Slaysian Persuasian S2: Drag Race Philippines S4 Ep4 Review

Hello and welcome back to Slasher Persuasion, and we are on episode 4. Yeah, season 4, episode 4, just like Marine Biology's Girl Groupverse. We're right at war with 4. I am your co-host Calypso, and I'm Virginia, please. And let's get started with you, I guess. Let me just fix my butterfly sleeve. Oh, guys! So what was the name of the runway again? Hometown. Wait, is it worded? Um, Balagambuki. The Balagambuki? Yes. And that means it's actually a fish. Oh! But literally it means maiden of the land, unwear of the mountains, something like that. Okay, okay. So it's about like, it's again, it's like more a play on words for hometown. Yes. Instead of just saying hometown, they wanted it to be representing your thing. So yeah, tell us about your look and how it's representative of your piece. Yes, um, well, this basically represents the whole of the piece, you know, the butterfly sleeve. But what's special about this is it's designed by a designer from my hometown, uh, whose name is— Oh no, tell us the name! Is there a tag? Okay, I'll, I will add it in post when it comes to you. Yes, but, uh, Dalagan Bugid. Dalagan Bugid. So you have to tell everybody yours. So I wish we knew the runway themes in advance, to be honest, so that way we would have like a week to prepare like these girls. But when we found out that it was representing something from your hometown, I'm wearing a lot of Indian jewelry right now. I was in India earlier this year, and when I was there, I wanted to pick up pieces to layer in drag. So this is an imitation set of bridal jewelry. So if you zoom in, there are different deities. So this is Lakshmi, the deity Lakshmi in Hinduism. And they're all represented in this jewelry. This style of jewelry is called antique temple jewelry. So it's like all the deities are cast into this metal. It looks so ornate. Oh, yes, absolutely. And then that same kind of ornateness carries on into the bangles. This was the first piece of drag I ever got for myself. Yeah. I'm really curious about that because that's very—

very, um, unique of India. I mean, other countries have very ornate materials too, like, you know, when you go to the Middle East, the mosques, you know, the clothes. But India, this is also such a feature in your culture. Can you tell me more about that? Why?

Yeah, so I think, uh, it goes back to like, this is— I'm not a very religious person, but like we've established, but I think there's a lot of beauty in the way that different cultures across the world experience something holy or spiritual. I think about architecture in cathedrals, in mosques, in these ornate temples all across not only the South Asian region of the world, but also in Southeast Asia. Remember when we were talking about Thalassocratic empires, that same style of architecture spread out all over that area. So a lot of them, I think when they— in my mind, when they were creating these structures or these elaborate decor and elaborate detail. It's to evoke a sense of holiness and that spirituality. So I think that intricacy comes there. A lot of cultures, I think, have that intricacy, especially in their places of worship. There's very— you know, there are religions that focus on, you know, being, you know, like devoid of everything and just being very, you know, pragmatic about it. But a lot of them, if you go from like cathedrals to mosques, ornate temples, even across Buddhism, Hinduism. There's just so much detail.

Yeah, and I think it reflects the amount of diversity in terms of religion in India too.

Yeah, absolutely. There are— and even the word Hinduism, I'm kind of like against using that. It just means this side of the Indus Valley. That's all that word means. The cultural traditions and the ways that people practice their spirituality vary so much. There is no unifying text. There are now because of like colonization and the way that people want to imperialized and imposed their religion. But in reality, each section of India and each region of South Asia has its own traditional practices.

And actually, I read the Bhagavad Gita.

You have?

Yes, I have.

So that's one of the major epics. So there's 2 major epics, there's the Ramayana and then the Bhagavad Gita. And some people refer to them as religious texts, but you know, it's also just these epic stories. So yeah. Wow.

