PHILIPPINES, APRIL 8, 2011 – The Philippines’ top advertiser Unilever has taken a stand. The FMCG giant will temporarily suspend advertising in all live game shows on all networks following the Jan-Jan incident on the TV5 game show Willing Willie. The company remains committed to protecting the rights of women and children, and supporting responsible TV content. “Unilever Philippines will continue to positively influence the media landscape and work on strengthening our long-standing successful partnership with all TV networks," said VP for Corporate Affairs Chito Macapagal in the company’s press release.
Cebuana Lhullier also announced this afternoon that it will temporarily suspend sponsorship for Willing Willie while resolution of the matter is pending. Previously, CDO, Del Monte, Mang Inasal, Nutri-Asia and Proctor & Gamble announced their withdrawal of their sponsorship of the show.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, meanwhile, announced that it will regroup to determine the fate of TV5’s Willing Willie game show after the controversy with Jan-Jan, the little boy who danced lasciviously onstage. The Commission of Human Rights and Department of Social Welfare and Development have declared the scene as an act of child abuse.
The board considered suspending Willing Willie and penalizing TV5. The network questioned the impartiality of the board over the case, which led to the board’s decision to form a new committee. “The change in the composition of the Committee is to assure the public that the Board will only be guided by established facts and the law in the disposition of this case. This is also to avoid any attempt to further delay the expeditious resolution of the case.” says Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares, MTRCB chairperson.
In the uproar over the episode, the public demanded for advertisers to pull sponsorship of Revillame and the show. PANA has spoken out on the issue by reaffirming its stand on self-regulation.
