Back in my sophomore year in college, i have a classmate named Rudolf who’s taller than me, looks older than me, and looks mature enough to buy a men’s magazine, prohibited for readers 17 years old below. During those times, I am not yet qualified to go inside a bookstore, grab one of those men’s magazine, and pay on the registrar wearing a confident smile. In my desperation to grab that men’s mag with scorching hot Michelle Madrigal on the cover, i asked Rudolf to buy it for me, since the cashier won’t notice that he is of a younger age. I just took his i.d., gave him the money and pushed him towards the bookstore (FILBARS). After a couple of minutes, Rudolf got out of the bookstore carrying an item i’m drooling for days.
My classmates are aware that i do have a collection of FOR HIM MAGAZINE. I already warned them that it’s my appreciation for the woman’s body that’s pushing me to avail these glossy beacon of hope. Of course, another factor would be the popularity of the cover girls who flaunt their body like a boss. Some of them understood me, some of them don’t and even accused me of disrespecting women. I’m not taking that personally and seriously, for they are my classmates and friends. I know they’re just kidding around because for all i know, they already are aware of what reality has to offer in the industry we will soon venture.
Pornography will always be a long issue that always light up the fueled opinion of different people, debating as to whether a certain image viewed by the public’s eye is a form of pornography and absence of respect for the Filipino values and culture of being decent and preserved. It will always be the church vs. the Philippines. It will always be the MTRCB vs. the viewing public. It will always be the MMDA vs. the advertisers. The issue will always be alive, as long as we don’t have a definite measure of how much is too much when it’s revealing flesh we’re talking about.
The recent art exhibit in the Cultural Center of the Philippines became the talk of the Tinseltown creating a bout between the church and the artists. The said art exhibit showcased a mosaic of different items including some religious entry with inanimate male sex organs pinned on it. The exhibit raised a lot of eye brows especially the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines. They demand to pull out the exhibit and filed a case against the man behind it, Mideo Cruz and the head of the CCP. Filipinos that time, were divided. But only a few understood what the exhibit is all about. The rest, they just have to curse the damn artist for disrespecting the holy images and our religion.
MTRCB once opened a battle against noon time shows with back up dancers in skimpy shorts and super miniskirts that they almost let the entire FIlipino viewers see what their mama gave them. According to the agency entitled to rate Television, films and various video media, these girls in almost nude costumes are not properly dressed fit for a show that targets the whole family. The sexy dancing style on these noontime show dancers (WOWOWEE) according to them is not in keeping with its Parental Guidance show rating. The show was criticized for allowing these girls dance, wearing very short shorts and bra-like tops as they perform sensual moves, according to its complainant. Furthermore, the show influenced many young girls in losing their sense of decency, and social and moral responsibility.
Just recently, the controversial billboard of the infamous clothing line BENCH with the members of the Philippine Rugby team exposing their perfectly chiseled body and wearing nothing but undergarments with bulges screaming, was pulled out. This heat up the issue that should’ve died a long long time ago. The issue aflamed the MMDA’s urge to detoxify EDSA and the rest of the street in Manila with all the sexy, sensual and “takaw-tingin” billboards that is not healthy to look at. Right now, Manila is sexy-billboard-free.
Liberated people would always drop the words, “What’s wrong with that?” or “What is so sensual about it?” or “You’re so sensitive, kung sa ibang bansa nga mas matindi pa jan eh..” Governed ones would say ” Eh wag mong ikumpara ang mga Pinoy sa ibang lahi!” or “May limitasyon ang lahat ng bagay.”
You don’t limit art. Art should have no boundaries. Art is freedom of expression. Most artists would claim that. But there are things hat art should not pass through, religion. You don’t play with religion. You don’t play with what most people believe in. We do have different eyes allowing us to see in different perspectives, different ways. Same matter with regards to the Pornography issues on TV and Billboards.
Another issue. Pornography among young female celebrities posing for a men’s magazine. How young is too young? These men’s magazine don’t just sell sex. They sell art. The art of a woman’s body. The number one men’s magazine in the Philippines is FHM. Throughout the years, For Him Magazine showcased the beauty of every Filipina celebrities along with the curvy bodies they artistically expose. According to WikiPilipinas:
Though FHM has been accused here in the Philippines of straddling the divide between art and pornography, the magazine is typically stocked in the lifestyle rather than adult section on newsstands. The photographs are undeniably sexy and revealing, yet, so as not to cross the line to outright pornography, genitalia and female areolae are still hidden from view.
I considered myself a microblogger, the day i created an account in Tumblr (the easiest way to blog). Having that subtitle, i was encouraged to blog all my feelings and share my stories on this site. As time goes by, i am discovering a lot of things that my tumblr friends are fund used to. Every day, they do have a special segment. Like every FRIDAY, everyone must post something scary. They call it “Freaky Friday”. Every SATURDAY, everyone must promote/suggest other bloggers. Every SUNDAY, they must share information about themselves and other stuff. They call it TMI SUNDAY (Too Much Information). Every MONDAY, they must post insulting statements regarding other people. They call it “Laitan Monday.” Every TUESDAY, they have to post a topless photo of themselves. During WEDNESDAYS, everyone must post a Gratuitous Picture of yourself Wednesday a.k.a. GPOYW.
All of these themes are what keeps tumblr an exciting venue for blogging. But what enthralled me the most is the blogging style every THURSDAY. We call it, Titillating Thursday (TTH). The day of the week, where everyone can post a sexy, daring, sensual photo of themselves. And that, i cannot fathom. First, i don’t have a body to die for and second, i don’t know how to do it, the way it should be done. Daring but not looking like a hoe. A lot of these “tumblr”istas are hyped everytime they post their entries for the titillating thursday. Some are acceptable, but most of the time, the photos we see, are just plain tragedy and childhood suicide.
One time, this young blogger, 17 years young, posted a gif file of him, together with a girl, (they’re both naked) and this guy was licking the girl’s glorious raisins. Thinking that it would be the coolest TTH entry ever, he posted it as if PARENTS were not invented. A lot of people from tumblr that one fine evening, BASHED the kid and throw a lot of hate messages to him. The kid, was obviously not aware of what scandalous act he just did.
The TTH blogging style was probably the hottest issue when it comes to tumblogging. Some people are against it, and some people are fine with it, just as long as you can prove that you have the body and the guts. TTH should be an art form of blogging. But some people just don’t have an eye allowing them to see the fine line between art and pornography.
Think before you Click. That’s the newest campaign of the GMA network. At the present age, the campaign is very relevant. “Sometimes we forget what we posts online stays there forever. Hindi ‘yan parang, I can delete it tapos mawawala na, hindi ganun ang Internet di ba?” -Sheila Paras (News Creative Imaging Head, GMA Network).
Now if i were to discuss pornography on the internet, let’s go to the nearest Starbucks branch and have a coffee.
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