Armm, media review body hold forum on media’s role in the peace process

By Teng Datu,
Correspondent

Cotabato City — The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) held a forum on the role of media in the Mindanao peace process.

The event, dubbed ‘Forum on Movies and Television: Can it Bridge Peace, Mindanao and the Bangsamoro?’ was held on Monday in Quezon City and brought together 30 MTRCB officials, talents, production staff, as well as movie and TV writers.

The forum discussed topics on the role of media and MTRCB in sustaining the gains of the peace process in Mindanao and the non-stereotyping of Muslim-Filipinos towards national understanding through history, arts and culture.

Forum speakers included Sittie Jehanne Mutin, chairperson of the ARMM’s Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women; Atty. Jose Lorena, undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process-Malacanang; and actor and peace advocate Robin ‘AbdulAzis’ Padilla.

Armm Gov. Mujiv Hataman and MTRCB chairperson Eugenio Villareal also signed on Monday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would help bridge the gap between public perception on Muslim culture and way of life by correcting media’s common misconceptions.

MTRCB board members Maria Lourdes Lilia Supnet and Jay Revestir, chairperson Mutin and Armm-Manila laiason officer Jolly Lais witnessed the signing ceremony.

The MoU commits the two parties to conduct collaborative media literacy symposia involving MTRCB, the Armm, and media practitioners including film directors, producers and writers.

The Armm and the MTRCB will also launch education campaigns that would increase public awareness on the role of women in nation-building and the Magna Carta of Women on film and to uphold, preserve and advance the cultural beliefs, practices and values of the Muslim community.

The MTRCB will also hold ‘Matalinong Panonood’ – a series of seminars on public information and education initiatives to correct the depiction of the Muslim community in movies and television.