ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
Advocates Philippines
MTRCB Deliberating On Allowing Barbie Movie To Screen In PH Due To 9-Dash Line Of China
Photo credit: Barbie the Movie and MTRCB
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) confirmed on July 4, 2023, that it has reviewed the film "Barbie" and is currently deliberating on Warner Brothers F.E. Inc.'s request for a Permit to Exhibit. This announcement has stirred controversy due to the film's portrayal of the disputed nine-dash line in the South China Sea.
Senator Francis 'TOL' N. Tolentino, the vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed concern about the potential consequences of allowing the screening of "Barbie." He emphasized that the movie's depiction of the nine-dash line could be detrimental to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines and undermine the country's sovereignty.
Senator Tolentino cited the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, which invalidated China's nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. He argued that the film's inclusion of this disputed maritime feature goes against the Philippines' hard-won victory in the international arbitration case.
The Vietnamese government has already banned the screening of "Barbie" in its territory after discovering the portrayal of the nine-dash line. Senator Tolentino pointed out that the MTRCB has previously prohibited the local screening of films such as "Abominable" in 2019 and "Uncharted" in 2022 due to their inclusion of the disputed nine-dash line.
Meanwhile, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada echoed Senator Tolentino's concerns and highlighted the need to prioritize national interest. Estrada mentioned that the Arbitral Tribunal's ruling in 2016 clearly established that China's nine-dash line has no legal basis. He expressed hope that the MTRCB would take decisive action on the matter, considering the sensitivity of the issue and its implications for the country's sovereignty.
As the MTRCB's Committee on First Review continues to deliberate on the request for a Permit to Exhibit "Barbie," the public awaits the agency's decision and whether it will consider the concerns raised by Senator Tolentino and other stakeholders. The controversy surrounding the film's depiction of the nine-dash line underscores the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the complexities surrounding the portrayal of sensitive political issues in entertainment media.
Senator Francis 'TOL' N. Tolentino, the vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed concern about the potential consequences of allowing the screening of "Barbie." He emphasized that the movie's depiction of the nine-dash line could be detrimental to the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines and undermine the country's sovereignty.
Senator Tolentino cited the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, which invalidated China's nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. He argued that the film's inclusion of this disputed maritime feature goes against the Philippines' hard-won victory in the international arbitration case.
The Vietnamese government has already banned the screening of "Barbie" in its territory after discovering the portrayal of the nine-dash line. Senator Tolentino pointed out that the MTRCB has previously prohibited the local screening of films such as "Abominable" in 2019 and "Uncharted" in 2022 due to their inclusion of the disputed nine-dash line.
Meanwhile, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada echoed Senator Tolentino's concerns and highlighted the need to prioritize national interest. Estrada mentioned that the Arbitral Tribunal's ruling in 2016 clearly established that China's nine-dash line has no legal basis. He expressed hope that the MTRCB would take decisive action on the matter, considering the sensitivity of the issue and its implications for the country's sovereignty.
As the MTRCB's Committee on First Review continues to deliberate on the request for a Permit to Exhibit "Barbie," the public awaits the agency's decision and whether it will consider the concerns raised by Senator Tolentino and other stakeholders. The controversy surrounding the film's depiction of the nine-dash line underscores the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the complexities surrounding the portrayal of sensitive political issues in entertainment media.
Jul 5, 2023
