Island of Palawan declares Filipino homosexual influencer and drag artist Pura Luka Vega  persona non grata 

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Palawan has joined the growing number of local government units that declared drag queen Pura Luka Vega an unwanted person, with its provincial board adopting a resolution declaring them “persona non grata.”

The resolution, principally authored by Board Member Winston Arzaga, was approved on Tuesday, Aug. 29, in its first reading during the regular session.of the provincial board.

Arzaga said in the resolution that Vega’s performance a few months ago while wearing a costume depicting herself as the Black Nazarene and singing The Lord’s Prayer (Ama Namin) in rap version “reduced the sacred prayer of Christian faith into a despicable mockery, and has utterly disregarded the religious sensibilities, beliefs and faith of the vast Catholic and Christian population of Palawan.”

“The obnoxious act of Pura Luka Vega is anathema to our core beliefs of reverence and fidelity to the teachings of Jesus Christ,” Arzaga said, noting that Palawan has just concluded the year-long celebration of its 400th year of Christianity last Aug. 24 and 25, which, he said, affirms the steadfast devotion of its residents’ Christian faith.

Arzaga also explained that while the persona non grata declaration does not ban an individual from traveling from one locality to another, it only implies that a person declared as such is unwanted and not welcome in the locality.

Palawan is the 16th local government that declared Pura Luka Vega, born Amadeus Fernando Pagente, persona non grata.