And I'm really curious about your earrings. What

is that? Oh my gosh, you know what, this is a gag. I got these in Santee Alley in Los Angeles. They're the biggest jhumkas I've seen. So this type of earring is called a jhumka, or in Tamil they'll call it, uh, uh, jhumikki. It's just these, like, these, this dome structure, right? So you might see a lot of different variations of this, but if it has this kind of dome earring, it's a jhumka. Yeah, so I, I— these are like the biggest ones I've ever seen. I've— even in India, I haven't seen ones this big. So I was like, now we got them. So this is— I have one actually. You do? Yeah,

I kind of hesitate to wear it because No, I'm not Indian. Girl, I really like it.

Remember, remember when I was here wearing my butterfly skirt? This season you will wear them because we will do it. I'm pretty sure there's gonna be a makeover episode, so we'll swap. Oh no, what? Happy? Good idea.

Yeah, we'll do that.

Wait, I remember the designer now. The designer's name is Hans Kokelia.

Hans Kokelia. Yeah, well, thank you so much. Yes, it's so incredibly detailed. When I was helping Virginia get into it, I was resting. Fabulous.

Let me tell you a little bit of history about Butterfly Isleep. Yes. So, and this is from the perspective of the colonized. So when the Spaniards arrived, they were so fearful of the women leaders in the communities who were called the babaylans, who actually also welcomed gender-expansive identities. And so the women in the Philippines pre-colonial were actually highly respected. They were warriors, they were spiritual leaders. And so when the Spanish occupation happened, they instilled in us fear and they basically dismantled the basic unit, which is the family. And part of that is really destroying the image of the woman as You know, an independent, powerful.

Are we wearing mics?

And earlier I was telling you a little bit of history. Actually, that was such a long history. Yeah, tell us, tell us, tell us the significance of the Filipinas. Yes, the story behind the butterfly sleeve is that it was a way for the Spaniards to tame the women of the Philippines who were. Who were powerful before they came. So they made them women who are highly sophisticated and well-mannered and well-behaved, as opposed to the women pre-colonial who were out in the open, who commanded communities and led communities. They were shamans, they were warriors, and that was Something that was fearful for the colonizer, and so they wanted to change that and replace it with the butterfly sleeve. So this is a mixture.

Yeah. So this is a mixture of the Spanish colonialism, but it was it's uniquely Filipino.

Yes.

You know, actually, one of your your friends, Pura Loca Vega.

Yes.

She commented that there's nothing the Philippine the Philippines will just take whatever is given and make it Filipino. There's nothing that is Filipino. It's all Well, you know, I'm not saying it

that way, but she's saying like things that were just given to the Philippines, they made their own. Yeah, you know, so it's very much like that.

Yeah, that is the status quo of the Philippines. That's how the Philippines became. But I think it's really important to look at our pre-colonial roots. Yes, because there gives clues as to why we're having the problems that we have today. Yeah, it's really, it's really deep-seated into the pre-colonial— I mean colonial era. Yeah, I would say.

Absolutely. So, like, there's, you know, that's the running theme in all of our episodes. Decolonize your mind, decolonize yourself. But, you know, onwards. Shall we talk about the episode?

Yes, we shall.

So we walk in immediately. We are coming off of the last challenge, which was the girl group challenge. The winner of last week's challenge was Marine Biology 1.

Oh, yes, yes, yes.

Because it was— sorry, it wasn't girl groups. It was Back to School Ball.

Back to School, Back to School, yeah.

So we come back into the workroom. It is the end of the Back to School Ball. Um, you know, our industry plant, Marine Biology, you know, the teacher—

Industry plant.

Yeah, who works at— that's our conspiracy. That's one of our conspiracies. Um, the insider scoop, uh, Marine Biology just came back from winning the ball. Dixie Decoy has just been sent home. And in the aftermath, the girls are like, oh, this is real. Like, this is their first elimination. Um, just besides Miss Soi, who has departed, um, this is the first time a queen has actually left the show.

And then Marine Biology— Right away comes in with an attitude. But before we talk about that, I wanna talk about the conspiracy theories that we're having here in our show. And, you know, with respect to all the fans, please don't take us too seriously. I mean, what's good about Drag Race is that we're all judges and we can say anything we want. Literally. But don't take us so seriously. You can have your own platform too. You can say whatever you want. This is our own take. And in fact, we're saying this is our conspiracy theory. This is not exactly the truth.

