Unlike other organizations worldwide, the Board does not ratevideo games. Thus, both theESRB system used in theUnited States, andIARC system are thede facto rating systems used in thePhilippines, although there have been attempts at formulating an independent local rating system.[3] Certain video game vendors ask for a valid ID or other verification of those seeking to buy M- and AO-rated games. The Board also does not rateliterature.[4]
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board also serves as ade factocensorship body.[5]
The MTRCB was initially created as the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures by virtue of Republic Act 3060 signed byPresidentCarlos P. Garcia in 1961 and directly subordinate to theOffice of the President of the Philippines.[6] Over the years, its name and powers were changed and expanded by succeeding administrations. In 1980, as part of Executive Order No. 585 issued by PresidentFerdinand Marcos during theMartial Law, the Board was reconstituted to include senior officials of theMinistry of Justice, theMinistry of Education and Culture, theMinistry of National Defense, theMinistry of Public Information and theNational Intelligence and Security Authority (NISA).[7] To reflect the rising influence oftelevision in the Philippines, the agency was renamed into the Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television by virtue of Executive Order No. 745 issued by Marcos in 1981.[8] In 1983, its scope was expanded to include live entertainment, and as such the Board was renamed by Marcos into the Board of Review for Motion Pictures, Television and Live Entertainment by virtue of Executive Order No. 868. Controversially, it was also given the power to bar any film deemed "subversive" in content and "undermining faith in the government"[9]
Ultimately, the economic and political crisis of the 1980s led the Marcos regime to abolish the board and replace it with the current Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 1985 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1986.[10] After the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, the Board was reconstituted to remove defense and security officials and limit its composition to civilian personnel, though the ban on subversive material remains. In the 1990s, an Appeals Committee was created to allow appeal and reversals of the MTRCB's decisions.[11]
The chairman, the vice-chairman and the other 30 Board members compose the Board. Each one holds office for a term of one year, but may be reappointed after the expiration of their term. Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio has been the board chairperson since July 7, 2022.[12]
The rating labels used in the Philippines for feature films.
While the MTRCB primarily rates most films released in commercial cinemas, independent andart-house films released in the Philippines are not rated by the MTRCB themselves. Instead, they are rated through theFilm Development Council of the Philippines and the Film Cultural Exchange Program (FCEP) through the FDCP rating system pursuant to the agreed-upon guidelines by the FDCP and the MTRCB.[13]
Viewers under 13 years old should be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult.
R-13
Only viewers who are 13 years old and above can be admitted.
R-16
Only viewers who are 16 years old and above can be admitted.
R-18
Only viewers who are 18 years old and above can be admitted.
X
"X-rated" films are not suitable for public exhibition.
Except for G, all MTRCB cinema ratings are mandatory. No children under the age of 13 may be admitted to a PG-rated film unless when accompanied by an adult. All cinemas are required to check the ages of all patrons who wish to view age-restricted content in a cinema. It is against the law for moviehouses to admit underage patrons into age-restricted content in a cinema. The public exhibition of an "X-rated" film in the Philippines is a serious criminal offense and may lead to more severe disciplinary actions.
A film shall be disapproved for public viewing if, in the judgment of the Board:
The average person, applying contemporary community standards and values, would find that the dominant theme of the work, taken as a whole appeals solely to the prurient interest and satisfies only the craving for gratuitous sex and/or violence.
The film depicts in a patently lewd, offensive, or demeaning manner, excretory functions and sexual conduct such assexual intercourse,masturbation and exhibition of thegenitals.
The film clearly constitutes an attack against any race, creed, or religion.
The film condones or encouragesabuse andexploitation against women and/or children.
The MTRCB has implemented a television content rating system since April 27, 1992. Historically, there were only two television ratings used (see the table below). These ratings consisted of a plain textdigital on-screen graphic (or pictogram) appearing on the corner of the screen during a program's run time.
System used from October 6, 2011, to present
Pictogram
Rating
General Patronage
Parental Guidance (Patnubay at Gabay)
Strong Parental Guidance (Striktong Patnubay at Gabay)
On October 6, 2011, in order to encourage parents to supervise and be responsible with their children in watching television, the rating system was reformatted, with one additional rating added.[15][16][17]
Any television program that does not conform to the "G", "PG", and "SPG" classification shall be unfit for television broadcast if, in the judgment of the Board applying contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard, it is objectionable for being immoral, indecent, contrary to law and/or good customs, injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines or its people, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence, or of a wrong, or crime, such as but not limited to:
The average person, applying contemporary community standards and values, would find that the dominant theme of the work, taken as a whole appeals solely to the prurient interest and satisfies only the craving for gratuitous sex and/or violence.
