I just recently heard this controversy through Lakay while he is talking to me last night while I am here in California. This caught my interest because the 4th of September is our Incorporation Day, which we celebrate our Philippine Government Recognition as a Religious Organization. It was 12 years ago when we registered our small Shrine as a Religious Organization and from that day on September 4, 2012, we have received our Certificate of Incorporation that gives us our Juridical Personality. This means Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing Inc., just like any Filipino Citizens have its exclusive rights and obligations under the law. This certificate makes us Celebrate the Freedom of Religion in the Philippines.

But unfortunately, this day, as I open up my Facebook, I saw an article about a film titled “Dear Satan” that received an X- Ratings because it offends the Religious Feelings of the Movie and Television Review Classification Board Chairperson Lala Sotto and said that it violated the Presidential Decree No. 1986 that establishes the Movie and Television Review Classification Board (MTRCB).

Philippine Daily Inquirer (which is a popular Broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines) have enumerated in their websites the function of the said agency in accordance with the Implementation Rules and Regulation of the Presidential Decree 1986 as follows:

• The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the dominant theme of the work as a whole appeal to prurient interest and satisfies only the craving for gratuitous sex and/or violence.
• The work depicts in a patently lewd, offensive, or demeaning manner, excretory functions and sexual conduct such as sexual intercourse, masturbation and exhibition of the genitals.
• The work clearly constitutes an attack against any race, creed or religion.
• The work condones or encourages the use of illegal drugs and substances.
• The work tends to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities.
• The work glorifies criminals or condones crimes.
• The work is libelous or defamatory to the good name and reputation of any person, whether living or dead.
• The work may constitute contempt of court or of a quasi-judicial tribunal or may pertain to matters which are sub-judice in nature.
  Read more: https://entertainment.inquirer.net/574586/mtrcb-chief-lala-sotto-explains-x-rating-on-dear-satan-im-offended#ixzz8ktEBQWXL
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  Though these statements of reason from Philippine Daily Inquirer does not show up in the Implementing Rules and Regulation of MTRCB in accordance with this website.

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Whether they have a valid reason in accordance with their own policies, rules and regulations. Classifying the Movie as Rated X because it offended the MTRCB Chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio because of her religion as Christian. Her actions violate the constitutional right of the Film Maker in accordance to Section 4 & 5 of Article 3 of the 1987 Constitution that states:

SECTION 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.

SECTION 5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

And if she files a case in terms of offending religious feelings, according to Letran Research Center:

The Crime of Offending Religious Feelings stated in the Revised Penal Code, has two requisites, they must commit an act notoriously offensive to religious feelings, and they must commit an act in a place devoted to religious worship or during a religious celebration.

This law can be found in the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines in Article 133 which has a provision of the offense must take place within the place of religious worship and during the celebration of religious services or ceremony.

So, how come as a government appointed official function in accordance with their religious feelings and not in accordance with the mandate of the law? How come as Government Official will lead into conclusion that according to her statement:

“I have seen the film. I joined the board. I am offended as a Christian. It is not demonic, but it has a different depiction of Satan becoming good. But Satan will never ever be good,” MTRCB Chair Lala Sotto- Antonio

So, she becomes a Religious Expert and a Judge by condemning Satan that will never be good? In fact, Satan is a Bible Character that been preached by the Colonizer that makes people believe to be Bad forever. Will that mean those who were incarcerated in jail will be forever bad? and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology does not work in reforming people within the Jail?

So, why Christian film about Jesus Christ is not Rated X and allowed to be seen publicly without any restrictions? Does MTRCB thinks that showing Christian Films will also offend non-Christian in the Philippines?

The good thing about being non-Christian in the Philippines is that we are more tolerant of each other. We keep our Silence just to maintain peace in our Society. But having a Government Official seated in power who rules guided by their religious feelings will lead into discrimination and suppression of our liberty.