Zubiri warns of criminal case vs. Pura Luka Vega over ‘Ama Namin remix’ performance

Filipino drag queen Pura Luka Vega may face criminal charges over her performance of an upbeat and remixed version of “Ama Namin” or the Lord’s Prayer, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Thursday.

Zubiri issued a statement to “condemn in the strongest possible terms the extremely blasphemous and offensive video that has gone viral showing people in a club making a mockery of the Christian faith and disrespecting The Lord’s Prayer.”

“This is the height of the misuse and abuse of our freedom of expression that borders on criminal activity. It offends the sensibilities of our Christian brothers and sisters, deeply demeans the faith of millions of Filipinos, and dangerously scales the boundaries of protected speech and expression,” he said.

For such a performance, Zubiri said a criminal case can be filed under Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and urged the authorities to look into the matter.

Under Article 201(b) of the RPC, those who offend any race or religion in theaters, fairs, cinematographs or any other place, exhibit, indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows, whether live or in film, may face a penalty of prision mayor or a fine ranging from  P6,000 to P12,000 or both.

“We are still tracing the venue. We are also studying the possible violations of law that [were] committed here,” Zubiri said.

For Zubiri, the act merits condemnation not only by Christians but people of all religions whose practice of their faith should not be mocked for private gain or for a few theatrical laughs.

In a tweet, Senator JV Ejercito described the Filipino drag queen’s video as “blasphemy.”

“This disrespects my faith. This went overboard,” he said.

He also said art should not be used as an excuse to disrespect any religion.

“Maging sa ibang relihiyon, hindi dapat ito binabastos, at hindi dapat gamitin ang art, ang sining para gawing palusot para mawala ang respeto sa mga sagradong bagay na pinaniniwalaan ng relihiyon,” the lawmaker said in an interview on Thursday. 

“Siguro isang grupo lang, isang tao lang naman ang gumawa nito. Ang bottom line, dito I feel offended,” he added.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada also expressed rage over the performance, saying the song was ''not appropriate for that occasion.''

“Tang*** nila, magdusa sila sa impyerno,” he said.

Reacting to a report on Pura Luka Vega’s performance, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said, “This is exactly what will destroy our society.”

'Regrettable'

Senator Risa Hontiveros, a known ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, said while the incident was "regrettable," it should not be used to deny queer people their rights and protection.

“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,” Hontiveros said.

“However, I also caution against the use of this incident to deny rights and protections to a community that has long been marginalized and excluded,” she added.

After the incident, Hontiveros wished for self-reflection, compassion and healing for both the religious and LGBTQIA+ community.

“Our platforms should build bridges. The struggle for SOGIE Equality continues,” she said.

After the lawmakers issued the statements, Pura Luka Vega tweeted: “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.”

'Drag as an artform'

For Jayeel Cornelio, a sociologist and an associate dean for research and creative work at the Ateneo De Manila University, it's all about translating the performance into our own conclusions.

"What's blasphemous to one is revolutionary to another. That's how prophets are prophetic. And that's how religious movements are moving," Cornelio wrote.

"So be cautious when you call something blasphemous. For all you know, it might be a sign that something beautiful is revealing itself," he added.

What’s blasphemous to one is revolutionary to another. That’s how prophets are prophetic. And that’s how religious movements are moving. So be cautious when you call something blasphemous. For all you know, it might be a sign that something beautiful is revealing itself. ????

— Jayeel Cornelio (@jayeel_cornelio) July 11, 2023

For Michael Pastor, a lecturer and gender specialist who earned his gender dtudies degree at Cambridge University, and art history and anthropology degrees at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Pura's performance was not the only artistic expression that used religion in performing arts.

“Hindi na bago ang ganito,” Michael wrote.

"Do the people who claim hate over what Pura Luka Vega [performed] expressed the same rage over what Paolo [Ballesteros] did in the movie 'Born Beautiful?'" he said.

"So, where do I stand, at natatanong ako: isa lang. I'll defend the freedom of expression, [especially] in artistic practice," he added.

Art vs. Religion + Gender.

DISCLAIMER
Views are coming from my studies in art history, anthropology & gender studies and almost decade of experience of teaching art at the university level.

Some questions: should freedom of expression not offend religion? https://t.co/ihJtrvOq0f

— Michael Pastor (@profmykie) July 11, 2023

Meanwhile, "Drag Den Philippines" creator and director Rod Singh said, "drag is and has always been art."

"I've talked [to] Luka [about] her performances many times, including the times I told her [to] do a [different] piece [because] I'm concerned [about] the threats she receives for doing her drag. And I know that mockery is never her intent," she added.

“It MAY BE considered an art”

Drag is and has always been ART.

I’ve talked 2 Luka abt her performances many times, including the times I told her 2 do a diff piece coz I’m concerned abt the threats she receives for doing her drag. And I know that mockery is never her intent https://t.co/OQK2wfXPOR

— rod singh (@iamrodafrog) July 11, 2023

Aries Night of "Drag Den Philippines" also expressed her two cents on Pura's "Ama Namin" performance by recalling her conversation with Pura about the limitations of using religion in drag.

"Ang sabi ko no'n, as long as your [intention] is to disturb and not to offend, laban lang," she wrote.

"The intent to disturb is to create discourse on topics that we need to talk about, but most are afraid to go there, while walang motivation ang intent to offend," she added. "Knowing Luka and how smart she is, given the people's mixed reaction, effective ang artistry niya."

As alt drag artists, naalala ko usapan namin ni @ama_survivah during taping ng DD about the limitation of using religion in drag. Ang sabi ko nun, as long as your intent is to disturb and not to offend laban lang. Intent is key + to disturb and to offend are 2 different things.

— Aries Night #AriesRising (@AriesNight_) July 11, 2023

No apologies

On her Twitter Space, Luka said she would not apologize for her performance as she explained that it was her “way of actually praising God.”

“My intention was never really to mock per se. In my mind, queerness has always been there naman I feel like it’s my way of actually praising God,” Luka said.

“I was very careful when I did that because I don’t want it to come across as something that’s very offensive but then again, it’s still taken as something that’s very offensive,” she added.

Luka, who said she is a Roman Catholic, explained that she did the performance “intentionally to challenge our notions on how we worship or how we sing our prayers.”

“The only difference is it was a remix but I’m very happy when I did that because it also says so much of how people actually knew the lyrics to the song and understood what the song was trying to tell,” she said.

“I will not apologize. I’m sorry. It’s something that I truly, firmly believe in. I don’t think that my artistry needs to have an explanation just to cater to whatever request people may have but I do listen. Don’t get me wrong, I do listen,” she added.

Luka said she was surprised that her "Ama Namin" performance was “blown out of proportion” considering that she has been known in the drag community for dressing like Jesus.

“People knew already that I’ve been doing Jesus as a drag persona for a really long time so  really I don’t understand why ganito siya na na-blow out of proportion,” she said.

“People are free to consume whatever they want to consume. It’s also my way of taking up space…my experience is kind of me trying to reclaim [myself] as a Christian or as a Catholic what I think can be considered as an acceptable form of worship,” she added.  —KBK/LA/VBL, GMA Integrated News