MANILA, Philippines - From public places in Metro Manila, the government now also wants smoking banned in the movies.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today called on movie producers participating in the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) to exclude scenes that shows actors smoking cigarettes.
MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said such scenes in films entice people to crave for a cigarette.
“Studies have shown that smoking scenes cause smokers to crave a cigarette after watching the movie,” said Tolentino, who concurrently heads the MMFF, which runs during the Christmas season each year.
He also cited studies that young viewers of such films are encouraged to smoke as they age.
“Other studies have found that children and young adults who watch movies with smoking scenes end up smoking when they grow older. There is a direct link between the two,” Tolentino added.
He said that young viewers alike are enticed to smoke as they are indirectly being told that smoking is cool when they see a popular actor puffing a cigarette.
“When a popular actor or a movie lead character lights up a cigarette on screen, it sends out a message – subliminal or otherwise – that smoking is cool. We don’t want to send the wrong message to our children. We want to inculcate positive, health-conscious values and awareness,” Tolentino said.
The MMFF Executive Committee has extended the submission of scripts for this year’s entries from May 30 to June 9, 2011. Eight scripts will be chosen as official entries by a Selection Committee which will be transformed into full length movies by respective producers.
Recently, the MMDA announced that smoking in public places, including major roads in the metropolis, will be banned. Smokers will be apprehended in violation of the Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. - By Dennis Carcamo (
