A Philippine edition of Playboy will debut on newsstands next week, but the traditionally racy magazine will not show frontal nudity, the editor-in-chief said Thursday.
Beting Laygo Dolor said the monthly magazine — synonymous the world over with centerfolds of bare-breasted women — will feature "anything under the sun of interest to men," combining the work of investigative journalists and award-winning fiction writers.
Dolor told The Associated Press he believed the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines would be more tolerant toward Playboy than neighboring Indonesia, where the magazine was met with violent opposition from Islamic groups.
American editions of the magazine are already available in Manila and other major Philippine cities.
"I don't think the Christian community here, after seeing it, will be any angrier than (they are) say (toward) FHM or Maxim," he said, referring to two other international men's magazines that have released local editions in the Philippines.
"I think a lot of the church people, especially the more liberal ones, will appreciate what we are trying to do in terms of quality and content."
Dolor said Playboy Philippines will feature Filipino women as "playmates" in the centerfold, but won't show full frontal nudity or genitalia because that would run counter to Philippine business and cultural considerations.
"Maybe one nipple," he said.
"If you have something like full frontal nudity, the chances are you will make a lot of enemies in the church, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), even in the government," he said. "We don't want to risk our copies being burned."
He added that local advertisers won't pay for space in such magazines.
"It's not necessary to go all out like that. We're not engaged in any race with any magazine in being ribald."
Last year, the editor-in-chief of Playboy Indonesia faced charges of violating indecency laws in the world's most populous Muslim nation, but was acquitted.
Though Playboy Indonesia is less risque than other magazines sold in the country, rock-throwing conservatives demanded that it be shut down immediately after it hit newsstands in 2006.
Dolor said Playboy Philippines — targeting mature, successful men — would feature typical Filipino beauties but not celebrities, along with fashion, motoring, sports and technology features. Thirty percent of its content will come from the U.S. edition.
