JUST A THOUGHT: An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture. –Jean Cocteau
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DIALOG, NOT REPRIMAND: Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair Toto Villarreal has cleared set meeting with the producers of “Till I Met You” next week is a dialog, not a reprimand, over sexy scenes engaged in by James Reid and Nadine Lustre in recent episodes.
The government agency is reacting to public outcry from some sectors regarding said love scene between the two young leads of the popular nighttime series.
In an interview yesterday, Villareal said the role of the MTRCB is to provide a healthy bridge between the program and the audience. Many opposed the scene showing the characters of James and Nadine making out in the car. Another scene that raised eyebrows for being too suggestive was one in a bathtub simulating foreplay.
Villareal said the MTRCB is willing to hear the side of the program’s producers, representatives of ABS-CBN.
He reiterated that the MTRCB’s main role is not just to police the TV and movie industries but also to nurture them.
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OTHERS DO IT, TOO: The MTRCB finds itself in a peculiar situation, I told the chair.
It is reacting to certain sexy scenes from “Till I Met You” but turns a blind eye on other TV fare of the same nature. For example, my favorite series “Magpahanggang Wakas” has shown quite explicit love scenes between Jericho Rosales and Muñoz, Arci Muñoz and John Estrada.
Yet, everything has been quiet on both sides of the fence.
Villareal explained, however, that in fairness to “Till I Met You,” they flashed the SPG (Strict Parental Guidance) warning prior to the controversial scenes referred to.
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NEW MTRCB BOARD MEMBERS: In the same conversation, Villareal announced that 12 new members of the MTRCB are currently undergoing an orientation.
Three of them are former chair Consoliza Laguardia, actor Bayani Agbayani, and former UP dean of mass communications Rolando Tolentino.
It isn’t certain whether or not Villareal is staying as chair. “We are here in a holdover capacity,’’ he said.
(NESTOR CUARTERO)