Right. We're literally just talking shit on camera. This is so unserious. Yeah, we love this show and we love drag, so we want to just, you know, perpetuate that into the internet. And I love how there's so much engagement. Yeah, keep commenting, keep liking.

I know my eyebrows are crusty, but—

Oh, don't look too close. Whenever I come back after a gig, I tell Virginia, Virginia, please smear a layer of Vaseline over the lens for me. But now we've been really on top of the looks and keeping sure that we look Very presentable.

Yeah, but don't go and research us and go into other platforms and comment there because that is happening right now to me.

Oh my gosh, they are? Oh my God, leave Virginia alone. This is all just in good fun.

Yes.

But follow us on Instagram. Engagement, that is still engagement.

Yes, engagement. That is still engagement.

But yeah, so our silly theory is that there are some challenges that seem like they are tailored towards certain queens. And last week, it's undeniable. So many other people were talking about this too. Zahira on the podcast with Miroko.

Yes, I saw that.

Did you see that clip? They were like, the promo look.

You commented on that.

I said, girl, it makes too much sense. So we're not the only people thinking this. So, you know, go out there. And of course, Andy commented on one of our reels too. And she said, I thought Borge did good. You know what? She did. She did do good. But in our mind, I was like, the judging was a little all over the place for me, for us.

Yeah, and talk about conspiracy. Right away, our planted queen, Marine Biology.

Our industry plant. Our industry plant.

Industry plant. Marine Biology comes in with such an attitude and confidence. And, you know, what did you think about that?

I think she's feeling— to be honest, she was the biggest name for me before coming into this. Like, she was the only name that I recognized. I knew Manza and I knew Marine Biology because Manza, of course, because of her viral clips. And I knew who Marine Biology was. And I knew who Bombalicious was because I was like, okay, of course. I have friends who live in DC and everything. So those were the 3 names that I knew. So out of that, before, whenever they would put out the casting announcements for Drag Race Philippines, so many comments would say Marine Biology, Marine Biology. So I feel like she's going in with a little bit of like— even she said like, oh, it's no longer on the speculated cast, like when she walked in.

Yeah.

So I think she's in that mindset because she's finally, you know, getting the win and the recognition that she deserves. And she was fierce.

It's true. She carries such a confidence in her.

Yeah.

That I don't know where it's coming from. Maybe it's just naturally like, I mean, As she said, she really has that temperament.

Yeah, that temper. Yeah, so absolutely. So, you know, they go into the next week, they walk into the workroom, and immediately off the bat, there's a lot of attitude. There's sparks flying again. These girls really— they really bringing the drama.

They're really bringing the drama.

So shall we go into the mini challenge?

The mini challenge.

So this was a reference to another TV show, right?

Yes. There is an improv group in the Philippines called Spit Manila. Okay. And all they do is improv.

Is it a TV show or is it like—

It's also— they have clips on social media.

Okay.

And it's really, really funny and very, very intelligent as well. And actually, I want to challenge you to an improv.

Oh my God. I had a feeling she was going to do something like this. Okay, what is— I don't think we have enough people to play that game. It's just

the two of us.

Yeah.

No. So, so It's it's called be ikao. Be ikao means and you,

and

you.

Oh, so I think it's your turn.

Yeah, it's your turn. Yeah, it's your turn. Okay,

so yeah, be ikao.

Oh yeah.

Okay.

Okay. So are you ready?

Okay, fine. Go ahead. We'll try. We'll try.

Okay.

So you have so to recap, you're gonna do a gesture.

Yeah, I'm gonna be a gesture.

I have to continue that gesture until we're out.

We're running out. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Girl, we're gonna run out so soon.

Okay. All right.

Okay.

And then I say at the end, you say, bây cao.

Yeah, bây cao. Yeah.

Okay, got it. So, well, you have to start.

