Cheer. Clap. Shout. We are going to be blessed with not one but two queer spaces of love. In less than 24 hours, the country—or the LGBTQ sector—was jolted by the calls for auditions to Drag Den Philippines and Drag Race Philippines. Yes, drag glocalization is here with two sickening competitions coming to our shores. Officially.
- CHAMPION. Drag Den was teased for several months by Manila Luzon, the Fil-German/American who has championed Filipino culture in the global drag scene. She competed at RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR) Season 3, All Stars 1 and All Stars 4. Why she has her own show and why she wasn’t tapped to host Drag Race Philippines (like Season 11’s Brooke Lynn Hytes, a Canadian, for Drag Race Canada) sent fans into a frenzy. Some called shade. But the majority of fans are ecstatic that local drag artists will be showcased on a global scale.
Local queen Brigiding asked Manila on Drag Queen PH TV on YouTube what Drag Den is looking for. Manila replied: “I think what it really will come down to is just: We want to know you, what you have to offer. I’m just here to set a stage and a platform for you queens to showcase to the Philippines what you’re all about. This is not about me and what I want you to be.
“It’s about what you can do and me allowing you the opportunity and the stage to do that and to be whoever you are. So we want the pretty queens. We want the funny queens. We want the wacky-doodle weird queens. We want the artsy queens. We want the talented queens. We want the ridiculous queens. If you have these things about your drag, then come on and audition. Let’s do this. Let’s be on the show,” Manila mused.
“The Drag Race franchise has shined a spotlight on so many incredible queens from around the world and we are so excited to introduce audiences to the dazzling queens of the Philippines,” World of Wonder, the producer, released a statement on August 16. “WOW Presents Plus was created to serve as a springboard for underrepresented voices, so we are thrilled to exclusively premiere Drag Race Philippines on the platform for our global viewers.”
Then, RuPaul, the queen and champion of all drag queens, appeared in a video: “Calling all queens! If you think you have what it takes to become the first Drag Race superstar from the Philippines, we want to hear from you. Show us your charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent—and this could be the beginning of the rest of your life.”
- GLAMAZON. Zaldy, the Fil-Am designer based in New York, has been making Ru’s clothes since the 1990s. So all the eleganza-extravaganza you see on the main stage, magazine covers and screen appearances are all made by Zaldy.
Ongina, the pocket Venus who bravely came out as HIV positive on Season 1 (2009), is the first Pinay doll on Drag Race. Manila was a runner-up on Season 3 (2011). The Fil-Portuguese PhiPhi O’Hara (now retired and known by his name Jaremi Carey) and Jiggly Caliente competed in Season 4 (2012). Vivienne Pinay (filed under Where Is She Now?) was in Season 5 (2013). Fil-Vietnamese/American Rock M Sakura sashayed into the werkroom in Season 12 (2020). PhiPhi also competed in All Stars 2 (2016), Ongina in All Stars 5 (2020) while Jiggly is in the ongoing All Stars 6 (2021), where Fil-Am comedian Alec Mapa will be a guest judge on episode 11.
Kyne, who’s also a STEM genius, competed in Season 1 (2020) of Drag Race Canada. In Drag Race Thailand, the Pinay Power reps were Jaja in Season 1 (2018) and Mocha Diva (2019) in Season 2. In RPDR Season 9, the Cebu-based accessories brand Shandar provided the crown and scepter won by Sasha Velour.
- HOT COUTURE. When Drag Den and Drag Race Philippines start, it’s not only drag queens who will benefit from the massive exposure. Photographers will be tapped to shoot the queen’s Instagram editorials, makeup brands (Colourette? Ever Bilena?) will be scrambling to beat the dolls, and fabric stores (Carolina’s?) will be willing to sponsor. Add to this the Filipino songs that will be used in the Lip Sync for Your Life segment. And, of course, the trade or the Pit Crew of hot Pinoy muscles.
No tea, no shade, but not everyone can be a Carmen Farala (Drag Race Espanya winner), who can whip up two runway-ready garments in a day. Or a Ra’Jah O’Hara, who created all her looks for All Stars 6. The racers will need the help of our fashion designers, who are all too eager to lend their talents.
Manila is one of the fashion queens of Drag Race but her aesthetic edge is camp at its wittiest. In fashion editorials, she has worn the creations of Filipino designers Frederick Peralta, Mara Chua, Marc Rancy, Renan Pacson, Francis Libiran and Rajo Laurel. Valentina, the Latina spitfire, has worn Mark Bumgarner. Ongina has collaborated with Patrick Isorena. Vince Sityar made a terno for Mocha Diva. And Aquaria, winner of RPDR Season 10, was the image of SM Supermalls in 2019.
- YOU’RE A WINNER, BABY. Even in lockdown, we know the drag scene is going into a happy tailspin. Speculations are rife as to who will be the host-judge of Drag Race (Paolo Ballesteros? Vice Ganda? Roderick Paulate aka RoPaul?) Boy Abunda would be too high-brow. Perhaps makeup maven Patrick Starr? Socmed superstar Bretman Rock?
Cast predictions are the most dizzying—and dazzling. I wish to see Eva Papaya, Eve Le Queen, Holemn Cheque, OV Cunt, Captivating Katkat, Lady Gagita, Electrifying Amanda, Prince Marell, Bench (she’ll slay the Snatch Game as Sarah Geronimo), and Dee Dee Marie Holliday.
Whoever appears in Drag Den and Drag Race—as host, judge, contestant, crew—will have a career boost, a big paycheck, global recognition. That’s a big win for Filipino creatives—and representation.
Fasten your seat belts. It’s gonna be a bumpy—and addictive—ride.