Earlier this month, drag performer Pura Luka Vega (real name Amadeus Fernando Pagente) was finally acquitted by the Manila Regional Trial Branch 184 over their controversial performance using the Catholic mass song “Ama Namin” in 2023. But even before the announcement of the decision, the 35-year-old artist shared that that they have continued to pursue their art and being active as a performer.
Apart from their passion for performing, Luka has also been actively working with Rainbow Rights, an NGO that provides legal services for LGBTQIA individuals who are facing discrimination. Luka described their life as a balance of advocacy work, creative work, and just living life. In a previous interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, they explained why they want to pay it forward for the community.
“It’s more of just putting myself out there. Kasi I think there’s a lot of opportunities for artistic things to still be done,” they stated. “And also supporting my fellow drag performers in their endeavors. So I’ve been attending a lot of theater productions, a lot of stuff on films, short films, a lot of these beautiful projects from queer creatives nonetheless. So why not ‘di ba?“
”Let’s just continue to do queer, beautiful artworks through different mediums — kahit pelikula man yan, kahit teatro man yan, kahit drag. Everyone’s just free to do whatever they want to do,” they added.
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When at home, Luka also indulges in their other passions that show their creativity as an artist. “I sew. I sew clothes. I’m learning to sew. I’m sewing some of the old stuff that I have and making new garments. And I’m also writing. That’s also one of my passions. I wrote articles here and there. So that’s what I like to do. There was one time I wrote a tribute for Jiggly Caliente on Esquire so I’m just putting myself out there. There are a lot of stuff,” they told PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview.
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Pura also revealed that this year also marks their debut as a comic book writer. “I have a comic book due in December. Hopefully, it goes to print na. I wrote the comic book about the real life of drag queens but more fictional still. It’s a reflection of what it is in real life but the characters, of course, are fictional. That’s how the comic will go. The projected launch will be in December pa. Actually tapos ko na siya. Hinihintay na lang ‘yung artist na matapos,” they added.
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With all that has happened in their life since they went viral for their controversial performance two years ago, Pura shared the reason why they have no regrets about their past decisions. “It’s more of I think, in life, whether you make a mistake or not, it’s really just owning up to it, whatever you’ve gone through. And learning from it and making the most out of it. At the same time, you as a human being, you’re allowed to make mistakes along the way. So if there are regrets, probably just a few. But you just have to live your life and be kinder to everyone,” they said. “I think that’s important nowadays. Being kinder is something that I want people to become. You need to be kind to one another. Masayang magulo ang mundo. We don’t need to fight one another.’