PASAY CITY, Philippines – In February 2013, Sr Consolata Manding, Directress of Paulines Institute of Communication in Asia (PICA) Foundation gave a talk on gender-sensitivity to the production crew and management of local television station GMA Channel 7. This was in collaboration with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), a government agency created under Presidential Decree No 1986. A month later, in March 2013, she gave another talk to another television station, ABC Channel 5. In the past, the Board would suspend and fine any erring station for any programs aired which received numerous complaints from the viewing public. But under the new management the Board decided that instead of suspension and fine, it would oblige the erring station production crew and management to attend media literacy seminars (specific issues/complaints) so that they would understand better the gravity of the violations committed. In fact, the managements of both stations were grateful for the new policy implemented.
It is significant to note that it is the government agency that is seeking the collaboration of the Daughters of St Paul in this field of the communications apostolate for it means that it recognizes FSP contribution to the nation’s film and television industry. Not only that, on 8 May 2013, the MTRCB deputized several sisters as members of the Local Regulatory Council (LRC) to monitor movies shown in theaters outside Manila as well as on cable TV. Filipinos are noted for their love for movies and have a thriving film industry since 1919.
The Sisters have been giving media awareness and media literacy seminars since the 1970s. They are also involved with the Catholic Initiative for Enlightened Movie Appreciation (CINEMA), the film rating and classification board of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Social Communication and Mass Media, since 2001.
As Primo Maestro puts it: “We need to put down the scissors of censorship and pick up the camera” because “the power of the cinema surpasses that of the school, the pulpit, and the press and always produces greater results.” He initiated the apostolate of the cinema and film activity on 18 March 1938.
By: Sr Anna Yap, fsp
FSP Sisters take the oath as Local Regulatory Council of the MTRCB.
Sr Consolata, FSP and Atty. Villareal, MTRCB Chairman
The crew of ABC/TV Channel 5 attentively listening to Sr Consolata’s talk on gender sensitivity.
Sr Consolata Manding, FSP explains Gender Sensitivity to staff and crew of Channel 5.