Dan Brown by Ronan S. Estoque, MA (June, 2006)

I recently watched the contentious novel of Dan Brown that was adapted into a film and is currently facing its own controversy here in the country. I am of course referring to the Da Vinci Code. A film that is so controversial that it was almost banned in the republic. A temporary restraining order was issued at first and eventually; the same TRO was lifted after a couple of days.

The dominant SM Cinema decided that it would not show the abovementioned film in their chain and literally, in terms of Box-office equation- such is supposed to affect the commercial outcome of the movie. Unfortunately, the reverse is happening. People are trooping in the movie houses (other than SM) just to see for themselves what's the fuss is all about.

The film is based on a book categorized as fiction. The aborted move of banning the movie is quite an overkill since the author in his book (and the director, in the film adaptation) never claimed that what they are peddling is the truth. Everything was based on the premise of "what if there is an existing bloodline right now that could be tested and proven to have originated from Jesus Christ?"

In this age and time, people really must be more tolerant of wild notions than their forebears. Reacting and reacting badly is a sign of a closed mind. Bigotry is a by-product of a closed mind. Practicing bigotry makes one no different from the terrorist that intentionally crashed 747's in the World Trade Center last September 11, 2001.

Somewhere, there is an element of hypocrisy at play - I just couldn't place my finger where it actually resides. In a market place of open ideas, the author - Mr. Brown is just one of the many peddlers trying to sell entertainment.


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According to the Oxford Interactive Law Encyclopedia, Libel is a false and a defamatory statement in writing, in film or in other permanent form. Slander on the other hand is literally the same, it's just that such is spoken and not written.

There are four elements that must be present in order for such to be proven. Publicity; Malicious Intent; Defamation; and Identification. If one is not present then it is not an offense and does not constitute a libel or a slander.

This is just a thought to get our heads straight especially when one cannot differentiate libel from slander.