July 14, 2023 saw the launch of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board's (MTRCB) "Responsableng Panonood" campaign na idinisenyo para mas ma-empower ang mga magulang sa pag-gabay sa mga anak nila towards age-appropriate viewing.
Naganap ang lauching event sa TriNoma Cinemas in Quezon City, kung saan ipinakilala rin si Klik, the Remote Control, ang mascot ng campaign. Naniniwala kasi ang MTRCB na ang remote control pa rin ang best symbol of viewership na p'wedeng maka-relate kapwa ang magulang at mga anak—bagamat hindi na lamang limited sa TV ang media consumption ngayon.
Present sa naturang event ang ilan sa mga MTRCB parent advocates gaya ng mga aktres na sina Ciara Sotto, Harlene Bautista, Jennifer Sevilla, Pasig City Councilor Angelu de Leon, gayundin si former MTRCB Board member Bobby Andrews. Naroon din sina Quezon City Councilor Candy Medina, Joy Sotto, Roselle Taberna, and entertainment journalist Tessa Mauricio-Arriola.
“The Parent Advocates of the MTRCB are the parents who we believe are going to be very effective in sharing with the public and other parents also, together with their families, what the Responsableng Panonood Campaign is all about,” paliwanag ni MTRCB Chairman Lala Sotto tungkol sa pagkakapili sa mga abovementioned personalities.
Aniya pa, makakatulong ang mga parent advocates—na kasama nilang mag-iikot sa bong bansa—sa pagpapakalat ng kanilang mga layunin sa gitna ng rapid advancements in media technology.
“Karamihan sa mga magulang sa ating bansa ay parehong nagta-trabaho, iniiwan natin sa ating mga kamag-anak [ang mga bata]... that’s why they need to know how they can best utilize these [MTRCB] tools and help their children and make it safe for them."
Nagbago na nga raw kasi ang landscape ng media consumption kaya't lalong dapat magabayan ang mga kabataan.
"That means more exposure for the children and more risks for them to be exposed in the contents we do not want them to be exposed to, that’s why we need the help of our parents.”
Kaya nga raw iikot sila sa buong bansa para ituro ang mga tools, designed by them, na siyang p'wede nilang i-implement sa kani-kanilang household.
“As you know, parents and supervising adults today are technically challenged, that’s why we have this campaign to equip and empower them so that they’ll have this tools that could help them supervise the viewing habits of their children by making use of the parental control features that we are currently have.
Patuloy niya: “With the emergence of online streaming apps, subscription on demand services, and user generated content services, it is very hard for the parents to supervise the viewing habits of their children because they are not aware of the parental control features and that is the first step of the campaign, to be able to train the parents and the supervising adults."
Kaya nga raw magkakaroon sila ng mga pa-seminar at training program para rito.
“Kinakailangan namin ang whole-nation approach," dagdag ni Chair Lala. "That’s why we need the help of the parents, teachers, supervising adults, at lokal na pamahalaan na suportahan ang aming programa nang sa ganoon ay matiwasay nating mapalaki ang kaalaman ng mga manonood at sa ating mga magulang kung paano ba gamitin ang parental control features.”
Tinanong ng press ang ilan sa mga parent advocate na sina Ciara Sotto at Angelu de Leon kung bakit kailangang suportahan ang campaign?
Ang actress-turned-Pasig councilor na si Angelu de Leon ay buong-puso raw susuporta sa initiative na ito ng MTRCB.
"Lalong-lalo na sa panahon ngayon na minsan naiiwan talaga natin ‘yong mga bata on their own," lahad ni Angelu. "So, natutuwa ako kasi hindi na lang ito about sa pagre-restrict, ang ginagawa na ni Chairman Lala Sotto ay tuturuan na ‘yong mga parents and guardians kung ano ba talaga 'yong responsableng panonood.”
“Ako kasi naniniwalang 'yong henerasyon ko na 'yong kailangang mag-adjust sa kabataan ngayon," patuloy niya. "Before, with my mom, kailangan tayo 'yong laging mag-adjust ‘di ba? Dapat lagi natin silang iniitindi. But ngayon, I think there’s a balance between reaching out to the kids kasi it is a totally different generation.
"I am very happy with my kids kasi nakikita nilang walang generational gap. More than anything, we have to be friends with them. Hindi pwedeng palaging nagbabawal without explaining to them the reason. Minsan, maiisip natin na hindi nila maiintindihan kasi bata pa sila pero ‘wag nating maliitin ‘yong kakayanan ng henerasyon ngayon.”
Para naman kay Ciara Sotto, ang paggamit ng mga parental control guidelines ay mahalaga dahil ito ang mage-set ng foundation sa viewing habits ng mga murang kaisipan.
“Hindi pa sila ready to understand, especially with my son, so I am really trying my best to click responsibly para ‘yong mapanood niya is tama lang for his age, iyong informative para sa edad niya,” panimulang paliwanag niya.
“I think you’ll first have to lay the foundation correctly so while you’re with them and while they are still young, you have to teach them kung ano 'yong p'wede nilang hawakan. While you’re with your child, make sure na masanay sila na ito lang 'yong time to have some set of rules, you have to be very consistent para sundin talaga nila 'yong gusto mong mangyari.
“I think some apps like YouTube ay mayroong parental controls. I make sure na naka-on 'yon. Alam ko na mayroong mga parental controls sa mga ibang gadgets and apps, I make sure na I utilize that option.
"I am thankful na dito sa Pilipinas, mayroon tayong MTRCB na tumutulong sa ganiyan kasi you don’t know what your child is clicking 24/7. So, you really have to teach and make them understand na they shouldn’t be watching stuff that are not appropriate for their age.”
At iyong literacy nga raw sa mga guidelines na ito ang s'yang ipapakalat ng MTRCB sa buong bansa a tulong ng mga parent advocates gaya nina Angelu at Ciara.
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