The work depicts in a patently lewd, offensive, or demeaning manner, excretory functions, and sexual conduct such as sexual intercourse, masturbation and exhibition of the genitals.
The work clearly constitutes an attack against any race, creed or religion.
The work condones or encourages abuse and exploitation against women and/or children.
The work promotes or endorses the use of illegal drugs and substances.
The work tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities.
The work glorifies criminals or condones crimes.
The work is libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or dead.
The work may constitute contempt of court of a quasi-judicial tribunal, or may pertain to matters, which are subjudicial in nature.
TheOptical Media Board formerly governedcensorship for home video releases; this has since been managed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
Before 2015, unlike the theatrical ratings, only three are applied to video releases and printed on labels: General Audience (G) for films previously rated G in cinemas, Parental Guidance (PG) for most PG and some R-13 or R-16 titles (with cuts for the R-ratings), and Restricted For Adults (R) for some R-13, many R-16, and most R-18 titles [without cuts for R-16 and R-18, including films released unrated or with adults-only rating equivalents (e.g.R,18,M18, NC-17,Category III, and R21) outside the Philippines].
Since 2015, the theatrical ratings were applied as home video ratings, replacing the previous system.
In addition to issuing parental ratings for home video content, routine inspections are also conducted at public transport terminals where passenger buses equipped with onboard entertainment systems can be found, to ensure that the films in question are approved by both agencies for public exhibition and are free of inappropriate content.[18]
Advertisement materials are generally outside the scope of the board. Exemptions are "publicity materials" that are those "used to generate public interest in a motion picture or television program such as teasers or promos of television programs, movie trailers, print advertisements, still photos, photo frames, leaflets, posters and billboards and other related media".[19]
On September 3, 2020, it was reported that MTRCB wanted to seek the "regulation" of video content that is provided by streaming platforms such as Netflix. According to Atty. Jonathan Presquito, the MTRCB legal affairs division chief, there is a necessity proceed with the regulation, especially because several video content are unrated.[20] However, the move was strongly criticized by several groups and people, noting that the MTRCB has become a tool of censorship.[21] SenatorFranklin Drilon said that the move was "very impractical".[22]
Despite touting itself as promoting Filipino values and "intelligent viewing", the board has drawn criticism from filmmakers and special interest groups for itsvested interest in the film and television industries,de factocensorship, stifling of creative freedomson the grounds of family-friendliness, and allegations of inaccuracy in film and television ratings.[23]
Critics contend that the board has not rated certain media, particularly internationalsuperhero, action and fantasy films, such asMichael Bay'sTransformers and theHarry Potter series (based on the novels byJ.K. Rowling), along with locally producedromantic comedies, strongly for violent or sexual themes, noting the arbitrary and biased classification based on board members' opinions on certain films for mature audiences yet overlooking certain scenes or themes that would be given a higher rating elsewhere.[24]
Since 2019, MTRCB announced that they banned movies likeAbominable, andUncharted immediately due to the film's scene involving thenine-dash line at the map ofSouth China Sea, being reached out of controversy at the Southeast Asia (including Philippines).[25][26][27][28]
In 2024 the Board under Sotto received criticism for its stifling of free expression and religious convictions of their members forming the basis of their censure of audiovisual works, particularly in the filmsAlipato at Muog andDear Satan, the former banned for "undermining the faith and confidence" of the country's institutions and the latter for perceived glorification ofSatan as a being who redeemed himself after unsuccessfully tempting a young girl into evil.[29] The Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc. (DGPI) accused the board of overreach in their mandate by basing their verdict onDear Satan on Lala Sotto's religious convictions; whileDear Satan was ultimately shelved when the MTRCB reaffirmed its decision, they re-ratedAlipato at Muog after a formal appeal and protests by JL Burgos and various activists at the MTRCB office.[30][31]
Aside from administering parental ratings for movies and television shows, the MTRCB also reserves the right to sanction a certain program or movie depending on the gravity of the violation as a means of disciplinary action. This includes all content sanctions by the MTRCB on domestically produced contents. However, cases focusing onsuspension oftelevision program broadcasting andmovies banned for public screening are covered in separate articles.
