http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=3253
In a nutshell: Congress thinks ALL cartoons with explicit sexual content are considered child pornography.
More of the “this is why we can’t have nice things” and “won’t anyone please think of the fictional children” variety.
Okay, I’m not the kind who can defend hentai. I don’t watch them, frankly. I’m not trying to prove myself innocent by saying so, but I am not the type of person who watches pornography, in all definitions of that word. Sure, I have eroge plenty here, but I skip the H parts. They are not relevant to me.
Now I have questions:
– Mere possession? Isn’t that an invasion of privacy or some other human right?
– I think press releases are too broad. I need details. If I has loli girl in swimsuit, is this safe?
In my opinion, I think legislators are getting too ahead at anything. To my eyes, they can’t even enforce anti-piracy bills or anything related at all to the internet. Well, if that’s the case, maybe all hentai-loving Filipino folk are still safe… as long as they are not selling or distributing any kind of hentai that is. This is actually a good bill (I mean its overall intent is good), and I agree with some parts. There is no such thing as a hentai industry in our country. No eroge or ero anime are being sold here legally. If they crack down on animated erotic content, they’re hitting two birds with one stone, because those stuff are also pirated. But I need my questions answered. If a person possesses it without any intent to sell, promote or distribute, they shouldn’t be sanctioned. This one’s easy, we have clear human rights and privacy laws that protect us. Also, the line between “fanservice” and “explicit content” must be clear. This latter part would be fun to debate on. If Japan, UK, or America can’t get those definitions right, what more with the Philippines.
In the first place, “hentai” as a word does not mean “Japanese pornographic cartoon that depicts children in explicit sexual activity”. It’s a disservice to a language, having definitions wrong. And additionally, a disservice to the people of the Philippines, giving us wrong and inconsistent information.
Why did they particularly said ‘children’ in the news? Children arent involved in hentai. Right? Well I dont know. But its okay to me if they ban these kind of pornography. I dont even watch hentai. Too bad for the others who enjoy watching them. ;_;
They totally botched their semantics, idiots. Feels like round two of the whole, anime is hentai ordeal. It’s not that I care whether lolixxx is banned, but I care when politicians twist stuff up in the wrong way, thus giving the majority of people who don’t actually know the right definitions, the wrong ones.
BTW. From the article, just possessing it doesn’t constitute anything, but who knows how they would try to make it look like someone was intending to sell it.
That’s the problem with legalese. One word has a different interpretation from conventional language (for instance, English and Nihonggo). Look, they’re even using the “term” wrong. Hentai is not a genre to begin with.
Also, mere possession is a violation of a human right to privacy. So, you’re right on that one thing.
Philippines has had many fiascoes within the past ten years. There have been countless problems in government, innumerable cases of corruption, and issues with its different sectors in general. The most recent proposed bill dealt with the illegality of hentai, as it is the Japanese pornographic cartoon depicting children in explicit sexual activity.
Frankly, I’m ashamed of the congressmen and congresswomen who have proposed it. Had not one of them done any fucking research on the etymology of the term, or its denotation? A simple search on Wikipedia or Google would have answered most of their confusions regarding the matter. Hentai, to my understanding from what I’ve read, is a Japanese umbrella term that is popularly used to describe something sexually perverted. It is not limited to sexual acts between children: most of it is animated or illustrated, at times pornographic, sexual acts between adults. Only a small percentage represent those that focus on or solely deal with children. (No, I’m not a lolicon, and don’t read or watch that stuff.)
I would understand if they sought to ban loli hentai. But even then they should fucking research more.
For a Christian country like ours, stuff like these are the easiest to legalize, so I bet those semantics and terms don’t matter because 99% of people would agree anyway. No one seems bothered about minute details… for now at least.
The repercussions of having a flawed law or bill would come eventually. Look at our systems not being able to get things done about drug dealers, illegal practices, red tape, under-the-table deals and general corruption everywhere. Lawyers from both prosecutions and defense sides will cite numerous documents, ALL LEGAL because they are approved by lawmakers, BUT CONFLICTING because the wordings and terms of those documents are a complete FAILURE due to lack of research, neglect of standard protocols in writing laws, or just downright idiocy.
That’s how volatile our systems are, and that can even include our own Constitution.
Has always seemed like one of those ‘just to shut people up’ laws that will never be enforced seriously.
I’m not saying that hentai is a good thing, but I’m amazed at how severe the punishment for just possessing it is. Getting 6 to 12 years is what you’d normally expect for sex offenders, not some perverts with some naughty drawings.
The overall intent is good?
First they came for the hentai, and I did not speak out because I did not watch hentai…
It’s a publicity stunt – simple as that. They know nothing and will continue to know nothing because they don’t really care to know.
If Japan, UK, or America can’t get those definitions right, what more with the Philippines. – I totally agree with this one.
As if these politicians actually know the definition of the word hentai or even the mere word anime… I hope they comprehend first before they submit a bill without even knowing the proper distinctions.
This law is useless actually…
Why the need for such legislation when there’s already a broad anti-porn law in the Revised Penal Code? The congressmen (obviously still n00bs in the House) want to make something “useful” and get busy working on.
I’ll not be surprised if this bill gets struck down because of what’s on the RPC.
As always, there’s the elections next year…
Remember when ‘Etta Mendez tried to foist an X-rating on Schindler’s List? But for some reason didn’t censor the loads of “ST” films that were coming out locally?
I personally don’t care whether it’s legal or not (I’m not affected since I don’t swing that way), but this being the Philippines, I can’t help but be pessimistic–This might be a farce in order for the country to restart it’s homegrown porn industry.
Sorry; one of the reasons I moved to Australia was precisely because I’d had my fill of Consistent Political Stupidity in the Philippines.
this is really a nonesense… it depends on the people if they gonna watch hentai or not… it depends on thier conscience…