Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 11) — The City of Manila and Province of Bukidnon have declared Pura Luka Vega, the drag queen behind the notorious “Ama Namin” performance, persona non grata.
“Pinatawan ng Persona Non Grata si Amadeus Fernando Pagente o mas kilala bilang Pura Luka Vega dahil sa kaniyang hindi pagbibigay ng respeto sa relihiyong Kristyanismo o Katoliko,” the council of the country’s capital said.
[Translation: Amadeus Fernando Pagente, better known as Pura Luka Vega, is now a persona non grata for showing lack of respect for Christianity and Catholicism.]
It unanimously adopted a resolution declaring Vega as no longer welcome in the city.
However, the persona non grata designation is symbolic and has no legal power.
“Ayon sa Punong May-akda na si Councilor Ricardo ‘Boy’ Isip Jr. ay pambabastos at paglalapastangan ang isinagawang pagtatanghal ni Vega sa buong lungsod ng Maynila,” the council said Thursday.
[Translation: According to the principal author of the resolution, Councilor Ricardo ‘Boy’ Isip Jr., Vega’s performance was insulting and blasphemous to the whole City of Manila.]
Meanwhile, the local government of Bukidnon also released a statement on Tuesday.
“Not only is the viral video deemed blasphemous, it is also obnoxious demeaning, slanderous, inadmissible and insulting to the Christian religion and belief,” according to the statement by the Provincial Board that was only made public on Wednesday.
Following the recent declarations, Vega, who uses the pronoun them, took to social media to challenge the city councils that designated them unwelcome for the Ama Namin performance.
“Tell me EXACTLY what I did wrong. I’m open for a dialogue and yet cities have been declaring persona non grata without even knowing me or understanding the intent of the performance,” the drag queen said Thursday afternoon.
“Drag is art. You judge me yet you don’t even know me.”
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Tell me EXACTLY what I did wrong. I’m open for a dialogue and yet cities have been declaring persona non grata without even knowing me or understanding the intent of the performance. Drag is art. You judge me yet you don’t even know me. 🤷♀️ https://t.co/dprxdySjkD
— Pura Luka Vega 🙃 (@ama_survivah) August 10, 2023
