CEBU CITY – Include this city to the growing list of local government units (LGUs) which declared drag artist Pura Luka persona non grata.
The Cebu City Council passed a resolution declaring Pura Luka Vega, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente, as unwanted person over his controversial “Ama Namin” (The Lord’s Prayer) performance.
The resolution was penned by Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. and was approved by the city council during its regular session on Wednesday, August 16.
Cebu City is the first LGU in the Central Visayas to impose a persona non grata tag on Pagente, Alcover said.
In his resolution, Alcover said Pagente should be declared as an unwanted person in the city “due to his offensive and disrespectful acts in the social and cultural values related to the religious beliefs of Cebuanos.”
Cebu City is the latest LGU to declare Pagente persona non grata following Manila, Bukidnon, Floridablanca, Pampanga; Toboso, Negros Occidental, General Santos City, and Nueva Ecija.
Pagente drew heavy criticism after several videos went viral online showing her portrayal of a jovial Christ in shining garb.
The video showed Pagente waving and dancing to an upbeat version of Ama Namin.
Despite coming under fire, Pagente denied any wrongdoing, insisting that her performance was a form of art.