Pasay bans rallies at Gaga concert

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasay City police deployed anti-riot units to prevent rallies against Lady Gaga at The Arena at the SM Mall of Asia grounds, a police official said yesterday.

Superintendent Samuel Turla, Pasay City deputy police chief, said the anti-crowd dispersal units were deployed along Macapagal Avenue and standby units were on call to respond to any rally against the Lady Gaga concert.

Pockets of protest actions have been held since Sunday at the vicinity of the concert site but policemen were able to convince protesters to disperse.

Turla said uniformed and plainclothes policemen were also deployed in the area to ensure that only those with tickets could gain access to the concert.

He said the police will also be on the lookout for people under the influence of alcohol during the event.

The Pasay City government has also deployed inspectors to monitor the concert and to insure that rules and regulations stipulated in the permit are observed.

Mayor Antonino Calixto said the deployment of personnel is in response to a letter by former Manila mayor Lito Atienza and lawyer Romulo Macalintal about the possibility that there may be some acts during the concert contrary to Filipino customs and traditions.

“Although we respect artistic and musical expression, I won’t allow anyone or any group to provide acts which may be questionable in a way at any venue under my jurisdiction. We reminded the producers of Lady Gaga’s concert that the show and the event as a whole shall not exhibit any nudity or lewd conduct which may be offensive to morals and good customs,” he said.

He said any violation of the provisions of the permit will be a ground for the suspension of tonight’s concert, the second of her “Born This Way” concert.

Albert Paredes, chief of saff of the mayor’s office, said the team led by city administrator Denns Aco was at the concert site as early as 5 p.m.

“Our agreement with the producers is that no Judas song, no nudity, and crucifix must not be used during the show,” he said.

Devil’s music

Meanwhile, Lipa, Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles warned Lady Gaga fans that they are in danger of falling into the devil’s hands if they continue to patronize her music.

Arguelles has openly expressed his objection to the music of Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta), who is holding a two-day concert at SM Arena yesterday and tonight.

“They are in danger of falling into the clutches of Satan, unless they are already there,” said he said, adding that listening to and patronizing the music of Lady Gaga could be classified as “devil worship.”

The five-time Grammy winner’s concert is part of her “Born This Way” Asian tour.

Arguelles said that while people may have already bought tickets, he believed that they should not attend the concert because it would not be good for them to be exposed to such type of music.

“I plead with them (people) not to go away from God. The devil would only draw them to ruin. Seek fullness of life, which can be found only in God. Avoid all enticement of the devil,” he said.

Arguelles also said that even if they made sizeable payments to purchase the tickets, it would be better if they boycott the concert.

The church official also believed that the artist does not deserve to be called “Lady” since it is a title given to imitable and decent women like the Mother of God.

Hypocrites

However, outside the arena, about 100 “little monsters” – the name given to Lady Gaga’s devoted followers – were lined up hours before the show, sporting her signature outrageous clothing, hairstyle and makeup.

One male fan in a blonde wig and high heels, identifying himself as “Lady Gagita,” shrugged off the critics.

“Those who are rallying against her are hypocrites. They don’t see how much inspiration Lady Gaga has given people,” he said.

Local authorities in Pasay said they had worked out a deal to permit the show while addressing the clamor of Christian conservatives, including about 500 who held a rally near The Arena venue on Sunday.

Censors will be in the audience to monitor possible violations of a law against “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows,” said Glenn Agranzamendez, secretary to Calixto.

“He already formed two teams to monitor what will be shown at the concert and to file a report on the following day,” Agranzamendez said.

He said the mayor could cancel the Tuesday concert if the monitors find that Monday night’s show “exhibited any lewd act or any act that would be offensive to religious belief.”

“We will keep an open mind at the concert and we will be as objective as possible,” the aide added.

Christian groups have vowed to send their own monitors and warned they could file a criminal case against Lady Gaga.

Under Philippine law, people found guilty of taking part in or sponsoring “indecent shows” can be jailed for up to six years.

Despite the protests, the demand for tickets has been so strong that the Manila concert’s organizers had to extend the event from the original one-night show to two nights.

Similarly in Hong Kong, huge demand saw organizers extend Lady Gaga’s original one-night run to four concerts.

But question marks remain over whether she will be able to perform to 50,000 fans in Jakarta on June 3. Promoters are trying to save the show despite police denying it a permit after Islamic hardliners threatened to unleash “chaos.” – Evelyn Macairan