Drag Mo Paandar Ko Ep 2
Rian Rivera, an 18-year-old transgender student, talks about discovering drag during the pandemic and creating her persona Ria Cassidy, inspired by Crystal Versace. She discusses the lack of inclusive makeup shades for darker skin tones in the Philippines and discrimination she faced at school, while the episode ends with a live transformation reveal.
Chapters
Hi, Pura!
Welcome to our second episode of Dragmo Pandarko! Kalamba!
And sigisaw! Lady Natan!
Dragmo Pandarko! Ako po sa Virginia, please!
Ako naman po si Pura, look away, ga!
And this is my second guest for the second episode.
I'm also a victim.
I'm also a victim. I'm also a victim. I'm also a victim.
Correct. I'm not sure, but hopefully it's not me. If it is me, okay.
If it is me, I blame Miss Kanya. I blame her. Oh, totally, man.
I'm also a victim.
Oh, hey, she's been there, done that.
You, you've been there too.
Where? In since prehistoric. Nature, nature, nature.
It's called Mother Nature.
Oh, how do you say Oh, GGSS.
Oh, from Las Vegas too. Christian woman.
The cross. Oh, the cross. Anyway, yes, for sure. So let's welcome Rian!
Rian Rivera! Um, school. Well, this is an opportunity.
Okay, teachers supported you. Teacher, I love that.
I love that.
Yeah, correct. But don't forget that to always put your studies first. Yes, yes, that's good, that's good, that's good. Oh yeah, and Rian, we wanted to know a bit of your background, so Tell our viewers, our YouTube, Kineme, whatever, wherever this will be shown, kung sino ka, how old you are, and what is your background?
Or aside from background, my real name is Rianne Cruz and I'm from Santa Cruz, Manila, and I'm still studying po ako sa Perpetual Health College of Manila. I'm graduating po ako actually And, um, I'm 18 years old.
Oh, she's an 18-year-old star.
Magaanda. Yes, could be true, no? Neglected, no? Yes, research shows.
Yeah, so Transformation.
And have you had an encounter of being there? This is— this your first time doing drag? So explain to us.
Sure.
Um, actually, last, um, pandemic, um, while strolling, um, Dun ka po na realize na for drug po ako. So nag-simula po ako sa yung face cream po na na biblin na tiktak, ��35. Then an explorer ko po sha. Nag-practice po ako. Then hindi ko po sha pinup post mo na sa Facebook. Then hanggang sa mod improve, pa biligan po ko na ng foundation and powder.
Oh, so putaman sa nai naiyan mo si nai to?
Chanel Ray, yes po.
Oh, foundation and powder. So I practice.
Yes. Ah, okay.
All in one. So, makeup, doing drag. So while pandemic, practice, then discover drug cartel.
Start, start.
For some viewers, drug cartel is this monthly pandar contest, Nectar Nightclub, wherein they invite baby queens to try drag and then do a pasiklaban.
Aside from— I mean, it's Maxi Idol, aside from your mother and Maxi.
Um, Sí, ano din po, um, when it comes to pagmimake, um, sí, Tainy De La.
Oh, my goodness. Yeah, Tainy actually did, um, makeup of Mama Pao for Drag Race. There was a time that she did the makeup.
Yeah.
Then sí, ano din po, uh, thank you so much.
Then actually, din po, when it comes to pagperform, Nivian, say Um, see Precious Poland. Hello, Precious Poland!
So I can attest to that, it's precious.
But anyways, true, true, true.
Okay, thank you for being here, and, um, we will watch you be transformed.
I'm transgender woman.
Yes, so you go by she/her, correct? And then we wanted to also know your fantasy more as drag. So, see, no, inspiration more for your— for, for today's drag. At any fantasy, explain me a fantasy.
Um, is Crystal Versace.
Crystal Versace, angel, sweet girl, ingredients, translate, performance.
So esoteric, that's why not, why not?
All the time, correct.
I love J, I really love J. Now, yeah.
Well, it helped her achieve the fantasy.
Correct, correct, correct. So if you need anything, just tell us. Makeup and Mocha, 20 questions, and then this is the challenge.
Okay, cool, cool, cool.
You're good, you're good. Yes, fine. Oh yeah.
Sorry.
So this is a sponge foundation. Foundation.
I just want to uncover that, you know, that thing. Foundation was made for white skin only. Oh, yeah, later because of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
But to be fair, you know, there are even some content creators on TikTok that would demand that they be given shades. Yeah, this is your darkest shade. Go to the labs.
Like, that's very recent. And your makeup companies, market people of color, correct? Imagine the nightmare before foundation. Correct. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
But honestly, it also translates then with Filipinos wanting to have makeup for morenas because there are— we have this standard of beauty. You have to also love your natural color. And then nowadays, okay, more beauty, why not, which I think is kind of how it is here in the country then. We also need to kind of make people of, uh, darker skin color to appreciate the beauty that they had.
