FEATURES: SCENE IN DOLPHY FLICK INCURS WRATH OF BISHOPS
MANILA, DECEMBER 22, 2010 (STAR) By Evelyn Macairan - An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday appealed to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to delete a scene from the movie "Fr. Jejemon" starring Comedy King Dolphy that may offend Filipino Catholics.
Last night, Dolphy told The STAR in a text message that he was having the two offending scenes removed from the movie.
CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Social Commission and Mass Media (ECSCMM) executive secretary Fr. Francis Lucas admitted that he has not yet seen the movie of Comedy King Dolphy but that he has been receiving several negative comments about it.
"Fr. Jejemon" is one of eight entries in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival and in one of the scenes Dolphy, who plays the lead role, was giving communion when the host slipped and landed in the cleavage of a female churchgoer who was wearing a printed blouse with a low cut neckline.
The other scene involved the host getting stuck in the dentures of a senior citizen.
Some conservative Catholics have reportedly expressed their indignation with the scene and are calling for a boycott of the movie.
"I think the MTRCB should remove this portion because these kinds of scenes are disrespectful to human beliefs. If they do not remove that scene, we might be forced to boycott the film, don't watch it," Fr. Lucas said.
He also described the scene as "blatant disrespect" to the people's religious beliefs.
He added that those behind the movie should not take the Communion host lightly since "it is the body and blood of Christ. It is the center of Christianity and they should not play around with it."
"I think religion should be respected and (they should consider) the sensibility of people, things we hold sacred," he added.
"Fr. Jejemon" would reportedly be the 82-year-old Dolphy's last movie because of his ill health. He was recently reported to be suffering from severe pneumonia that required hospitalization.
Dolphy cuts 'Father Jejemon' amid Catholic protest
FROM abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 12/21/2010 4:32 PM | Updated as of 12/22/2010 12:29 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Angry Catholics forced the Philippines' "King of Comedy" to delete scenes of his latest film deemed deeply offensive to the country's dominant religion, the veteran actor said.
Dolphy said he did not wish to pick a fight with God as his production outfit voluntarily excised the offending scenes of his "Father Jejemon" movie before it was screened by government censors.
Critics, including senior Philippine church leaders, said the slapstick movie originally showed a priest accidentally dropping the host between a woman's breasts as she received communion during mass.
Another scene showed the host getting snagged in the false teeth of a communicant, they said.
The 82 year-old comedy king, whose real name is Rodolfo Quizon, said that while shooting the film, a priest was present to look over the script.
"Mayroon kaming adviser na pari doon. Mayroon kaming pari na pumupunta doon. Tinatanong namin kung okay ang nasa script. Sabi niya okay naman," he said.
"Sagradong Katoliko ako para awayin ko ang Panginong Diyos. Nahihiya ako sa nangyari, pagpasensiyahan na ninyo ako kako. I was just meant to do good pero kung masama, ayaw nila, aalisin ko," Dolphy, who plays the title role in the film, said.
Even he was hurt, Dolphy said the show must go on.
According to Dolphy's partner, singer Zsa Zsa Padilla, they are willing to spend money to re-edit the film.
The version approved by censors is set to be screened at Manila cinemas during the annual Metro Manila Film Festival.
Retired bishop Angel Lagdameo, a former head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, has urged the 80% of the Philippine population who are Catholics to speak up against the film.
"They are negative," he said of the offending scenes in comments published on the Catholic bishops' website, at cbcponline.net.
"The movie does not give a good reflection on the priesthood," Lagdameo added.
The controversial film has also become the subject of an SMS viral campaign believed launched by Catholic adherents.
"Let's not allow the 'King of Comedy' to make a comedy of the 'King of Kings,'" read one text message.
Dolphy has starred in more than 200 Philippine movies in a long film career that began in 1953.
Dolphy lauded
Grace Poe-Llamanzares, chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), meantime, praised Dolphy for his immediate action.
"RVQ Productions upon learning of the public's sentiments against some scenes on the teasers, immediately exercised self regulation, and deleted voluntarily the evoking scenes," she said, adding:
"This maybe a good example where the MTRCB and a film production company have found a good accord, where the true benefactors are the viewing public." –Reports from Agence France-Presse and Mario Dumaual, ABS-CBN News
With bells stolen, Bulacan priests try other wake-up calls By Dino Balabo (The Philippine Star) Updated December 12, 2010 12:00 AM
MALOLOS City, Philippines – After losing their bells to thieves, churches and chapels in Bulacan are now considering using marching bands, sound systems and kwitis (local firecrackers) in calling parishioners to attend the traditional misa de gallo, which begins on Thursday.
Using kwitis to wake up parishioners for the dawn Mass is not new to Bulakeños, as the Spanish priests started it in Sta. Maria in the late 1800s.
Originally, a Spanish friar taught a local craftsman to mix black powder to produce kwitis, ultimately leading to the establishment of the commercial fireworks industry in the province.
Old parishioners also affirmed that marching bands playing lively tunes to wake them up and remind them of the dawn Mass.
The issue of whether to go back to these traditional practices came up after antique church bells were stolen from at least 12 churches and chapels in the Malolos Diocese in the last two months.
Fr. Rolando de Leon advised priests managing at least 600 churches and chapels in the province, including Valenzuela City, which used to be a part of Bulacan, to be vigilant.
Bulacan police, however, claimed that only seven bells have been stolen from churches and chapels in San Jose del Monte, Obando, Plaridel and Guiguinto.
Three were stolen in Guiguinto and two from Plaridel.
"The diocese is now considering options in announcing to local parishioners the start of the misa de gallo," De Leon said.
He said using other means such as kwitis and sound systems to call people to the misa de gallo may "lose some churchliness of the tradition," but it will suffice for now until the churches acquire new bells.
Fr. Efren Basco said the Malolos Diocese has sent letters to all priests managing churches in the province to be watchful of the bells due to increasing thefts.
Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado echoed the same sentiment in his Christmas message.
Alvarado also reminded Bulakenyos to give life to the message of Christmas by helping in the rehabilitation of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system, which has been included in the list of 30 dirtiest places in the world in 2007.
"If we love God, then we should love our fellowmen and we will protect the environment because its destruction could cause sickness to everyone," he said.
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