Youth Artists Cry Political Repression over X-Rating of ‘amBisyon’ Films

Insulting and Tyrannical.

This is how Kabataang Artista Para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (KARATULA), an organization of youth artists throughout the country, sees the X and R-18 given by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to two short films, namely Ganito Tayo Ngayon, Paano Na Tayo Bukas? by Jeffrey Jeturian and Ayos Ka by Brillante Mendoza created for ABS-CBN’s short film project AmBisyon.

“We are offended by MTRCB for saying that the message of Ayos Ka could not be understood by younger audiences, even if they changed its rating from X to R-18,” said Ana Tarina Lulu, KARATULA national chairperson. “Everyone, regardless of age, suffers from the dire economic and political conditions aggravated by the Arroyo regime, as shown by the two films.”

Ayos Ka, the short film made by the award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, is a music video of a rap about an ideal and positive Philippines while showing contradictory images of poverty. Meanwhile, Ganito Tayo Ngayon, Paano Na Tayo Bukas? by Jeffrey Jeturian shows how a page of a newspaper, trumpeting the administration’s alleged economic successes, is used to wipe feces from the foot of a cart vendor. 

“Arroyo is no different from Marcos who censored and banned films that portrayed the social realities of its time. Throughout her nine-year regime, up until its last few months, she and her lackeys have shown that they will stop at nothing to curb legitimate political criticism against their government and crush people’s dissent. We condemn her blatant disregard for press freedom, freedom of expression and other human rights,” Lulu said.

She added that this case proves the systemic repression of the government marked by other cases such as the X rating granted to critical films like Mendiola of Sine Patriyotiko and Rights spearheaded by Southern Tagalog Exposure, defacement of Neo-Angono’s mural for the National Press Club and recently the censorship of Joel Lamangan’s Dukot. 

“Rather than fear, we call upon all artists and organizations to unite and to be brave in facing suppression. We must struggle not only for freedom of expression but genuine freedom from oppression and poverty perpetuated by the regime and the system.”###