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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Pura Luka Vega tells critics: 'You judge me yet you don't even know me'

Pura Luka Vega tells critics: 'You judge me yet you don't even know me'

Published Aug 10, 2023 01:33 pm

At A Glance

  • Pura has been declared persona non grata in Manila, General Santos City; Floridablanca, Pampanga; and Toboso, Negros Occidental.

pura1.jpeg

Pura Luka Vega (Facebook)

Former Drag Den Philippines contestant Pura Luka Vega took to Twitter to share her thoughts after she was declared persona non grata, meaning she's no longer welcome in some cities in the country, for her viral rock performance of "The Lord's Prayer" in July.

Pura has been declared persona non grata in Manila, General Santos City; Floridablanca, Pampanga; and Toboso, Negros Occidental.

"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," wrote Pura on Aug. 10.

Netizens took it upon themselves to offer their unsolicited insights in the comments section, sharing their thoughts on what could have possibly gone wrong. Some reactions:

"Everything was wrong! You disrespected the Roman Catholic Church!"

"Drag is an art indeed. But that doesn’t give you any right to disrespect people’s beliefs. You can entertain others without offending anybody. If entertainment for you means freedom to do anything you want then you should not be performing at all."

"There's no need of telling you. you know what you did. Isa kang kahihiyan sa mga baklang gustong tratohin ng equal sa lipunan."

"What you did was wrong. Don't justify yourself as if you are the victim. Freedom of expression? Does that mean you have the right to mock and make fun of other people's beliefs?"

Luka's rendition did not sit well with the Catholic Church and other celebrities who are practicing Catholics.

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But it seems that Luka was unswayed by criticisms. "I understand that people call my performance blasphemous, offensive, or regrettable. However, they shouldn’t tell me how I practice my faith or how I do my drag. That performance was not for you to begin with. It is my experience, and my expression, of having been denied my rights," tweeted Pura on Thursday, July 13.

Luka's drag performance has sparked a reaction from various local figures.

"This is the height of misuse and abuse of our freedom of expression that borders on criminal activity," said Senate President Miguel Zubiri.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros commented: "As a woman of faith, I admit I personally find this regrettable. Alam ko madami ding miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community, persons of faith among them, find this regrettable."

"This is blasphemy. This disrespects my faith. This went overboard," said Senator JV Ejercito.

Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1st district) told ABS-CBN: "As a Catholic, I feel offended. Your rights end where the rights of others begin. Umayos kayo." Roman is the first transgender woman elected to Congress.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said it would not take legal action against Pura's performance of “Ama Namin”.

“Palagay ko yung ganitong mga bagay, sapat na muna na naiparating namin yung mensahe at na-address namin yung publiko. Palagay ko yung mga legal na hakbang wala pa naman sa horizon," said Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary to the CBCP Commission on Public Affairs, in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. 

But a coalition of Christian church leaders has filed charges against Pura over his viral "Ama Namin" performance.

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