'Pinoy Big Brother' contestant Jayme Jalandoni and Senator Nancy Binay.
Senator Nancy Binay is urging the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to look into the controversial nude challenge posed by reality show “Pinoy Big Brother” on one of its female contestants last week.
The senator is set to file a resolution on the issue within the week and believes that the MTRCB should look into a possible ethical breach committed by “PBB All-In Edition” in its June 4 episode, and the inappropriate challenge asked by “Big Brother” to 23-year-old housemate Jayme Jalandoni to pose nude for a painting-for-charity.
“This might be a reality show but its contestants, especially its female housemates, should be accorded with respect without compromising their dignity and their rights as women,” Binay said.
She argued that the MTRCB should review the show’s rule book and the code of conduct and the ethical standards that govern the Endemol franchise.
Her call echoed the protest on Thursday by the Philippine Commission on Women one day after the controversial episode aired on ABS-CBN. Neither the MTRCB nor ABS-CBN had responded as of press time.
“I believe this is the second time ‘PBB’ went overboard. How far can reality TV go for high ratings? Will we allow the network to exploit our women and children for ratings sake?” asked Binay.
According to the senator, the MTRCB should look into the policies of ABS-CBN and Dutch franchise owner Endemol when it comes to challenges and tasks that potentially violate the housemates’ rights and dignity, as well as those that challenge one’s faith, corrupt Filipino values, or degrade cultural mores.
“Did Endemol and ABS-CBN go out of line with this particular challenge? Hanggang saan po ba ang pwedeng ipagawa ni Kuya sa mga housemates at parang pati dangal nila ay kailangang isakripisyo?” Binay asked.
A nurse and a devoted Christian, Jalandoni was reluctant to accept the challenge but eventually agreed to pose in the nude due to pressure. Three other housemates were also asked to pose nude, but all of them declined.
“All the tasks and challenges are part of the script which are approved by the PBB Management prior to execution. The responsibility does not solely fall on Kuya’s lap–kasama sa daloy ng script ang management at buong production team,” the senator said.
Binay added that the reality show’s nude challenge to the housemates was not meant to test their character, but was rather an irresponsible and insensitive act bordering on blackmail.
“Housemates give their blind trust to Kuya. The PBB Management should be sensitive when it comes to faith, ethnicity and morality. Tumanggi na si Jayme dahil ito ay labag sa kanyang paniniwala at sa tingin niya ay mababastos siya… dapat noon pa lang, na-realize na ni Kuya na may mali sa challenge na ito,” she noted.
In 2009, “PBB” had been entangled in a similar morality and decency issue in its “naked fan dance” challenge where the housemates were made to wear flesh-toned unitards to suggest nudity.
A similar gimmick was employed in the “nude painting challenge” last week.
