On November 14, actor-director Carlos Siguion-Reyna discussed his views about freedom of expression and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.Â
At the media event for ‘Gomburza,’ which LionhearTV covered, Siguion-Reyna talked about the rights he wanted to advocate, similar to the titular characters of ‘Gomburza.’
“Hindi kasi, I think ‘yung freedom of expression, kasi itong pelikulang ito is about identity natin ‘yung nasa-save dito, ‘yung rights oo, pero ‘yung identity natin as a Filipino importante rin na lumabas dito.Â
“And I think sa mga hamon ngayon, maraming iba-ibang boses ang lumalabas na kung ano ba talaga ang Filipino, ano ba talaga ang paraan, ano ang ating kasaysayan, at kung saan tayo papunta. So ang mahalaga para mahanap at matalakay lahat ng mga tao ang tanong na ‘yun is the right to express our own opinion.”
He also expressed his concern about MTRCB’s expanding jurisdiction to streaming platforms.
“And I think delikado talaga to be for any agency of government to be controlling what we will see, wherever we want to see it– and delikado talaga ‘yung attempts of– I know right now, ongoing sa Kongreso ngayon, the MTRCB is trying to expand jurisdiction into streaming, and all of that, gusto nila lumawak pa ang kanilang jurisdiction.Â
“And I think tama na, let’s just keep the MTRCB in it’s place, where it is, huwag ng dagdagan pa ng kapangyarihan, because already as it is, depende naman kung sino ang bumubuo ng board, it would be good to have different voices in there, pero the more controlling, kung mayroong mga controlling forces doon mas delikado pa ‘yan kung mas lumawak pa ang jurisdiction nila to streaming and other places.”
He highlighted the value of freedom of expression and the right to criticize existing policies.Â
“If it’s freedom of expression, if we are talking about finding our identity, saan tayo papunta, dapat mabigyan ng boses ng lahat ng mga tao, and to criticize ourselves, and to criticize existing policies or whatever dapat importante doon ‘yung malawak ang boses. And I think it is important to find our identity if we have lost it.”
As for their film, he emphasized what could the period piece offer its viewers about relevant social issues.
“Pero, I think that’s why, brining it back to Gomburza, ang una mong tanong, kung paano ibebenta ito, aside ‘yung sa humanity ng three priests, they’re finding out new things, I think ang mahalaga dito is ‘yung marami masyadong fake news, trolls, distortion.Â
“So let’s go back to this story and let’s find out if itong tatlong paring ito, and itong napapaligiran ng mga ito, how they fleshed it out and found out who they were and how the Filipino is.”
As for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 entry, ‘Gomburza’ stars Dante Rivero, Cedrick Juan, and Enchong Dee.Â
The film also features an ensemble cast with Piolo Pascual, Elijah Canlas, Khalil Ramos, Jaime Fabregas, Tommy Alejandrino, Nanding Josef, Ketchup Eusebio, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Sheenly Gener, and Elora Espano.
‘Gomburza,’Â under the direction of Pepe Diokno, opens in cinemas on December 25.Â
