MTRCB executives and resource persons meet with ABS-CBN officials over “PBB 737” controversies. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/MTRCB
Amid numerous complaints that supposedly offended the sensibilities of viewers, the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Thursday ordered the management of reality show “PBB 737” to establish self-regulatory measures, undergo audience-sensitivity seminars, and closely collaborate with the censors’ board.
“PBB” is acronym for “Pinoy Big Brother,” a daily late-night reality show on ABS-CBN.
After informing them of the program’s probable violations, which included a perceived “bromance” between two male housemates, disturbing scenes, and flirtatious talks and actions, MTRCB presented the order to ABS-CBN Corporation and PBB officials in a conference attended by complainants and resource persons.
“Bromance” is a coined phrase for brotherly romance, used to refer to generally non-sexual relationship between two males. The show earned flak from netizens when an alleged “bromance” between two contestants, 18-year-old Karlo Lorenzo “Kenzo” Gutierrez and 12-year-old Bailey Thomas May was interpreted as “romantic relationship.”
READ: Closeness between PBB boys Kenzo, Bailey sends netizens abuzz
Noting that its housemates and most of its viewers are minors, MTRCB ordered PBB to “institute remedial and self-regulatory measures to ensure the protection, welfare, and development of all the participants.”
MTRCB said the show’s management should submit the measures for approval within five working days after the order’s release.
Citing Republic Act 7610, MTRCB ordered PBB to “immediately cease and desist from requiring participants to engage in activities and tasks which may be deemed to be hazardous to their life and safety, or prejudicial to their physical, psychological, emotional, moral, spiritual, and social well-being.”
The program’s story editors were also mandated to undergo an audience-sensitivity seminar every Thursday at 2 p.m. at the censor board’s office in Quezon City.
MTRCB also required PBB to place this advisory before every episode: “This program may contain sensitive material. Viewer discretion is advised.”
In addition to the advisory, starting July 10 until the end of the season, “PBB 737 Gold’s” rating classification would be raised to “SPG” (strong parental guidance).
The censor board also tasked the program to “strictly implement a comprehensive “closing-out” discussion by a subject-matter expert after the completion of every task or challenge for the proper understanding of the lesson.”
In a previous statement, ABS-CBN Corporation condemned “irresponsible netizens who maliciously take screenshots from the program’s livestream and weave a narrative that is not only far from truth but also attempts to put the housemates in a bad light.”
Following numerous feedback and after being summoned by MTRCB officials, ABS-CBN said it has shut down its 24/7 free livestreaming of the show on cable television and online “to safeguard the welfare of the housemates.” Yuji Vincent Gonzales
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