‘It’s Showtime’ showrunners vow to protect dignity of ‘Pastillas Girl’

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has asked the showrunners of ABS-CBN noontime program “It’s Showtime” to impose self-regulation following complaints that it is allegedly pimping Angelica Yap, known to viewers as “Pastillas Girl.”

MTRCB released the results of the meeting of its Gender and Development (GAD) committee with ABS-CBN representatives on its website Wednesday.

READ: ‘It’s Showtime’ denounces Gabriela complaint vs ‘Pastillas Girl’ segment | MTRCB to meet ‘It’s Showtime’ producers over ‘Pastillas Girl’ segment

During the meeting, the showrunners vowed that it will ensure the protection Yap’s dignity by “introducing scenes depicting her empowerment as a person while she faces various challenges in her young life.” This move is expected to negate the notion that she is only living to find her perfect match.

The network representatives also said that they will brief Yap before each episode and explain to her that she is now a “public figure” and that she should be wary of her actions and words.

ABS-CBN also provided Yap with a “life coach” who would guide her to “mold her character positively and enable her to plan her life with care and informed choices.”

The MTRCB asked “It’s Showtime” producers to be vigilant in depicting women in their program.

“We cannot help but stress the need for constant and unwavering vigilance in regard to the depiction and portrayal of women in your program. You will necessarily have to sharpen the saw, so to speak, in regard to both gender-sensitive orientation as well as action,” MTRCB said.

Women’s group Gabriela earlier wrote to MTRCB to call out the alleged pimping of Yap in the show’s segment “Nasaan ka, Mr. Pastillas?” AJH/CDG

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