Chance and Equality: Please Reconsider 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten

This is a plea. A call for chance. A beg for equal opportunity.

To the important people who made the decision to give 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten an R-18 rating, please reconsider. In your efforts to preserve the nations morality (or whatever is left of it), you are disenfranchising a number of minorities.

I went to the MTRCB website to get a clear understanding and explanation as to why the rating was given. I found none. I went to various news websites and movie blogs for a possible article about the decision, but my search was in vain.

I was about to sleep but my mind is still wrapped around this movie, the rating it was given, and its impact to the movie. I just have to write this down because I feel that we are being put in a box. Which is technically the same as the closet where many of us used to hide. I refuse to be put in a box. And I know that countless people feel the same. It takes a great deal of courage to break free from the shackles created my society's idea of what is normal. By limiting the release of this important movie, we are depriving a lot of young and confused teenager the chance to feel that its okay to be different. A chance to understand that they are just as normal as everyone. A chance to feel represented. A chance to feel accepted.

I don't know how many times I have fallen in love with the numerous trailers I have watched. I regularly visit the movie's Facebook page hoping to see an update that a certain mall decided to show the movie. I have visited movie booking sites so I can get myself a ticket. I even messaged the page admins asking if it is even a possibility that the movie will reach Cebu. They said no. And all my search returned with the same result; No, I can't watch it.

In this day and age, I find it hard to accept the fact that our supposed conservativism hinders art.

How is it fair that  a government official is allowed to curse while nationally broadcasted, while a simple coming - out story is not? How in the world will be able to explain to my future children that a sexy star with a suspicious background and credentials, was suspiciously appointed to government position, but they cannot watch a movie about self realisation and acceptance because a certain group of people deemed that it is not, and should not be, for public consumption? Why is it that we allow TV shows and movies about adultery, violence, crime, and corruption to be shown nationwide, but limit the release of a movie about being gay? How is it possible that Star Cinema and OctoArts can reuse and abuse slapstick and cast the same people and still earn millions. While an independent film about something relevant is allowed to be buried under superhero movies and Disney remakes? 

Are we still in the 1800? Ice age perhaps? Why does it feel like our values and morality are still dated? 

Please prove me wrong.

Some may argue that I am just being a brat. That I am ranting because I didn't get what I want. Or that I am the being the exact personification of a millennial because of how privileged I feel and the entire world wide web should know about it. You can think what you want, I can only give you zero to no fucks. 

Good night.