SM cinemas lauded for ban on R-18 films

Taguig-Pateros Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano lauded yesterday the decision of ShoeMart mall magnate Henry Sy and his family to ban all R-18 movies in all SM cinemas.

Cayetano also appealed to other theater owners to emulate the "admirable" example shown by the owners of SM malls, one of the biggest retail conglomerates in the country.

"The political will that the Sy family took in ultimately prohibiting the showing of sexy and scrappy movies in their theaters, is something that others should admire and imitate," he said.

Cayetano was referring to the reported refusal of SM cinemas to screen R-18 films, including a recent sex-oriented movie featuring an upcoming starlet.

He said owners of big and small theaters should encourage self-regulation in terms of selecting which films would be shown in their cinemas.

"Pornography in all its forms is not only a problem of government. It is also a problem of the private sector, the movie industry and the moviegoers. We should encourage not only government action but self-regulation," Cayetano said.

He said a more discriminating approach by theater owners would mean less government intervention.

Cayetano expressed belief that the move could pave the way for the resurgence of the grievously ailing Philippine film industry, as it would discourage producers of "quickie" movies from coming up with more of the same substandard, violence-filled and inane sex shows.

Instead, he said, it would encourage filmmakers to create more quality, educating and entertaining movies.

He said the move to ban R-18 movies should serve as a warning to all film manufacturers that they will not anymore be benefiting from the cheap, sleazy and haphazardly done sex film, which genre has given the industry a bad name.

Cayetano said movie producers and distributors will be forced to do quality, educational and interesting films, "if they want their materials screened in theaters."

He said while the country now focuses on the fiscal crisis, it must not neglect the "moral" crisis it is facing as morality is ultimately tied up with the development of a nation. — Paolo Romero