I was invited by a group of independent film makers and social activists to participate in their film showing and forum entitled, "RIGHTS". Although my schedule was pretty hectic that day, I said yes. It was last Sept 21, Friday. On this day we remembered the declaration of Martial Law by the then President, Ferdinand Marcos. I wasn't even born when Martial Law was declared but it is not an excuse not to know what happened.

While I was preparing to go to my classes, I received a text/sms message telling me that the MTRCB or (Movie and TV Review and Classification Board) headed by Laguardia (real family name although metaphorical since it means "the guardian") banned the showing of "RIGHTS". But you may ask, why? Here's the thing:

RIGHTS is a collection of advertisements and short films showing the human rights violation, extra-judicial killings, and forced disappearances among the political and social activists who are questioning or are critical of the current administration. The collection does not only show the human rights violation but it also calls for human protection. So what's wrong with calloing for a humane, pro-people and pro-justice government? Nothing. Nothing is wrong with that. However, the collection of films was sabotaged in the office of the MTRCB. A pornographic film was inserted in the collection of human rights films. With this, the MTRCB had a good reason to ban the showing of RIGHTS. But of course, activists and film makers would not leave it at that so they protested. So Chairman Laguardia, finally, gave it a yes only with rated-X.
Human Rights films rated as X, where in the world could you find such rating?! Or where in the world could you find a movie, or tv show is being "guarded" or reviewed by a group of....never mind. I cannot blame Laguardia, she has too much pressure on her back. Why is the government so scared of revealing and fining the truth, as if the truth will topple them?


Funny, because if you check the everyday shows on the local channels, you will see women in two-piece dancing erotically in front of kids. You will hear nasty, greed, and rude comments from tv hosts all the time. The hot news even in headlines are always about a celebrity "sleeping with someone" or talking about their sex life. Every hour you will hear a child being sexually molested by their own father or uncle or their neighbor. Everyday of the week you have a show or shows that make fun of the poor by making them share their deep dark secrets on tv, and after they cry a hell lot, they are asked to lap/pole dance or sing as if they are in American Idol. I am so bothered by this actually. Where do you draw the line? Where and when can you say that this is immoral (showing human rights violation by the government and the police) and this is moral (who's sleeping with who or a 75-year-old woman dancing in an erotic way so she can get money).

I dont want to sound moralistic but I feel that our basic moral duties is to uphold the human rights. if you feel that you can cover the reality by displacing it or by using entertainment, then something is wrong.


NB:
*Nothing is wrong with lap dancing and pole dancing, as I learned about them--how they are connected to women's body and spirituality; it is the context/situation where I feel, it should be guarded. Not everyone is intelligent enough (to put it blatantly) to understand the connection as more people tend to thrive on what is shallow, dull and unimportant.