TOPIC: Censorship of Films in Graphic Nudity and Violence

POSITION: The Censorship of Local and Foreign Films Exhibiting Graphic Nudity and Violence should be

Abolished.

NAME: Regienald P. Cuevas

The censorship of foreign and local films showing graphic nudity and violence should be
abolished. It does not promote the country’s economic nor political growth. Philippines had a long
history regarding censorship since the early colonization period. The rules during the colonization of the
Philippines were intellectually controlling and had suppressed people’s idea generally affected by
religious beliefs (De Vega 10). Browsing in the history timeline of censorship, the first movie controversy
met by the Regulatory Board was all about the film Batang Tulisan in 1937. It portrayed a villainous
depiction of a priest similar with Padre Damaso of Noli Me Tangere who had committed violence and
sexual harassment. Foreign films were also heavily censored like the Russian propaganda film,
Chapayev. It was banned for the viewing of the public because of the idea of communism. Looking
beyond these films, it is more likely an instrument to open a gate of ideas composed of the elements
found in reality.

Censorship has no space in a mature democracy (Rakesh Sharma). The idea of true democracy is
of the people, by the people and for the people. Critiques would say that censorship was used to ensure
that people do not get exposed to psychologically dangerous ideas. It is the beautified image of
censorship and considering the Philippines which is composed of millions of Filipino; it is a claim of
dictatorship. People were controlled by the governing bodies hiding in democratic mirror. "Censorship
did not end when the Marcos family left. It continued. We have stories about them. History seems to
repeat itself”, said by a veteran broadcaster, Cheche Lazaro during the International Women’s Day 2018.
Furthermore, the censors of governing bodies violate the freedom of speech. The authority claims that
through censorship, thousands of people will not exhibit any form of violence shown in a restricted film.
It will prevent people on creating chaotic events and topics. In contrary, knowing the consequences of a
negative or an adverse action shown in a film will make a person think deeper having his/ her own point
of view and come up to a right decision. A person has the right to express his/ her opinion and give
suggestions. Political censorship often hides the truth behind the events in the society that film makers
wanted to inculcate in the people’s head. Governing bodies set their image high without due process in
giving justice to a movie that somehow re-enact the real government flow or is adverse to their own
concept of truth. A great example is the film Luis Taruc: Ang Supremo in 1961 which is banned because
of the exhibit of anomalous government.

Freedom of artistic creation was restricted through the use of censorship (Eternality Tan). Film is
a form of artwork like the Philippine dances, songs, and literature which is time- consuming, needs
patience and should generate thousands of ideas. Censorship devours the soul of a film as the decision
depends on the regulatory board whether they like it or it shows too much information. The regulatory
board always consider the negative impact of the message behind a film but, looking only in the
negative side will result to no good. Generally, people are not imprudent. It is far better to look up with
the positive effects that a realistic movie can give to the people. It is not easy to create a film while
addressing an issue in the society but, film makers spend sleepless nights to produce a wake up film for
the society. In addition, the meaningless cuts in a film showing true events happening in the present
time encourage piracy. The censors delete a significant part in a film leaving questions to the viewers.
This led to the piracy of the movie without unnecessary cuts. Viewers enter the black market to illegally
download the full movie to have the answers left by the restricted film. The viewers are smart enough to
know that there was missing pieces in the movie that typically hides the truth of real events in the
society. Censorship impedes the transparency of the original and uncut film. It causes a film maker to
lose control of his/her own movie because of the immature and supersensitive censors. A film maker
might also lose credibility in creating a blockbuster film because of the meaningless cuts.

Censorship blocks the flow of vital information in the society (Universal Multidisciplinary
Research Institute). It violates the right to information. People have the right to know the events and
issues happening around them. A great movie example is the film Ang Manananggol ni Ruben which
circulate in the topic of a rape case being defended on the trial court. It will really provide information
about the truth of the rape cases in the Philippines. It may show the bias decision of a judge regarding
the rape case. Philippines cannot deny the fact that it is happening in real life. It is the sole reason that
the government board kept it banned for viewing as it resembles true issues inside the country.
Another example is the film entitled Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim in 1984 directed by one of the
Philippines’ National Artist for Cinema Catalino Brocka. It was set to a rating of “for adults only” limiting
the young generation to watch and be open to the real society. The issue reached the Supreme Court
and the final decision was based on the right to information and freedom of speech as a contemporary
artist. There were a lot of films which undergo heavy censors like Himala (1982) of Ishmael Bernal and
Live Show/ Toro (2000) of Jose Javier Reyes which revealed the sex industry in Manila. Through
censorship, sex related topics that help in promoting sex education for proper family planning,
avoidance of early pregnancy and knowledge about the sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/ AIDS will
not reach the minds of the people. It is better to let the people know everything rather than hiding the
truth with fake growth and power.

Censorship is immature, bias and false image creator. It will result to the loss of contextual
awareness among people in their surroundings. Furthermore, it will continuously hide the truth behind
the issues in different sectors of the society. People will not learn the necessary things to create and
build a stronger nation. Thus, censorship of foreign and local films showing graphic nudity and violence
should be eradicated for the sole reason of being in a democratic nation.