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Two films directed by internationally acclaimed Filipino directors Jeffrey Jeturian and Brillante Mendoza for ABS-CBN's short film project, AmBisyon, were rated X on Thursday (March 25) by the Movie & Television Review & Classification Board (MTRCB).

Jeturian’s film “Ganito tayo ngayon, Paano na tayo bukas?” focused on the state of the economy. His camera follows a newspaper from the time it is delivered to a homeowner to when it is used to wipe feces from a foot of a cart-pushing vendor.

Jeturian uses a newspaper printed with the same controversial advertisement that came out in early January trumpeting the Arroyo administration’s economic successes. The film ends with President Arroyo’s photo on the crumpled newspaper.

The MTRCB said the film was X-rated for “undermining the faith and confidence of the people in government.”

Film on poverty 'injurious' to RP prestige?

Mendoza’s film, “Ayos Ka,” is a music video whose hopeful soundtrack is a stark contrast against images of poverty, prostitution, drugs and murder.

The MTRCB claimed Mendoza’s film is “injurious to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines and its people."

ANC, ABS-CBN's 24-hour news channel, produced the AmBisyon 2010 film series in the name of public interest. It sought to "offer a nation on the verge of a critical election the chance to focus on issues, not personalities."

AmBisyon's goals were shared by the film industry. Twenty big names in Philippine cinema thus offered their talents to each create a short film on a chosen issue.

The films are scheduled to screen at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City on April 6, and in a 5-episode weekly series over ANC and Studio 23 beginning April 9.

ANC to appeal ruling

In a statement, Maria Ressa, head of ABS-CBN's News and Current Affairs and managing director of ANC, and Glenda Gloria, chief operating officer of ANC, said they will appeal the ruling.

"We in ANC respect due process, and will be requesting a second review on Monday. We hope the MTRCB will reconsider," the ANC executives said.

"We support our filmmakers in their decision not to revise their films. While the views of the 20 AmBisyon filmmakers may not necessarily reflect ANC's, we believe that these films are legitimate perspectives of the state of the nation," they added.

"We trust in the public’s capacity to decide whether they will claim these views as their own."


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