This MTRCB board member is now more conscious of responsibilities

James Ronald (left) and Rodfil Obeso

“Kids could be watching us,” said James Ronald Obeso, half of the comic duo Moymoy Palaboy, who claimed to now have a better understanding of his responsibility as a show biz personality since he became an official of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

James is one of 30 MTRCB board members who also include, among others, comedian Dennis Padilla and singer Paolo Santos. Their task is to view and classify movies, TV programs and similar shows.

James and his brother Rodfil (aka Roadfill) made their first TV appearance in the gag show “Bubble Gang” in 2008. They are now contract artists of GMA 7.

“I didn’t understand this before, or maybe, I didn’t care to understand. Now, I know that I have to be more careful of what comes out of my mouth while I’m on TV,” he pointed out. “Being a board member helped a lot. It taught me to take it slow. Dati kasi, wala akong preno.”

His work in the MTRCB also taught him the value of social responsibility. James and celebrities Ara Mina, Andrea Torres, Miguel Tanfelix, JC del Rosario, Mitoy Yonting, Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, Daniel Matsunaga, RockSteddy, K Brosas and Ryan Bang, are supporting the advocacy event called “Laban ng Lahi 2018 (Global Platoon Run Challenge),” which will be held in Zarraga, Iloilo, on Dec. 18.

“While taking part in benefit shows and other advocacy projects is not new to me, being an official of a government agency made me more conscious of how often I should do them in order to pay it forward. I’ve been blessed to be a part of this industry; I just want to give back,” he declared.

Proceeds of the event will be used to fund the “Itikan Love Projects,” a duck-raising program aimed to benefit some 2,000 households in the province.

The race will coincide with the Zarraga Pantat Festival, which runs from Dec. 16 to 18.—MARINEL R. CRUZ