Pura Luka Vega on LGUs declaring her as persona non grata: 'Dagdagan niyo pa, pakialam ko'
Drag artist Pura Luka Vega is unbothered by having been declared as persona non grata by 12 municipalities in the Philippines for her controversial Ama Namin remix performance, challenging others to follow suit.
In a video posted by a social media user on X (formerly Twitter), the former Drag Den Philippines contestant—whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente—was seen performing Taylor Swift's song Look What You Made Me Do.
During the act, she lip-synced to the lyrics "I'm sorry, but the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, 'cause she's dead," while holding a framed photo of herself in the Black Nazarene costume that had landed her in hot water with the Filipino Christian community.
After the performance, Vega gave a brief speech addressing the issues she is facing, emphasizing that everyone makes mistakes.
“Ito lang masasabi ko—simplehan lang natin ha? Lahat tayo makasalanan. Tama? Hindi tayo perpekto. Tama? Gayunpaman, do unto others what you want others to do unto you. Okay? Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you. Golden rule lang po ‘yun,” Vega said in the video, with the crowd agreeing with her.
The artist continued, "Para sa mga ibang lugar na gustong mag-persona non grata diyan, dagdagan niyo pa! Pakialam ko. [Mayroon tayong separation ng church at ng state]. 'Yun lang po. Thank you po!"
The Persona Non Grata tour, purr! 💅@ama_survivah https://t.co/KdbK2FjdVY pic.twitter.com/vw9SONmjQQ
— Jordy Rae Jepsen 🌻🎬 (@kallandian) August 21, 2023
Vega made headlines in the past few weeks after she was declared as persona non grata in 12 Philippine municipalities, namely, General Santos City; Floridablanca, Pampanga; Laguna; City of Manila; Bukidnon Province; Toboso, Negros Occidental; Nueva Ecija; Cebu City; Cagayan De Oro City; Occidental Mindoro; Dinagat Islands; and Coron, Palawan.
To be declared as persona non grata means that Vega is no longer welcome within these local government units, but this does not mean that she will be prevented or arrested while visiting the area.
Aside from this, Vega is also facing legal issues after church leaders of the Philippines for Jesus Movement recently filed a complaint against the drag queen.
They alleged that she must be penalized for violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, which imposes penalties upon "those who, in theaters, fairs cinematographs or any other place, shall exhibit indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows," including the ones that "offend any race or religion."
Vega also previously aired her sentiments regarding the declarations on her X account.
"Tell me exactly what I did wrong. I’m open for a dialogue, and yet cities have been declaring [me] 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," she wrote.