The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) successfully held the much anticipated 4th MTRCB Family and Child Summit (FCS 4) on Dec.3 at the Siena Hall, Siena College of Quezon City. FCS 4 intended to provide the audience with a holistic experience of Indigenous Culture and to make the participants become more aware of the resounding call for sensitivity towards the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Indigenous Cultural Community (ICCs) in society and media. Most importantly, participants were also made aware that each individual has the inherent responsibility and power in promoting and supporting this cause through Matalinong Panonood.
Hundreds of students, academicians, formators, media practitioners and members of IPs and ICCs actively participated in the event.
The program began with an ecumenical prayer led by Fr. Arnold Abelardo, Ustadz Mohamad Cana and Bro. Erwin Galapon. MTRCB Chairperson Eugenio “Toto” Villareal officially opened the summit with his inspiring opening address. He was then followed by the first speaker, Commissioner Atty. Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on the topic of “Indigenous People’s Rights.” A short introduction of “Oyayi TV,” a child-friendly program, was given by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan from the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT). He encouraged the large number of youths present to be more engaged in educational local shows.
The next plenary speaker was Atty. Erwin Caliba from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). He directed his discussion towards the call for inclusion in and sensitivity for IPs and ICCs. He also sought to empower the audience through information dissemination and to impart the value of a shared responsibility with regards to our indigenous Filipino brothers and sisters.
The afternoon session began with a panel discussion among Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary and proud member of the Balangao and Ga’dang tribes in the Cordillera, Ana Maria Banaag with elder, Gilbert Bangilan, Ateneo Law School professor Atty. Ronaldo Gutierrez, and teen star Rita Gaviola, also known as “Badjao Girl.” The panelists shared their firsthand personal experiences and knowledge as indigenous people or having worked with indigenous cultural communities. The discussion was moderated by GMA News and Public Affairs’ Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali-Tima, who took up various issues regarding the IPs and ICCs and also engaged in an in-person get-to-know-you with the panel.
The group narrated their personal struggles as IPs and also shared some aspects of their culture with the audience. They concluded by imparting inspiring messages of empowerment to the youth and adults, as well as entertaining inquiries from the audience in the open forum.
In the true spirit of community collaboration with MTRCB’s stakeholders, an Act of Commitment from TV Networks with the theme, “Ang MTRCB at ang Media Tungo sa Pagsulong ng Kamalayan Para sa Katutubo sa Pamamagitan ng Matalinong Panonood.” (The MTRCB, Media and the Youth in advocating the awareness for the Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communities through Discerning Viewership) was formalized as the summit reached its conclusion. Participating the pledging ceremony were ABS-CBN Integrated Corporate Communication Head Kane Errol Choa, GMA First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, and TV5 TV Traffic Manager Richard Dunque.
The awarding of winners for the MTRCB’s On-The-Spot Poster Making Contest was also held during the event. The official logo of this year’s summit was a product of the creativity of Jayson Tapong, a student from North Fairview High School. Prior to the summit, it may be recalled that an On-The-Spot poster making contest was held, providing an introduction to the summit. High school students from Quezon City participated and created art masterpieces, with the theme: “Matalinong Panonood Tungo sa Pagsulong ng Kamalayan Para sa Katutubo” (Discerning Viewership Towards Promoting Consciousness for the Indigenous People).
MTRCB Board Member Bibeth Orteza gave the closing remarks, followed by a music video on the awareness campaign for the Lumad entitled “Salupongan” directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna.
Noteworthy celebrities and media and entertainment practitioners who hosted the event were ABS-CBN’s Xian Lim, Gretchen Ho, MTRCB Board Members Nathaniel De Mesa, Gladys Reyes-Sommereux, and Robert Andrews. The UP Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (KontraGapi) conducted the opening number in the morning while Bayang Barrios opened the afternoon session with her cultural music performance. Other celebrities and performers were the Japh Dolls, Bailey May, Ylona Garcia, Ysabel Ortega, and Lyca Gairanod.