The double standard of the MTRCB

THE AVALANCHE of sleaze that ABS-CBN television has been focusing on lately makes one wonder whether the
Movie and Television Rating and Classification Board (MTRCB) is actually doing its job. Instead of warning noontime TV show hosts for using salty language, the MTRCB would do better to tackle the seemingly endless obsession that ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. has developed for call girl Keanna Reeves.

She first popped up a few weeks ago on TV host Boy Abunda's "Kontrobersyal" program after being approached by his producers, who asked whether Keanna would admit to having sex in exchange for money on camera. She agreed and hasn't looked back since. What's the big deal about that, one may ask. Well, for one Keanna has no redeeming value whatsoever. She wasn't abused as a child, nobody forced her into prostitution against her will (except for poverty perhaps), she never sent money home to her poor family, and she had the nerve to admit on the "Good Morning Kris" show that she entered her profession to sleep with as many men as possible!

After admitting that she had slept with some politicians, although she claims not to remember any of their names, Keanna now endorses a brand of T-shirts with a billboard on the EDSA highway, and is booked solid for the next two months with TV appearances. She utterly lacks charm and has the hard edges of someone who literally grew up on the "calle" [street]. Her mouth is untamed and I really doubt that any mother would like her children exposed to Keanna on a morning talk show. Kris Aquino admitted on her show that Keanna was her "favorite" for her lack of pretension and frankness. I think that is just another way of Kris saying she likes her gutter mouth. What has television come to?!

And what was the theme of Kris' show on August 25, which included Keanna? "Battle of the Sexy Stars" with a lineup of starlets that included Carlo Maceda, Gerald Madrid and Rodrigo Velayo on the men's side, and Camille Roxas and Sheryl Lou on the women's side. After each round of questioning by Kris and her co-host Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, one guest stripped an item of clothing. Is this what MTRCB chairperson Marissa Laguardia would call wholesome entertainment?

Instead of sending warning letters to GMA Network Inc. and to ABS-CBN for dealing with the issue of lesbianism, Laguardia would do much better to focus on the shows that have gone mad featuring sleazy characters such as Keanna Reeves and others. I'm glad that Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent a strongly worded letter of protest to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over the anti-gay discrimination of Laguardia. Her threats to ban broadcasts that dealt with gay relationships were deemed "a blatant assault on freedom of expression," by HRW in its June 8 letter. Although Laguardia later apologized for her strong language, she still managed to send a chill down the spine of TV producers who became scared of featuring gay couples on their shows.

Isn't it much more preferable to show gay people in committed, stable relationships rather than a parade of prostitutes whose only commitment is to make as much money as possible peddling their bodies? Wake up, Laguardia! The overwhelmingly majority of Filipinos accept gay people, and merely reflecting the variety of relationships that exist in society today should not be penalized by the MTRCB. Showcasing prostitutes as if they were the ultimate darlings of society is what should trouble you, not gay couples!

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How 'Ur D' Man' touched our hearts

HAVING slammed ABS-CBN for its Keanna obsession, I must also admit that it can get things right when it wants to. Its recently finished "'Ur D' Man" competition on the noontime show "Masayang Tanghali Bayan," popularly referred to as MTB, managed to touch the hearts of viewers around the globe.

The five young male contestants, Ahron, AJ, Marc, Kiko and JE, were vying for the chance to win one million pesos and to get a contract as a host on MTB. For weeks, we watched as they were put through various challenges and rounds of questioning. Television viewers were allowed to vote via text message for whichever candidate they preferred, but their vote only counted as a portion of the total vote. MTB hosts, ABS-CBN management and a trio of judges, namely Desiree Del Valle, Cristy Fermin and Ryan Agoncillo, all had a share in the final score. This made guessing who would win rather difficult, as viewers were never given a detailed breakdown of the scoring.

In any event, all the contestants endeared themselves to the viewing audience as well as to program hosts Ai-Ai de las Alas and Edu Manzano. Ahron, who won in the end, was liked for being the best all-rounder; AJ was the tallest and handsomest, but his "pa-cuteness" was irritating; Marc was the comedian who made everyone laugh, especially in his difficulty in pronouncing words correctly in English; Kiko was the youngest at 15, and always ready to burst into tears, while JE had big eyes and a charming way of speaking.

The grand final on Aug. 21 had many viewers in tears, as well as Ai-Ai who broke down several times. By the time Ahron had been declared the winner it was a veritable flood of tears both on the set and at home in front of the television for my friend Marvin and me.

ABS-CBN producers should realize that they can achieve high ratings with compelling and funny stories, not only with the sleaze of the likes of Keanna.

Comments or questions? E-mail the author at: manilamoods@hotmail.com.

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