FINALLY, a Filipino is crowned the next drag superstar. And it all came down to the final lip sync at the season-ender of Drag Race Philippines.
In the first semifinal lip sync smackdown, Eva La Queen bowed down to Precious Paula Nicole to RuPaul’s “Sissy That Walk.” In the second battle, Xilhouete exited after Marina Summers slayed her to Mama Ru’s “Call Me Mother.”
The deciding song between Marina and Precious was “Sirena” by Gloc-9 featuring Ebe Dancel. When it first came out, “sirena,” or mermaid, was used as a slur against gays by ignorant bigots who didn’t comprehend the deeper meanings of the song.
A tribute to the struggles of every gay boy, the song was soon reclaimed and became an LGBT anthem. The energetic Marina, a baby drag queen, traipsed and grooved to the rhythm. Her star power was palpable. The pocket powerhouse was unstoppable.
But when Precious brandished a black scarf and revealed it to be a rainbow flag to the closing lines of “Ako’y isang sirena/Kahit ano’ng gawin nila/Bandera ko’y ’di tutumba,” the emotional impact was undeniable. Such a nuanced move, especially from someone who is openly bisexual, can only emanate from a seasoned performer.
Therein lies the difference between a drag legend and a fledgling.
PHENOMENAL PINAYS
A LIVE viewing of the finale was held at The Cove at Okada Manila. The crowd at the jam-packed venue learned of the result at the same time as viewers of the show at WOW Presents Plus, Discovery+ and HBO Go.
In the Drag Race franchise, I believe that Precious and Marina were the only Top 2 finalists who never landed in the bottom two and, therefore, never had to lip sync for their lives. It can be argued that on Season 6 of the US original series, Bianca del Rio and Courtney Act also had impeccable records. But it was a Top 3 with Adore Delano, and Bianca has said that a double crowning was filmed with her and Adore.
In Drag Race Italia Season 1, eventual winner Elektra Bionic and Farida Kant also had an unblemished run. But it was also a Top 3 with Le Riche. Perhaps another parallelism to the Pinay queen’s saga is what happened in US Season 9, when the front-runner, Shea Coulee, had more challenge wins than champion Sasha Velour. But Precious, like Sasha, killed the final lip syncs.
Precious, who will grace DragCon UK with other international alumni in January 2023, also joins a rarefied club of winners who didn’t have a bottom placement. The exclusive clique, includes Season 2’s Tyra Sanchez (now King Tyra), Bianca, Season 7’s Violet Chachki, Sasha, Season 10’s Aquaria, Holland’s winners Envy Peru and Vanessa Van Cartier, Italia’s Elektra Bionic, and España’s Carmen Farala and Sharonne.
As a runner-up, Marina’s track record is just as untainted as fellow bridesmaids Nina Flowers (Season 1), Alaska (Season 5), Courtney Act (Season 6), Kim-Chi (Season 8), Gigi Goode (Season 12) and UK Season 1’s Divina De Campo.
Marina and Xihouete also belong to a group of queens who have five consecutive placements at the top. Not to be outshone, Pinay fashion queen Minty Fresh joins the Fifth Place Club, which is said to be the Icon Spot occupied by Ongina, Pandora Boxx, BenDeLaCreme, Katya, Derrick Barry, Alexis Michelle, Heidi N’ Closet and Blu Hydrangea.
PRECIOUS’ MOMENTS
WHEN KaladKaren, one of the judges, asked Precious Paula about her thoughts about winning, the Daet, Camarines Norte queen replied: “Sobrang happy at sobrang proud. I entered the competition na hindi talaga ako prepared to win. Ang sabi ko lang sa sarili ko ’nun, huwag lang ako first na ma-eliminate, masaya na ako nun! Sobrang proud ako sa layo nang tinagal ko sa competition. And overwhelmed and grateful.”
As the “Philippines’ first Drag Superstar,” Precious wins a one-year supply of One Size Beauty Cosmetics by Fil-Am makeup maven Patrick Starrr, and a cash prize of ₱1,000,000 powered by Kumu (as Miss Congeniality, Lady Morgana went home with a crown and P40,000.).
What Precious declared in her promo video as the season started rings truer today:
“Hello! Mabuhay! I was just dreaming about this eight years ago and now it’s finally here! I hope I can make you all proud! Join me as I enter a new chapter of my life as a Ru Girl. Thank you, Lord!
“I am Precious Paula Nicole from the Philippines, your next Drag Superstar.”
CALL ME MOTHER
THROUGH a maze-like route, I sent questions to the host, Paolo Ballesteros aka Mamwa Pao, to the producers World of Wonder and Fullhouse Asia Production Studios. It’s the same set I sent to the other judge, Jiggly Caliente.
LGBT persecution still persists. How are you using your Drag Race platform to fight this?
I am not taking the credit of those who are really in the forefront of this fight but I have been a supporter of anything against violence, and the LGBTQIA+ community. And with Drag Race, we are hoping that people will realize that we exist. We are important. We take up space. Hello! International show o, napakataas naman natin if our queens are being recognized and idolized worldwide, tapos dito sa sarili natin bansa e ‘di pa din tanggap.
What made you say yes to this gig? Without spoiling anything, what were you most gagged by as a host and judge?
It’s RuPaul’s Drag Race! Legit! Why wouldn’t I?? Hahaha! I was gagged at how everything looks and feels like the US version and yet it’s so Pinoy. And also we have Untucked, the only country that has that. It’s the only one outside the US version.
Why is now the suitable time to showcase drag to conservative and judgmental Philippines?
Because the world is changing and we need to step up. And we also have to change our ways for the better. We are always critical of others but we, at the same time, can’t handle others throwing judgment at us. We need to lighten up and enjoy life and what it has to offer.