Yes, which is actually good. I mean That's one aspect of it. Source of income. Exactly. Complicated discussion. Yeah, that's our inherited colonial legacy. That we got, um, you know, um, conditioning.
I mean, Because we have Chelsea Manalo.
Exactly. Oh, we broke that.
Yeah, like, okay, we are now recognizing that darker skin color is also very beautiful. Yeah. So, you know, there's also something beautiful about this. Oh, the lag on Filipina. Okay, growing up, experience discrimination for being who you are, or instances?
Um, actually, since then, um, that you were a—
yes, special, beautiful.
Yes, yes, of course.
Yes.
Or do you feel just because you're wearing headband?
Last Christmas party, um, I mean, so dark makeup, like for example Makapalang ay shalom, shalom.
Ah, okay, okay.
Tapos ano po, nakabotsa ko nung— 'Tas eto puyong sort ko nung dat time. 'Tas nakabotsa ko ng white.
Okay.
Then—
Alper ano ko ito ba tatay ko?
Then ano po, ang tawag jan, di pa ako mina pa sukon ng grade sa school. Eh, natitipoko nung tatay ko since may dalapo ako mang apag kayo in dat time kasing a Christmas party po. Then dunlang po ko nato wa, dunlang po ko na ano para mas na ano po ko sa tatay ko kasi sabi puni papa nung ano.
How long ago was this?
Um, since 2 years ago.
Oh yes. Correct.
Yes.
In school, um, so hospital.
Imagine, um, and to be honest, um, some schools, uh, have to comply with the policies that was imposed by DEPED already to supposedly help, um queer kids and even trans kids to be just who they are. So, hindi nandina dapat maguing excuse na, "Oh, ganito sa school naman." If you have to comply, we have guidelines for this. So we have in little ways, may mga policies na dapat sino sa schools. Yes.
So naka-solat na yon sa pag-ask.
Even Miss Mela would remind the schools. Mela Habijan would remind the schools, or even Is it a national— it is a national thing. So it's kind of weird, schools, but we, we call them out. It's important to, to tell them, you know, you might not know this, but we have policies already in schools.
So when you say we call them out, you're, you're talking about your organization that you're part of, right?
No, we're like— well, yes, but we can— we do that, which is Rainbow Rights. It's an NGO that helps for people are discriminated against. But even you as an individual, even you as a parent, you know, a parent, you know, you have to tell them, you know, that's— it's— it's— we should be allowed— you should allow my kid to come in because— because if— but in reference to policies that helps children to be safer in schools, I'm glad that your parents were very supportive.
Yeah, thank you, parents like you.
And you're very lucky.
Correct.
Happy.
Wow. Anyways, perfection.
You touch with— you touch already with schools and discrimination, children. What is the thing that you would want people to get from you?
As a performer, when I perform, it's more emotions. Then later on, after this transformation, I realized that I'm supposed to be a singer. I didn't know that I was a singer.
May ibuboga mo?
Yes, may ibuboga ko po. I realized that I'm not good at anything. Like, for example, I'm not good at being a painter. I'm not good at anything.
Love that.
Dalam mo na may fire. Yeah. Yeah.
Yes, liberating.
If you let go, you let go of all the things that you know, you hear from people. It's quite an experience performing.
Yes, I agree. Magdrag, Narito, amin magatetali.
Sabihin nyo, kung alpagaran nyo, itanyo tasan kinakatira at kung bakit gusto nyo magdrag, pode kayo subolat, pode magchat, magdm, or pode magpadalaritan video.
Letter sender na mahakuwa ng title ng episode na 'to. Ay charata. No, but tamayo 'yan, legainila kung bakit sila gusto magdrag at malayo manalo kayo na un premio.
Surprise!
We will make your dreams come true.
There you have it, there you have it.
We will finish our makeup and then perform.
Yes.
I know, from Rian Cruz to Rian Cassidy.
Yes, yes. Okay. And 15 minutes. Oh my God, girl, I woke up like this.
Are we ready for the grand reveal?
Are you ready?
Please welcome Ria Cassidy. Again, again, please welcome Ria Cassidy. Oh, check out the number one beauty.
Oh shit.
Realize.
Fantasy. Love that, love that.
That's—
I agree, I agree.
Satisfied.
Satisfied. Please, satisfied. Like and subscribe.
Or do you want to escape? And then perform. But yes, we will put a link here that you can click so you can donate and watch the performance.
Correct, correct. Yes, privately.
Yes.
We need to support the local artists. The, uh, Rian Cassidy's GCash should be linked into that video if you decide to watch her performance.
Yes, San Francisco. I'm trying my best to know. Oh, okay, okay. Okay, I'll try again. Ah, take it away, Rian.
