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Friday, May 19, 2006
Manila bans showing of 'The Da Vinci Code'
MANILA -- The Manila City Council on Thursday issued a resolution that bans the movie "The Da Vinci Code" in the Philippine capital, saying the film is an attack on the country's dominant Roman Catholic religion.
"This is the sentiment of the City of Manila," said Councilor Benjamin Asilo.
A religious group, on the other hand, encouraged the faithful to donate their money to organizations that promote programs of the Catholic Church instead of paying to see the film.
Elsewhere, a leader of a religious sect has encouraged his followers all over the world to go to the theaters and watch the film as he smirked at those who are opposed to the showing of the film and tagged them as being weak of faith and religiously insecure.
The ban of the showing of the movie in theaters in the City of Manila starts
Friday, the second day of the film's screening in the Philippines.
Asilo, one of the resolution's principal authors, said the ban affects about 40 Manila theaters.
Mall and theater owners in Manila could be imprisoned to one year or pay a fine of P5,000 in violating the ban. "Those persons who will also be caught selling digital video discs (DVDs) and video-compact discs (VCDs) of "The Da Vinci Code" will be penalized to an imprisonment of six months or a fine range from P1,000 to P3,000," Asilo said.
The movie "is undoubtedly offensive and contrary to established religious beliefs which cannot take precedence over the right of the persons involved in the film to freedom of expression," the resolution said.
It said the film also violates the penal code by being "contrary to morals, good customs and religious beliefs," and a 1993 Manila city ordinance prohibiting the showing of "obscene, indecent and immoral movies."
The Manila City is the heart of Metropolitan Manila, which includes 13 other cities and three municipalities that comprise its suburbs. No other municipal or City Council in the metropolis has moved against the film.
Asilo said none of at least 23 council members at Thursday's deliberation had seen the movie, but were informed that it was a "faithful adoption" of Dan Brown's best-selling novel by councilors who have read it.
He said he has not finished reading the book.
"We expect that this will be contested in the courts, but just the same we have the power based on the city ordinance, so we stand by it," he said. "If no one speaks out, the city council will stand up on this issue not only regarding this movie, but other movies that we believe attack other religions."
"The movies are a very strong medium and those with weak faith may be swayed," he said.
Unlike Manila officials, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano believes otherwise. He is strongly convinced that nothing is wrong with the controversial movie to be shown in theaters.
He said there is nothing wrong with the concepts the movie or the book is presenting even that of how Jesus Christ was having an affair with Mary Magdalene.
"There were no reports that Jesus Christ was having a relationship with another woman except Mary Magdalene so what is wrong with that?" he said.
Catholic Church leaders have denounced the movie as blasphemous, but did not call for a ban. Instead, they'd urged priests and community leaders to hold study and discussion groups on the divinity and celibacy of Jesus Christ, which are put in doubt in the movie.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the story "gives erroneous impressions" of fundamental Christian beliefs, the most serious being its assertions that Jesus was only human, and that he married Mary Magdalene and had children.
Philippine censors -- the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board -- earlier in the week approved the showing of the film uncut for adults, meaning age 18 or older.
A three-member panel of board said the movie did not merit an "X" rating because "it does not constitute a clear, express or direct attack on the Catholic church or religion," and does not libel or defame any person.
Donation
On the other hand, Father Michael Angelo Cardenas, spokesman for Opus Dei, said their members have agreed not to watch the movie and donate their money instead to support programs like the "Pondo ng Pinoy" and "Tabang Mindanaw" in their respective perishes.
"We realize that such a donation is a symbolic gesture, but it would also have a concrete and positive effect," he said.
In a statement, Cardenas said they support the pastoral statement earlier released by the CBCP on "The Da Vinci Code" wherein it urged the faithful to take the movie as a "pastoral challenge, an evangelization, and catechetical moment of grace".
Meanwhile, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name has encouraged his followers all over the world to go to the theaters and watch the film.
"Let it come. I am sure that my people's faith will not be shattered by one film. My faith is solid, my people's faith in God is solid. Let it come," Quiboloy said.
The televangelist's endorsement came amid waves of criticisms and oppositions to the showing of the film here. Even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), known for its religious conservativeness, said that the film deserves a ban because it is anti-religion.
"I don't care whether Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children. It will never be my issue nor it will shatter my faith in God. It will even double, triple, quadruple my faith in him," Quiboloy said.
"My faith is built by my personal relationship with the father and nothing can destroy it. Those who are against the film only show that they are not so sure about their faith. They are not confident about it that they think it will be destroyed by this film.
Quiboloy is considered as one of the famous Filipino preachers today. A televangelist, Quiboloy travels all over the world to spread his preaching. (AP/ECV/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(May 19, 2006 issue)
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