MTRCB calls out distributors of film ‘Third World Romance’ for use of profanity in trailer

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has summoned the distributors of the movie Third World Romance after an unedited trailer was posted without the agency's approval.  

MTRCB pointed out that the trailer of the film, which features lead stars Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon, is being shown in cinemas and online despite one of the characters uttering profanity.

The scene in question comes at the end of the almost two-minute clip, where Dizon's character, Britney, is depicted to be on the phone with Aquino's character, Alvin, only to discover that her phone's battery has run out.

On Wednesday, August 16, the MTRCB, through its chairperson Diorella "Lala" Sotto-Antonio, issued a "Notice to Appear and Testify" to the movie's distributors, citing the distribution of an "unclassified and unrated version" of the trailer that featured Dizon using the expletive "p*t*ng n".  

“It has come to our attention that an unclassified and unrated version of the trailer of ‘Third World Romance’ with the expletive phrase p*t*ng n in one of the scenes is being exhibited in cinemas,” the MTRCB memo stated. 

 The unedited version of the trailer, according to the statement, "has NO permit to exhibit" because it has not been evaluated by the Board. 

“We strongly advise that you refrain from exhibiting the said version of the trailer. Further, a Notice to Appear and Explain will be served to the distributor/producer of the said trailer,” it added. 

Third World  Romance is produced by Black Sheep Productions, which is a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Film Productions. The movie follows Britney and Alvin as they '"struggle with the idea that love and happiness are only luxuries in this harsh world." The film is directed by Dwein Ruedas Baltazar and premiered nationwide last Aug. 16.