14/09/2025
Official Statement on the MTRCB X-Rating for Walk With Jesus
We regret to announce that Walk With Jesus will no longer be screened in cinemas during the Sinag Maynila Film Festival due to receiving an X-Rating from the MTRCB. Despite this setback, we remain part of the festival’s official competition.
As Hound Film Production and Hagdanan Productions, we express our frustration over the MTRCB’s decision, particularly the ruling that our work used scripture in a mocking manner and was a direct attack on religion. We strongly disagree with this characterization.
From the Director:
We did our utmost to treat the subject matter with sincerity and care. Our intention was never to mock or blaspheme. While the film employs satire, the portrayal of Jesus Christ is scripture-based and as accurate as possible. In the story, He appears as a savior to an imperfect woman, reflecting my own creative interpretation of scripture. Many of Christ’s lines in the film are lifted directly from the Bible, while some were thoughtfully translated into Bisaya to reflect the film’s setting in Davao and my own Cebuano heritage. Our intention is not to attack any religion, but to offer a personal reflection rooted in faith and scripture.
We remain grateful to the Sinag Maynila team for selecting Walk With Jesus and for supporting us through this difficult process.
Though the film cannot be screened publicly at the festival, please stay tuned for updates on how and where Walk With Jesus can be made available to audiences. We also extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already watched and supported the film.
— Hound Film Production & Hagdanan Productions
