More LGUs slam Pura Luka Vega over ‘Ama Namin’ performance

The number of local government units expressing disapproval of drag artist Pura Luka Vega’s upbeat rendition of “Ama Namin” keeps growing.

On Thursday, the provinces of Occidental Mindoro and Dinagat Islands declared Amadeus Fernando Pagente or Pura Luka Vega, persona non grata. 

The Sangguniang Bayan of Coron, Palawan, meanwhile, was set to deliberate on a resolution seeking to declare her persona non grata ”for showing a lack of respect for Christian religion and beliefs.”

The local governments of Cagayan de Oro, Laguna, Cebu City, Manila, General Santos City, Floridablanca in Pampanga, Toboso in Negros Occidental, Nueva Ecija, and Bukidnon had earlier issued the same declaration against Pura Luka Vega. 

Last week, Pura Luka Vega said local governments should try to have a dialogue with her or understand her first before condemning her and declaring her unwelcome in their jurisdictions.

“Tell me EXACTLY what I did wrong,” she said on X.

“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,” she added.

She insisted that her performance was a form of “art” and said she should not be judged hastily.

“Drag is art. You judge me, yet you don’t even know me,” she said.

Pura Luka Vega also faces two criminal complaints that were separately filed by local Christian church leaders and devotees of the Black Nazarene.