MTRCB to meet ‘It’s Showtime’ producers over ‘Pastillas Girl’ segment
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has acted on the complaint filed by women’s group Gabriela regarding the alleged pimping of Angelica Jane Yap, better known as “Pastillas Girl” in “It’s Showtime” in a bid to save the noontime show’s ratings.
In a letter dated October 1, MTRCB Chair Atty. Eugenio Villareal asked “It’s Showtime” director Norbert Vidanes, Business Unit Head Reilyl Santiago and Executive Producer Mark Rejano to attend a dialogue with the Special Sub-Committee of MTRCB’s Gender And Development (GAD) committee on October 13.
Villareal said that the invitation to the noontime show producers was in response to Gabriela’s complaint and “feedback from the general public.”
“Further to the Memorandum of Understanding dated 28 March 2012 by and between our Agency and various television networks and entities, including ABS-CBN Corporation, as well as the official letter we received last week from the party-list alliance Gabriela, not to mention some feedback from the general public, we are impelled to invite your authorized representatives for the program ‘It’s Showtime’ to a dialogue with the Special Sub-Committee of our Gender And Development (GAD) Committee on 13 October 2015, at 10:00 a.m., at ground floor conference room,” the letter read.
Gabriela Secretary General Joan Salvador and ABS-CBN’s TV Production Entertainment Head Laurenti Dyogi also received MTRCB’s letter.
In its letter dated last September 21, Gabriela asked the noontime show’s executive producer to stop airing the segment, saying that they are “consistent in [Gabriela’s] statement that competition to sell the show and the ratings war should not be done at the expense of women.”
The “Pastillas Girl” segment focuses on Yap’s quest to find a new love interest after she was dumped by her former boyfriend.
The segment was seen as the Kapamilya network’s bid against its rival “Kalyeserye” which features the hit “AlDub” love team of actor Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, also known as “Yaya Dub.”
However, despite the introduction of the “Pastillas Girl” segment, “It’s Showtime” continues to lose the ratings game with its competitor. AJH/CDG
RELATED STORIES
LOOK: ‘Pastillas Girl’ also charmed by ‘AlDub’
Ms. Pastillas vs AlDub: ‘Showtime’s’ new gambit counters ‘EB’s’ winning move
Split-screen TV fairy tale ‘AlDub’ hit in old, new media
