The Cinema One Originals 2019 entry Metamorphosis has received an X rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

The MTRCB deemed that the film was "not suitable for public exhibition" for its sexually explicit scenes.

Jose Tiglao, the director of Metamorphosis, used his Facebook account to say that he will try to re-edit his film in order to lessen the daring scenes. He lamented the fact that by doing so, "mawawalan na ng bayag ang pelikula."

The filmmaker said about the banned scenes in the Cinema One entry: "Ang mga eksenang ito ay hindi lamang purong kalibugan.

Metamorphosis is a coming-of-age drama about intersexuality. The film tackles the I in LGBTQIA+, which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual.

Intersex is an umbrella term for about 40 different conditions, where a person is born with both male and female genitalia.

Gold Azeron plays the 14-year-old character Adam who expressed himself as

a boy while growing up. Upon reaching adolescence, he then experienced his

first menstruation.

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Metamorphosis also stars Iana Bernardez, Ivan Padilla, Ricky Davao, and

Yayo Aguila.



Here is the complete statement of Metamorphosis director Jose Tiglao as posted on his Facebook page:

"JUST IN: Our film was NOT approved by MTRCB for public viewing. Hindi R-16 or R-18 man lang. Sabi nila "not suitable for public exhibition" daw dahil sa ilang maseselang eksena.

"The daring scenes aim to humanize the character who is an intersex. Intersex people are victims of stigma and misconceptions due to their unconventional anatomy. They were called "freaks" and "abnormal".

"Ang mga eksenang ito ay hindi lamang purong kalibugan. Ito ay pagpapakita ng kanilang pagkatao, ng kanilang sexual desires, ng kanilang pagkalito at pagkabigo-- mga bagay na pinagdadaanan nating LAHAT, intersex man o hindi.

"Ang mga eksenang ito ay paghahayag na sila din ay mga TAO. Na walang mali sa kanila. Na sila ay normal. They are beautiful as they are.

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"We will try to re-edit the film tonite to lessen the daring scenes pero hindi ko maipapangako na matatanggal ko ang lahat masunod lang ang kanilang standard sa puntong mawawalan na ng bayag ang pelikula.

"Bukas pupunta akong MTRCB and try to defend the latest cut. Bahala na.

"Ang lungkot lang isipin na mukhang hindi niyo mapapanood ang putol ng pelikula na gusto namin para rito. Pelikula na sana, sa unang pagkakataon, ay magrerepresent sa mga kapatid nating intersex sa larangan ng pelikula."



Ronald Arguelles, the head of Cinema One, expressed his hope that Metamorphosis will get a suitable rating from the MTRCB in time for its movie premiere.



Metamorphosis is one of the 10 official full-length entries of the 15th edition of the Cinema One Originals Film Festival.

It is scheduled to run from November 7-17, 2019 at the following venues: TriNoma, Glorietta, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Power Plant Mall, Gateway, UPFI, Cinema Centenario, Cinematheque Centre Manila, Black Maria Cinema, and Cinema '76 Film Society.

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