Pura Luka Vega on being declared persona non grata: ‘Tell me exactly what I did wrong’

CONTROVERSIAL drag queen 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.

The drag queen made the statement on Twitter after she was declared persona non grata in Manila, Bukidnon province, General Santos City, Floridablanca town in Pampanga and Toboso town in Negros Oriental as a consequence of her controversial performance where she dressed up as Jesus Christ and lip synched to the Lord’s prayer or Ama Namin. 

Pura Luka Vega, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente, said the local officials should try to talk to her and get her point of view. 

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

“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,” she added.

She defended his performance by saying it is “art” and said she should not be judged hastily. 

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

The City of Manila was the latest to declare the drag performer persona non grata through a resolution unanimously approved in a council session last Tuesday, August 8. 

The city is the site of the annual Catholic celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene known as Traslacion and is the headquarters of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, which described the Vega’s performance as “blasphemous.” 

Vega has been consistent in her stand about her Ama Namin performance. In an earlier media interview, the drag queen apologized to those whose religious sensibilities were offended by her performance, but stood firm that the issue will not put an end to her expression of her art, faith and beliefs. 

Persona non grata 

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines persona no grata as a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome. It is a legal term which refers to a “state practice prohibiting a diplomat from entering the country as a diplomat, or censuring a diplomat already resident in the country for conduct unbecoming of the status of a diplomat.”

In the Philippine context, local government units, including municipalities, cities, and provinces, could declare a person persona non grata in response to the particular person breaking local ordinances and laws.

It means that this person is unwelcome in their jurisdiction.