When Filipino drag took center stage

As drag steps boldly into the spotlight, Brigiding looks back on its rise, and ahead to its future as art and advocacy

- JOHN ROLAND LEGASPI

PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN Brigiding wearing a modern Filipiniana creation by Jaggy Glarino.

In the past, drag culture was something people only saw under the laser lights of nightclubs. It was unusual to see someone wearing big wigs, elaborate garbs, and flawless mugs in the light of day.

It was taboo, much like other LGBTQIA+ art forms. But during the early 2020s, drag emerged from nightclubs into the digital sphere, taking its artistry to a whole new level.

In February 2021, Manila Bulletin published the story "It's time we recognized drag queens for the artists they are," celebrating what Filipino drag truly is: a vessel for queer art. Soon, that notion was solidified when not one, but two, reality drag competition shows premiered in the Philippines, bringing Filipino drag into mainstream media.

While these platforms spotlighted the many facets of Filipino drag culture, they also became a source of controversy for some. As applause grew louder, so did criticism. Yet controversy, in many ways, underscored drag's power. Drag has always been political simply by existing. It bends gender, reclaims language, and transforms pain into pageantry.