Okay, okay, okay. I'm hot.

Bây cao. Virginia just farted. Bây cao. I'm already out. Oh my God. Yes, yes. I think, you know, so it was a little difficult for us.

Yes.

But the queens did a good job.

I know.

Taylor was really on it.

She came up with so many things. Yes.

And I thought it was funny how Maureen was the first one. I'm sure she wasn't happy about that either.

Did you do improv before?

I am like, oh, I'm aware. Like, I was in a couple— I was in a play in college, and I did a couple— I did like one theater production when I was in high school. Yeah, so I'm aware of like the mechanics of it, but not like super there. Yeah, you know, I think when you're hosting a show, when you're on the mic with the queen, when you're, when you're in drag and you're talking to people, I think that is a bit of improv.

That is improv. Yes, you have to react right away. You have to be present all the time.

You have to be. Yeah, it's about being present, and it's also about 'Cause I think especially when you're interacting with a crowd, you are a larger-than-life personality, so that needs to be reflected. I don't like a drag queen who doesn't talk to the audience after the show, who doesn't— this is my biggest tip if there's any drag queens out there watching. As soon as your show is over, you shouldn't just go backstage and take off all your makeup. You should go, especially if it's a show that you're hosting, you need to go and thank everybody who came. Or not everybody, but anybody who's still there. Like whenever I do a brunch show, as soon as it's over, I go to table and table and I say, thank you so much for coming.

Did you enjoy the show?

That— because you are the star.

Yeah.

So if you give them that star moment, they'll remember that. They'll follow you on Instagram. They'll come to your next show because of how you made them feel. I think, like, yes, we can be divas in drag, but I think you should always have that sense of humility to, you know, provide yourself and give yourself access to your audiences. Because if they weren't there, that venue's not going to book you. If they weren't there, you wouldn't have the dollars in your hand. So I think it's really important. That was a tip that a queen gave me a few years ago. And since then, As soon as the show is over, I don't go backstage. I will stay out there, take pictures, meet everybody, thank them for coming, and then go on.

Wait, I'm trying to figure out our train of thought here. We came from improv and now we're—

Oh my gosh, I'm like, I don't know where I am. Okay, because improv— because when we're in drag, it is improv. When you're talking to those people, it's improv. You can't just be like, hi, how are you? Like, it's not like you're being polite. It's like you're making a joke, you're making a comment about them, you're, you know, saying this about their husband.

And here we are, I challenge you into an improv and I lost immediately.

That's okay.

That's okay. Anyways, when somebody lose it, when somebody lost in that mini challenge, they would say, Bobo, Bobo. Bobo means idiot.

Damn. Damn. A little harsh. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So we get down to the top 2. It is Merx and Taylor Sheesh.

Yeah.

I wasn't expecting Merx to be so on it. I thought Taylor was going to win the mini challenge.

Yeah. I would think so because she's the comedy queen.

Just joke a minute.

There's a lot of improv in comedy.

Yes. Yeah.

But hooray for Merx.

Yeah, good for Merx. Okay, low-key, this feels bad. I don't know any spoilers for this season, but I feel like it's so obvious who the top 4 is going to be, or at least the top 3.

I feel like I do know as well.

How about we get— we'll discuss it at the end.

Yeah.

But I'm like, as I was going through this episode, I'm like, oh, come on now.

It's so obvious.

I'm like, girl, it's like we're just— it's just a waiting game.

Yeah.

Um, but yeah, so the, the, the winner is Merx. And then the challenge is introduced. It is the gayest chocolate musical. So this is obviously a spoof of The Greatest Showman.

Yes, which I haven't seen actually.

I have not seen it either, but I'm aware of some of the music. I mean, like drag queens love performing the song This Is Me.

Yeah.

You know, everybody knows the song. Yeah. So I was like, again, I have not seen it either. I'm like aware of— I think it's about like a circus, I guess. That's all I know.

Yeah.

Hugh Jackman, Zendaya. That's literally all I know.

Yeah.

So what does chocolate mean?

