpayers will be paying MTRCB only to stream movies and shows 24/7, 365 days."
Even former MTRCB chairperson and now Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares was against the idea.
Read: MTRCB Chair Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares explains the two classifications given to The Healing
“As it is, there isn’t enough manpower or even resources to view or evaluate every single program on cable," she commented.
"I think it’s counterproductive and ridiculous to suggest regulating Netflix and other streaming services. I am personally against it."
This once again brought to the forefront calls to abolish the MTRCB, with critics calling its function "outdated" and accusing the agency of "selective censorship."
Filmmaker Carlos Siguion-Reyna, vice-president of the Directors Guild of the Philippines Inc. (DGPI), said in a senate hearing in February that while he wants the agency to shut down, he would be fine if the MTRCB just retains its original mandate — no more, no less.
“I think, personally, ako dapat talaga buwagin na yung MTRCB because we should entrust it to self-regulation. Dapat tanggalin completely,” he remarked.
"We are not asking for [Presidential Decree] 1986 to be more liberal. Our position is to leave it as is at huwag nang i-enhance, i-amend, o i-expand pa ang powers ng MTRCB because that is increasing the discrimination against these two industries."
Current censors chief Lala Sotto disagreed, stating that "being too liberated is not a good idea."
She reasoned, “Being too liberated is not a good idea. Being too conservative is not a good idea as well. They will be both dangerous.
"That’s why the MTRCB should be here to strike a balance. It is also part of our core mandate to protect the children from anything that may cause disturbance to their minds."