MANILA, Philippines - Angry Catholics forced the Philippines' "King of Comedy" to delete scenes of his latest film deemed deeply offensive to the country's dominant religion, the veteran actor said.Dolphy said he did not wish to pick a fight with God as his production outfit voluntarily excised the offending scenes of his "Father Jejemon" movie before it was screened by government censors.
Critics, including senior Philippine church leaders, said the slapstick movie originally showed a priest accidentally dropping the host between a woman's breasts as she received communion during mass.
Another scene showed the host getting snagged in the false teeth of a communicant, they said.
The 82 year-old comedy king, whose real name is Rodolfo Quizon, said that while shooting the film, a priest was present to look over the script.
"Mayroon kaming adviser na pari doon. Mayroon kaming pari na pumupunta doon. Tinatanong namin kung okay ang nasa script. Sabi niya okay naman," he said.
"Sagradong Katoliko ako para awayin ko ang Panginong Diyos. Nahihiya ako sa nangyari, pagpasensiyahan na ninyo ako kako. I was just meant to do good pero kung masama, ayaw nila, aalisin ko," Dolphy, who plays the title role in the film, said.
Even he was hurt, Dolphy said the show must go on.
According to Dolphy's partner, singer Zsa Zsa Padilla, they are willing to spend money to re-edit the film.
The version approved by censors is set to be screened at Manila cinemas during the annual Metro Manila Film Festival.
Retired bishop Angel Lagdameo, a former head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, has urged the 80% of the Philippine population who are Catholics to speak up against the film.
"They are negative," he said of the offending scenes in comments published on the Catholic bishops' website, at cbcponline.net.
"The movie does not give a good reflection on the priesthood," Lagdameo added.
The controversial film has also become the subject of an SMS viral campaign believed launched by Catholic adherents.
"Let's not allow the 'King of Comedy' to make a comedy of the 'King of Kings,'" read one text message.
Dolphy has starred in more than 200 Philippine movies in a long film career that began in 1953.
Dolphy lauded
Grace Poe-Llamanzares, chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), meantime, praised Dolphy for his immediate action.
"RVQ Productions upon learning of the public's sentiments against some scenes on the teasers, immediately exercised self regulation, and deleted voluntarily the evoking scenes,” she said, adding:
“This maybe a good example where the MTRCB and a film production company have found a good accord, where the true benefactors are the viewing public
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