Bakla.

Oh, is that another variation?

Another variation of bakla, chocolate.

Oh my God. Well, well, there we go. There's the classic.

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, Becky, Becky Mon.

Wow. Okay. There's so many. Okay. We're adding to the list, but chocolate. That's what that means. So it's like the gayest gay musical.

Yes.

Okay. And then we get— do you want to talk about Norvina?

Yeah. I think I've seen her before, but I was like, who is this?

She's another person. She's like Dixie Deco. She looks different every time you see her. She has been— I think Anastasia Beverly Hills has an agreement or something, like an ROI with Drag Race and World of Wonder. So they are a sponsor on many of the international iterations. And I think she— what I like is people make fun and people make jokes about her, but I think there's something endearing about someone wanting to you know, be in drag spaces, especially as who she is, which is, you know, a CEO of a major makeup company. So yeah, so she was, she was, uh, the sponsor for this week's challenge.

Yeah. Um, I wonder why she showed up in this, in the, the Philippine franchise. I think it's just— Does she show up in other franchises?

Yeah, yeah, she does. I, I, off the top of my head, I'm not sure which other ones, but I think for like Drag Race Down Under, the sponsor was, uh, Anastasia Beverly Hills. I think it just depends on if that— if it is available in that region. Um, so I'm assuming that Anastasia Beverly Hills is available.

You know, the first season of Drag Race Philippines won One/Size was the beauty sponsor, which I thought was perfect.

What happened?

I don't know what happened either.

Was it—

who, like, was that Discovery+ paying that money?

I—

you know what, if Patrick Starrr watches this, bring back the freaking contour powder trios. That was the only thing that had a deep shade range for me to like do contours.

Now it's gone, discontinued.

Oh my God.

It can't just be setting spray. We get it, the setting spray is good, but we need more products.

Anyways, anyways.

But yes, so Norvina's there. They are the things. Can you tell me about this guest judge, Sam Conception?

I actually don't know him as well.

Well, okay, never mind.

Apparently the queens grew up with him.

I know the queens were gagging over Sam Conception.

Do you think he's cute? Oh no, he's a little— I love that for you. I think that the queens, like they said, they grew up watching him, and I think that's where that attraction comes from. Let's leave it at that.

Okay. Here's shady Virginia again.

They're

gonna hate on us again. They're gonna hate on you again. So, okay. So because Merx won the mini challenge, she gets to dish out all the roles. Merx was a little— she was coming in with the heat.

She was being a little—

for me, she was being a little too like, girl. I'm like, girl, calm down. Because the same girl last week said the only reason you were a team captain was because you popped a balloon. You know? So now because— Well, I guess she did win this mini challenge fair and square, but she was immediately like, I— this is my decision, all of you need to listen to me.

I actually thought she handled it really well.

Really?

Yeah.

I thought there was a little bit of heat.

There was, but I think that, um, the way she prioritized it according to the passion that the girls showed in wanting that role was, I thought, very Smart of her.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes.

So when she saw that, you know, did you notice that when one of the girls would complain, she would, in a later part, she would offer it to them and then another girl would fight for it? Did you see that?

I did notice that. You know, I think there's a couple of ways that you can play it. So what, what strategy do you think is best? Is it better to be strategic and give something to someone that they might not succeed in so that they fall short? Or is it about making the best show possible? Because you can think about it as a shady drag queen on a competition, or you can think about it as a real casting director, you know? So which, which one do you think makes— which one do you think would be the better route to take?

It should be as a casting director, I think.

To make the best show possible.

To make the best show possible. But with that being said, you know, whatever role is given to you— and this is exemplified by some of the girls later on— If you do well on it, you're gonna shine, you know? Right. Just like what Katana did later on. We can talk about that.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. I wrote notes on like the whole thing because this was— this took a while for them to decide.

Yeah.

