Filipino directors question banning of Hollywood film ‘Plane’

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

THE Directors’ Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) opposed the government’s plan to stop the theatrical release of the controversial Hollywood movie “Plane.”

In a statement released on their Facebook page, DGPI said that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) already approved its release but politicians are just opposing it.

“A proposed ban on the public exhibition of the film ‘Plane’ has been making the rounds of the news cycle,” DGPI said.

“The Directors’ Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) opposes to stop the showing of this movie, as we believe agency and free choice must remain with the public, rather than imposed by politicians. To out rightly ban the film, especially one already approved the MTRCB, is a cure much worse that the illness itself, injurious to free expression and sets a precedent for films to be held hostage by imagined slights to our country’s reputation,” it added. their families.

The DGPI also compared the movie to the fake news and troll armies who are revising history.

“If the state can tolerate free expressions for trolls, fake news, and historical revisionism without worrying about their effect on the country’s prestige, then the state can do the same for a work that members of the foreign press have regarded as mindless B-movie entertainment rather that a reliable commentary on our country’s affairs,” it said.

“We support allowing the film to screen, informing the public of any problematic claims it makes, inviting open debate, or simply ignoring the film altogether. But we stand against censorship or banning the exhibition of this film from screening,” it added.

The petition was signed by DGPI president Mark Meily, board members Carlos SiguonReyna, Perci Intalan, Ed Lejano, Marlon Rivera, Roni Berfubi, Keith Sicat and Remton Zuasola.

Senator Robin Padilla last Saturday said that he received a response from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to ban the movie “Plane” from screening in local theaters.

500 children participated in the feeding program during the UERM-MAASC mission in Bangued, Abra.

The medical mission group was treated to two sumptuous dinners courtesy of Hon. Edgar Badajos, Consul General of Los Angeles, together with Dr. Joselito Bringas, a UERM alumni and his wife Councilwoman Rowena Bringas of the municipality of Bangued. Also, the group made a courtesy call to and met with Mayor Hon. Mila Valera and her husband, Abra Governor Dominic Valera. It was a unique experience made exception by the hospitality and highlighted by the sumptuous meals at the Bringas’ residence and at the mission sites.

“The humanitarian endeavor was hard but to be able to experience the joy in the faces of patients especially the children, to be able to improve the lives in those barangays, I know our group will do it again,” said Dr. Pauline Jose, UERM-MAASC President.

“Once again, we thank our Lord for the opportunity to serve and improve somebody’s life one barangay, one community at a time,” said Dr. Edgar Banez, UERM- MAASC Past President and Mission Coordinator.

(UERM-MAASC Release)