MTRCB summons ‘It’s Showtime’ execs over ‘Pastillas Girl’ segment

Mr. Pastillas aspirants serenading Ms. Pastillas Girl (Photo from ABS-CBN’s website)

MANILA – The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) scheduled a dialogue with ABS-CBN’s daily noontime show “It’s Showtime” executives on October 13 to discuss about ‘gender sensitivity concerns’ raised against the show’s “Nasaan Ka, Mr. Pastillas” (Where Are You, Mr. Pastillas) segment.

In the noontime variety show’s segment, Pastillas Girl (Angelica Jane Yap) has been in pursuit of Mr. Pastillas – a potential boyfriend. This segment similar to reality dating shows has drawn negative feedback from women’s group “Gabriella” and the public alike.

Receiving an official complaint from Gabriella, the MTRCB then summoned It’s Showtime executives, including director Norbert Vidanes, business unit head Reily Santiago, and executive producer Mark Rejano, among others.

“Further to the Memorandum of Understanding dated 28 March 2012 by and between our Agency and various television networks and entities, including ABS-CBN Corporation, as well as the official letter we received last week from the party-list alliance Gabriela, not to mention some feedback from the general public, we are impelled to invite your authorized representatives for the program ‘It’s Showtime’ to a dialogue with the Special Sub-Committee of our Gender And Development (GAD) Committee on 13 October 2015, at 10:00 a.m., at our ground floor conference room,” the letter read.

The regulatory body also reminded all television networks to aim for a ‘positive and non-derogatory portrayal of women in television, in support of Magna Carta of Women 2009.’

It can be recalled that It’s Showtime was also summoned by the MRTCB last year over mainstay host Vice Ganda’s ‘armpit humor.’