Despite mounting criticism of her infamous depiction of Jesus Christ, drag artist Pura Luka Vega is not backing down, even with 12 cities and municipalities declaring the drag artist persona non grata.
In response to these declarations, Vega says, "Ito lang masasabi ko. Simple lang, simplehan lang natin. Lahat tayo, makasalanan. Tama? Di tayo perpekto. Tama? Gayun pa man, do unto others what you want others to do unto you! Do not do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you! Golden rule lang po iyon!"
Pura Luka Vega added, "So para sa mga ibang lugar na gusto pa mag persona [non grata] diyan, dagdagan niyo pa! Pakialam ko? Separation ng Church at ng State!"
Pura Luka Vega was declared persona non grata in 12 Philippine LGUs, namely, Manila, Cebu City, Laguna, Cagayan De Oro City, General Santos City; Floridablanca in Pampanga, Bukidnon Province, Toboso in Negros Occidental, Nueva Ecija, Occidental Mindoro, Dinagat Islands, and Coron.
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Kuya Kim Atienza and his message to Pura Luka Vega
In early August, Kuya Kim Atienza posted his advice for the embattled drag artist.
"Hi Luka. We haven’t met yet but I wish you well. I sincerely hope you develop the empathy to know how deeply offensive your ‘art’ is to majority of Filipinos," said Atienza.
Atienza elaborated his message in an interview with Marites University, a talk show program on YouTube.

"May kasabihan tayo bilang Kristyano, we are to love the sinner and hate the sin. I have nothing [against Pura Luka Vega], I respect her, I do not hate her. I admire her that she's an artist, pero yung ginawa niya sa Ama Namin, I am offended," said Atienza.
"In the same way as millions of other Filipinos are offended. Why? Dinadasal ko ang AMa Namin kapag ako ay desperado, pag ako'y namatayan, pag ako'y may kailangan sa Panginoon, pag ako'y depressed, pag nasa bingit ka ng kamatayan, dinadasal mo ang Ama Namin. Ang respeto at ang reverence mo sa Ama Namin ay malalim.
"Ang makita mo na ginaganoon ang dasal at ang Panginoon mo na dinadasalan mo sa [taimtim] na paraan, is offensive. Is it art? Yes, it may be art, but art can be good, it can be bad. Art can be inspiring, it can be demoralizing. There's good art and bad art. And for me, her art is offensive," Atienza added.
"It is art! No question. But it offended millions of Filpinos who revere the Our Father, [Filipinos] who depended on that prayer in their times of darkness, depended on that prayer in their times of depression. Who depended on that prayer in the times of the lockdown when they were about to kill themselves. At gaganoonin mo? Masakit."
Kuya Kim on Pura Luka Vega: "Sana hindi siya mapahamak."
In the same interview, Atienza, who is a former city councilor, explained what it means to be declared persona non grata by a city.
"Ang persona non grata is an expression of sentiment by a city council of a feeling of their constituents. It does not mean na bawal siyang pumasok sa Maynila, hindi batas iyan. A city resolution of persona non grata is an expression of feeling. Ibig sabihin, she is not welcome in the hearts of Manilans, as manifested by the council and the councilors."
The host asked Atienza if Pura Luka Vega would be arrested in Manila and the other LGUs that declared the drag artist persona non grata.
"Walang ganoon!" said Atienza. "Pero galit sa kanya ang tao. Hindi siya welcome. Alam mo, kapag pumunta ka sa Quiapo, yung mga deboto ng Nazareno doon, naku! Pag sila ang tatanungin mo, hindi ganito ang sagot nila. Mas malalim ang galit nila at baka kung ano pa ang masabi nila.
"So I wish her well, sana hindi siya mapahamak, at sana she develops that empathy, that feeling to know that she's hurt so many people. Malalim ang sakit ng mga tao. It has nothing to do with gender. It has nothing to do with drag. It has nothing to do with art. It is about the Our Father and how it was put in that light because that prayer means so much. Sometimes, it's a matter of life and death to people who pray it."
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