25 July 2003 - The dialogue of characters in the popular Chinese telenovella Meteor Garden are expected to be less violent and more wholesome in the coming weeks after ABS-CBN Channel 2 executives decided to tone down the Tagalog script which is not suitable for young viewers. Network officials met with the Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairman Marissa Laguardia on Wednesday afternoon to resolve the Tagalog script that conservative viewers have complained of. ABS-CBN vice president Maloli Manalastas gave in to criticisms and assured that there will be changes in the dialogue of the Chinovela. AVE secretary-general Amang Magsaysay said ABS-CBN was very cooperative and understanding as well as the MTRCB and its officials. "There was instant action on the part of ABS-CBN. We can say that the meeting had positive results," Magsaysay told Today in behalf of more than 27,000 teachers, parents and students in the country belonging to AVE. cont'd below
He said ABS-CBN agreed to monitor the translation of the Chinese dialogue to Filipino and how more acceptable words and phrases can be used.
Magsaysay said there was one particular dialogue that a character said "Ginawa ko na ang lahat, naghubad na ako sa harap niya, di pa rin niya ako pinansin." This statement, he explained, can be reconstructed or translated by deleting the part of "naghubad na nga ako" without destroying the story.
Magsaysay said Laguardia supported AVE抯 position and told ABS-CBN executives that the dialogue of Meteor Garden should be changed. It was agreed that the dialogue will be toned down and it will not affect the story and at the same time will not be offensive, he said.
ABS-CBN also assured the viewers that violent scenes in the program will be reduced to make the characters more lovable and wholesome. Meteor Garden characters, led by the Taiwanese singing group F4, are reportedly drifting away from their bullying attitudes as they fall in love with Shan Cai, the cute little girl they used to pick on. AVE commended ABS-CBN officials for quick action since one of those who attended the meeting immediately called the network to check on Meteor Garden translations. The group also lauded Laguardia and the MTRCB Board of Directors for being very understanding and for welcoming the views and concerns of nongovernment organizations.
Magsaysay said AVE expects changes in the Meteor Garden dialogue next week. The group expects the program will no longer be violent and will not have "unnecessary prolonged romantic kissing scenes" that may send wrong signals to the Filipino children and young adults. AVE and MTRCB will continue to monitor each episode of the television series to ensure that ABS-CBN keeps its promise. Magsaysay said there is no need to sign a memorandum of agreement of some sort since the verbal assurance given by the network is enough. He said AVE never called for the banning of the Chinese telenovella which has captured the hearts of the Filipino people much like the Mexican telenovellas. Meteor Garden is a top-rating show on Philippine television with 48 percent audience share. The show will continue to be aired and will even be improved so as to promote love and kindness instead of sex and violence.
Source: ABS Center Studio.
Translated by: Carolina Roboch