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The God's People Coalition for Righteousness wishes to manifest its appreciation and gratitude to Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and commends her for affirming her determination to pursue a moral reform agenda in government.

The Coalition notes the growing perception that the movie, "Live Show" is a big disservice to the Filipino people as foreigners viewing the movie can easily be led to believe that the Philippines is a nation of "toreros" and "toreras".

Previously it was announced that "Live Show" had been released internationally in several countries.

Because of this, sex-hungry tourists will come to view Filipinos and Filipinas as sex acrobats whose poverty makes them easy prey for foreigners with dollars to spend for vice.

The Coalition also wishes to draw attention to the fact that during the Erap presidency, vested interests in the movie industry participated in an ad boycott of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

This was denounced as an attack on press freedom as the ad boycott was supportive of a president (who came from the movie industry) who viewed the Inquirer as being overly critical.

This rally for "freedom of expression" today by members of the movie business has a hollow ring when viewed against this incident which demonstrates the willingness of vested interests in the film industry to find common cause, even if it means undermining an organ of free expression.

What the ad boycott and rally for "freedom of expression" both reveal is that well entrenched groups in the film business are perfectly capable of moving together in defense of what they perceive to be threats against their friends and interests.

The facts speak for themselves. Their appeal to "freedom of expression" is ultimately futile.

It serves only to underline the bankruptcy of their cause in the face of the fact that the movie industry's ad boycott was a weapon designed (of it was possible) to stifle free and legitimate ventilation of criticism against a president who had come from the ranks of the same industry.

The movie industry had better give another reason why the President should at least consider their position seriously, otherwise they rist being dismissed for lack of consistency and credibility.

 

(Sgd.) Bishop Eddie Villanueva GPCR Chairperson

(Sgd.) Sonia Saldivar-Ronda GPCR Vice-Chairperson

March 26, 2001
Manila