MANILA, Philippines — The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) must thoroughly review the Spanish-made animated film “Elcano and Magellan: The First Voyage Around the World,” to ascertain if it needs to be banned or have some parts deleted if it indeed tarnished renowned Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu’s legacy, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Fortun urged Friday.
The film is set for theatrical release in January 2020.
“There are apprehensions that our cherished hero Lapu-Lapu might be depicted as a villain in this movie, and we, as Filipinos, cannot allow such a lie to be propagated right on our very own soil,” the district lawmaker said in a statement.
Lapu-Lapu, widely regarded as the first Filipino hero, and his people first resisted Spanish rule in the Philippines. He was known for defeating Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan and his army who attempted to colonize Mactan Island.
READ: Spanish-produced film on Magellan’s voyage draws flak
Fortun also suggested that Philippine history experts be tapped in reviewing the said movie to “provide a more in-depth perspective and ensure that the movie will not dishonor Lapu-Lapu’s rightful place in our collective memory.”
“While we acknowledge the importance of the circumnavigation of the world to human history, may its retelling not devalue the admirable courage shown by early Filipinos in fighting for freedom and independence,” he stressed.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said it’s up to the MTRCB to decide on banning the animated film.
READ: To ban or not: Palace says let MTRCB decide on ‘Magellan’ movie
The MTRCB earlier pulled out the film “Abominable” from cinemas which featured China’s mythical “nine-dash line map” to prove its sweeping claim on the contested waters of the South China Sea. This claim had already been rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in the Netherlands in 2016 when the Philippines won the case.