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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Pura Luka Vega defends drag performance of 'Ama Namin'

Pura Luka Vega defends drag performance of 'Ama Namin'

Published Jul 13, 2023 12:45 pm

Pura Luka Vega (Images courtesy of Facebook)


Former Drag Den Philippines contestant Pura Luka Vega defended his powerful rendition of the remixed version of the "Ama Namin" (The Lord's Prayer), unswayed by the backlash from both the Catholic Church and netizens. "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. Since being uploaded on Twitter three days ago, Pura's controversial clip of the worship song entitied "Thank you for coming to church" has garnered over 17 million views. Pura'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...We are tracing the venue & studying the possible violations of law committed here," 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. This developed as 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.  (I think things like this, it is enough that we have conveyed the message and we have addressed the public. I think legal steps are not on the horizon yet.)
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