Yasser Marta and Alex Diaz in “Fairy Tail Romance” (Image: Instagram/@alexandermcdizz)
After finding online success, the Filipino Boys’ Love (BL) genre has made it to TV airwaves with the mini-series “Fairy Tail Romance.”
The two-episode series, starring Yasser Marta and Alex Diaz, is part of the fantasy romance anthology “My Fantastic Pag-Ibig” on GTV, which is part of GMA Network Inc. The installment features Marta as Nep, a man whom merman Lantis (Diaz) falls in love with.
After the first episode aired last Saturday, March 13, Diaz released a statement about the rating it received from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), which was SPG (strict parental guidance).
I noticed our Fantasy BL was labeled SPG – Strict Parental Guidance despite the absence of sex, horror, drugs and/or violence. If you’re reading this & your version of love isn’t something these out-dated ratings are ok showing on tv, don’t worry.. Its their mistake, not yours ❤️
— △lexander The Great ♚ (@alexandermcdizz) March 15, 2021
“I noticed our Fantasy BL was labeled SPG – Strict Parental Guidance despite the absence of sex, horror, drugs and/or violence,” he tweeted yesterday, March 15.
“If you’re reading this & your version of love isn’t something these [outdated] ratings are ok showing on tv, don’t worry.. [It’s] their mistake, not yours.”
According to the MTRCB website, TV shows rated SPG “may contain more serious topic and theme (sic).” Factors that are considered include theme, violence, drugs, language, sex and horror. It is unclear which among these elements was considered in coming up with the rating.
Despite the SPG rating, “Fairy Tail Romance” was a hit with viewers, with some even hoping that it would extend to a full series.
Diaz previously starred in the BL “Oh, Mando” which streamed on iWantTFC. He came out publicly as bisexual in 2019 and has been vocal about LGBTQ+ issues.
The next episode of “Fairy Tail Romance” is out this March 20. /ra
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