Michael V. in his latest vlog titled “#BitoyStory 30: ‘LEVEL UP’. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Michael V. #BitoyStory
As promised, Michael V. showed a copy of a summons from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for a sketch on his primetime gag show “Bubble Gang” back in 2013 for his supposed “derogatory portrayal” of a woman.
On Instagram on Saturday, October 14, the comedian whose real name is Beethoven Bunagan, looked back at the moment when “things got real” for the cast of the comedy show in a picture post of the MTRCB summon, signed by former chairman Eugenio Villareal.
The summon had to do with his portrayal in Bubble Gang’s” “D’Adventures of Susie Lualhati” sketch, which starred Michael V. and Rufa Mae Quinto, who played the titular role.
“Throwback to when things got real for the Gang. (Google ‘Susie Lualhati’). We learn. We adapt. We persevere,” his caption read.
As seen in the post, Michael V. was called by the MTRCB to “shed light” on the “alleged scenes of discriminatory and derogatory portrayal of a woman in the 29 November 2013 episode of ‘Bubble Gang,” where he along with show and GMA network executives were asked to show up at their office.
As the MTRCB flagged the skit for its “sexist” message despite the show’s SPG (Strong Parental Guidance) rating, the government body thus said the show must exercise “self-regulation.”
Michael V.’s post caught the attention of former “Bubble Gang” cast member Maureen Larrazabal in the comments, saying she “remembered” the “Susie Lualhati” sketch so well.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@michaelbitoy
The comedian’s post comes days after he lamented how hard it is to do comedy during the Philippine Film Industry Month’s closing ceremony due to the number of “restrictions” that need to be considered.
He then vowed to produce the MTRCB summons, as he emphasized the need for artists to practice “self-censorship” in the wake of the suspension it meted on ABS-CBN noontime show, “It’s Showtime.”
The current composition of the MTRCB is chaired by Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio, daughter of former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and one of the main hosts of the old “Eat Bulaga” program, of which Michael V used to be part of.
The original gang of “Eat Bulaga” then transferred from GMA to TV5 to form a new program now called “EAT.” EDV