On January 4, 2000, a broadcast of the children's television seriesTeletubbies onGMA Network was accidentallyreplaced by a still photo of actressRosanna Roces for several seconds. The photo shows one of her breasts exposed, prompting MTRCB to issue a warning that the station would face stronger sanctions should this, or a similar incident, be repeated. GMA officials stated that the incident was caused by an errant employee who pressed a button on a panel while helping repair a computer.[32]
In November 2021, the MTRCB ordered streaming platformNetflix to remove certain episodes ofPine Gap showing the nine-dash line, deeming it "unfit for public exhibition". It was after theforeign affairs department issued a complaint calling the line "illegal" and a "violation of Philippine sovereignty".[34]
The episodeManika on the drama anthologyMaalaala Mo Kaya was slated to be aired on June 2, 2012, but was pulled off after MTRCB imposed an X rating because of its sensitive rape theme. The episode finally aired on June 30, after it was given a SPG rating for its final televised airing.[35]
On February 8, 2013, the MTRCB imposed a six-month probation period on variety showParty Pilipinas for a lewd dance number involvingLovi Poe andRocco Nacino. They also ordered GMA Network to apologize publicly.[36]
On February 26, 2013, the MTRCB summoned the staff of the weekly musical-variety showASAP to a gender-sensitivity investigation over a wet performance number involvingAnne Curtis.[37]
On December 9, 2013, sketch-comedy showBubble Gang hostMichael V.,Rufa Mae Quinto, and GMA Network's executives, were summoned by MTRCB chairman Eugenio Villareal for a mandatory conference after a sexually sensitive comedy skit called"The Adventures of Susie Lualhati" which aired on November 29 and involved a derogatory and discriminatory portrayal of women.[38]
On June 6, 2014, the MTRCB was summoned by the Philippine Commission on Women to review an episode of reality showPinoy Big Brother: All In aired on June 4, 2014, where Jayme Jalandoni was asked if she wanted to pose nude for a painting, as part of their sixth weekly task.[39]
On October 7, 2015, the daily reality-dating game serialNasaan Ka Mr. Pastillas? onIt's Showtime drew the ire of netizens and the women's groupGabriela for its allegedly derogatory portrayal of women. The MTRCB summoned the show's executives to discuss the segment. After a thorough investigation, MTRCB imposed "self-regulation" on the said show, with a list of suggestions to improve the segment.[40]
On July 29, 2016, the MTRCB sent summons to the producers, writers, and directors of the television seriesFPJ's Ang Probinsyano over a scene in the July 25 episode (Girl in the Rain) with "sexually suggestive themes".[41]
In 2016, executives and producers of romantic dramedyTill I Met You were summoned after complaints came in over various inappropriate scenes and innuendo involvingJames Reid andNadine Lustre. Called in were directorsAntoinette Jadaone and Andoy Ranay, executive producer Arnel Nacario and writer Shugo Praico. MTRCB said matters to be taken up include scenes from the October 25–28 episodes, deeming them inappropriate for public viewing.[42][43]
On May 31, 2023, an alleged violation ofEat Bulaga! (formerly produced byTAPE Inc.), namely airing a replay to prevent the former mainstay hosts,Tito Sotto,Vic Sotto, andJoey de Leon, from live broadcast, was investigated by the board to ensure compliance on broadcasting regulations.[45]
On August 11, 2023, E.A.T. (underTVJ Productions; reverted toEat Bulaga! since 2024) was summoned by the board over the utterance of profanity by hostWally Bayola in the segmentSugod Bahay, Mga Kapatid! which aired on August 10, 2023.[46]
On January 31, 2024, the board banned the talk showPrivate Convos with Doc Rica onCignal-owned news channelOne News. It was hosted by sex therapist Rica Cruz and focused on sexuality-related matters, saying that it "purely appeals to ‘prurient interest’" and failed to adhere to its rating guidelines. It specifically cited two episodes that were aired on August 24, 2023 and September 6, 2023, during which the sexually explicit terms such asself-masturbation,anal sex, andoral sex were voiced out, and noted that the program was broadcast in what it deemed were "child-viewing hours" at 09:30 pm on Wednesdays, with reruns in the afternoons.[47] The MTRCB upheld its ban in a decision released on March 14, 2024, despiteCignal TV asserting that the program was of “educational and social value.”.[48] The program, however, continued broadcasting on One News'YouTube channel andFacebook page.[49]
^"Chapter IV – Movie, Television and Trailer Classification".2004 Implementing Rules and Regulations(PDF). Philippines: Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on November 23, 2015. RetrievedDecember 12, 2017.
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