Lady Gaga arrives in Philippines amidst calls to ban concert

Controversial pop star and Grammy award winning artist Lady Gaga was on board a private plane when she arrived last night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for a two-night concert at SM Arena in Pasay City on May 21 and 22 as part of her “Born This Way Ball” tour, amidst calls by several religious groups to ban her performance because they believed she was making a ‘mockery of Christianity,’ ABS-CBN News said.

Former Manila congressman and Pastor Benny Abante Jr. of the Metropolitan Baptist Church said “Yung isang kanta ‘yung (one of her songs) ‘Born This Way,’ it’s also telling the young people na you can do anything you want anyway you are born this way. It is not only immoral, it is a blasphemy. The Lord Jesus Christ is being maligned here and mocked.”

On Saturday, members of evangelical group Biblemode Youth, who believed the pop singer was ‘bad influence’ to the youth, marched along Roxas Boulevard to go to the venue and protest the holding of the concert but was stopped by police.

The city government of Pasay has warned Lady Gaga to refrain from “nudity, lewd conduct and blasphemy” at the Manila leg of her Asian tour or face violation of Article 201 Revised Penal Code of the Philippines under which those found in violation of “offending any race or religion” may face a penalty of P6,000-P12,000 and/or imprisonment.

SM Arena, in a statement said they have asked the producers to make the event entertaining “As a responsible venue provider, we have requested the production company to make the presentation entertaining, fun and stir away from controversial songs.”

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/05/19/12/lady-gaga-arrives-ph-amid-protests