An afternoon at 'Lala' land
Published Jan 18, 2026 12:05 am
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Updated Jan 17, 2026 04:48 pm
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE
A scheduled interview with MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) Chairperson Diorella ‘Lala’ Sotto-Antonio became a timely opportunity to not just talk about the functioning of the government agency she’s been leading since July 2022; but to also ask her to take off her MTRCB cap for a moment, and form an opinion of why the lackluster performance of the recent MMDA Metro Manila Film Festival.
On the latter, to be fair, she was at first reluctant to discuss, as it’s not part of her purview as MTRCB Head. But I prevailed upon her, reasoning that she’s in a position to form a learned view on the matter, and hopefully be a voice that can help move our film industry forward - which we all harbor as a cherished dream. We’ve witnessed countries such as South Korea develop their local film industry into one with strong global impact, and wonder why we can’t move in the same direction, given the innate artistry and talent we possess.
At the MTRCB Office in Quezon City, Chairperson Diorella ‘Lala’ Sotto-Antonio.
For those unfamiliar with the MTRCB, it’s responsible for the classification and review of television programs, motion pictures, and commercial video products. Streaming services and social media are not under MTRCB jurisdiction. Its motto is Para Sa Matalino at Responsableng Panonood (intelligent and responsible viewing). Its parent agency is the Office of the President, under Presidential Decree No. 1986. The chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and 30 Board members, form the composition of the Board.
For television programs, the system rating is G - General Patronage, PG - Parental Guidance, and SPG - Strong Parental Guidance. The motion picture rating system has five labels: G, PG, R-13 (Restricted to 13 years old and above), R-16, R-18, and X (deemed unsuitable for public exhibition). There exists a seven-point guideline, what elements to look out for when classifying and reviewing. At first review, it’s three board members; and if there’s a request for a second review (appealing the X, or moving for a R-16 to be a R-13, as examples), then a fresh set of five Board members are convened. Final appeal after the second review is with the Office of the President.
The MTRCB Chairperson, with a majority of the current MTRCB Board Members.
In 2025, Chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio and the MTRCB reviewed a total of 671 films, of which 360 were Foreign films, and 311 were Local films. If you broke down the 311 Local films; 164 were Indie films, while 147 were considered mainstream content. Compared to previous years, that’s a rise in local output, finished products that were submitted for review.
Contrary to the opinion of certain vocal sectors of the industry, Chairperson Lala is adamant in saying the MTRCB is not there to stifle creativity or artistic expression. They have a mandate, duties to fulfill, with regulating and the limitations that exist, all there for a reason. “We’re not here to police, but to ensure there is a safe and comfortable viewing experience to be enjoyed by the public. The classifications exist for a purpose, primary of which is to protect children. I’m not happy when a film is disapproved, as I do recognize the effort, time, and money that was expended on creating that film.”
“Given the MTRCB mandate, we have been very intentional about the composition of the Board, and its diversity. We have business people, lawyers, actors, a representative from the Cinema Exhibitors Association, from the TV networks, from film producers, and even a child-psychologist.” The variety of viewpoints are part of creating a fair and open prism through which the MTRCB operates. And her fervent wish is that the general public gains a better understanding of their purpose, and what they’re striving to achieve.
Screen capture of the Responsableng Panonood video, that saw the Office of the President, the First Family, the MTRCB, theatre operators, TV networks heads, and the entertainment industry, come together to promote the initiative.
Asked what she’s most proud about in 2025, Chairperson Lala was quick to cite the formal launch in September of their ‘Responsableng Panonood’ campaign. The aim is to engage with supervising adults, whether parents or teachers, and enlighten them on the safeguards and security measures that exist for home-watching. It’s about awareness, and Chair Lala pointed to the partnerships that were created with the streaming services such as Netflix and Disney, and how tutorials were set up to have the MTRCB better informed; and in turn, create modules to better equip these supervising adults.
Beyond streaming services, it’s also about social media, and arming the most vulnerable in our society, such as the children, with the knowledge required to safeguard themselves. AI used for the wrong purposes, being scammed, and sex-tortion; there’s a lot that our youth have to be wary about in today’s digital environment.
A former Quezon City 3rd District Councilor, Lala Sotto-Antonio has the unique provenance of coming from both a political and show biz family. Beyond content quality, she thinks the MMFF’s predicament had to do with ticket prices, how many are ready to wait for the online streaming of the films, and how the obsession with social media posting have diminished the curiosity and mystery of the movie stars - lessened the attraction of watching them portray roles in films. Passionate and with a strong sense of public service, she believes in the industry but feels an overhaul may be in order - to make it more relevant and breed success.