So, you know, I was— I'm also watching all the other international seasons. Drag Race UK also just had an acting challenge, and they had a very similar like fight where like someone was like, this is my role and I want it. And one thing that came up was, do you do things that you are well known for If someone is doing well in the competition, do they get preferential treatment? Do they not get preferential treatment? This same conversation happened on Drag Race UK. So the next day when I was watching this, I was like, wow, it's like something is aligning in the Drag Race world. But specifically, Monza, there was an aerialist role.

Yeah.

And Monza is like, well, girl, that's mine. And Marine was like, well, I want it too. And then, you know, it's like at that point, Monza already has a challenge win. She is also really good at aerial. Marine also already has a challenge win, and she wants to prove herself and do the.

I understand why would Mansa would keep keep that to her because I think I don't know how she would fare in other challenges.

Hmm.

Yeah.

It's like if if this is your chance, do the best you can.

Yes, exactly.

Yes. Let me pull up the because I took notes. So

but I also appreciated the other girls giving in to the other contestants because of reasons that. You know, they see fit. Like, for example, you know, I want to give this chance to that girl because, you know, so-and-so, like boards, you know.

Right.

Yeah,

I think the other thing is like, do you want people to be— is it like, it's about like typecasting versus casting, uh, out of your comfort zone? Do you think one would be rewarded? Like, does that add to your performance if you do something unexpected for the judges? Do you see what I mean? For Borge, the thing is, if she does something that's really sexy and new for her, even if she does a good job, she has that added 10% because she did something that was unexpected.

Yeah, I think it's really a perspective. If you're casting, of course, a casting director, you would want the best for the show. But if you're the contestant, I think it's a free ballgame. Anything can happen. You know, so I don't think anyone should, um, diminish any role that is given.

That's— yeah, you know, you know what they say in theater, there are no small parts, there are only small actors. So yeah, um, well, and then Maureen's anger issues spike up here too because she's getting heated. She's getting like— her voice is changing. Like, she's very passionate about the way that it's being done.

What I realized, you know what, even if these roles are very specific and you could cast someone that's very close to it, what I realized is that it's still anyone's ballgame. Anything can happen.

Yeah, you're right. Absolutely. You know, the thing, you can make any— there are queens who have won doing the smallest parts in these Rusicals where it's literally just half a song. They're not even in the main thing, like in, uh, or they get really high placements like in other Rusicals because it was such a standout, right? I think about even on Drag Race Philippines, Um, uh, the, the D.Va Marie Holiday, the Little Mermaid spoof that they did. Her role as the villain, she's not like a huge character in it. She's only in there for that, like, you know, that main part, but she was the best.

She was actually telling me about it. Yes. Well, what was the tea?

Tell us the tea.

She was, yes, um, you know, I was that bitch, you know. They gave, they gave me this very small role, but I want that challenge.

Yes, exactly. So, and for context, last night in here in San Francisco, Virginia co-hosted a viewing party with DeeDee Marie Holiday.

Yes.

Hi, DeeDee! Yes, so if you live in San Francisco, come out to Midnight Sun where the Mabuhay Bitches are hosting a Drag Race Philippines watch party.

Every Friday!

Every Friday, and it is the official World of Wonder co-signed watch party, at least in San Francisco.

Oh, are there any others? Oh yeah, yeah, there are others.

They do that in other cities too. Like Los Angeles, I'm pretty sure also has one. In San Francisco, they are the official World of— so if you go, you can win a prize, right? What is the prize that they give out?

They give out a 1-year subscription to Wild Presents.

Oh, see, that's— let me come next week. So, okay, so Bomba and Gully want the same role. Taylor and Borge want the same role. Katana and Andy want the same role. And then amongst all of this, there's one moment that I wanted to talk about. Bort says, I kind of also want that one. And Merckx says, kind of? No, you don't get that role.

Exactly.

What were your thoughts on that moment?

I thought that, I thought that at that moment, you know, you don't consider other things anymore. You really just need to see if the girl really needs or wants the role so bad.

Okay.

I think, yeah. And I think Merckx was right to do that.

Okay.

Yeah.

You know, I think it was fierce of Merckx to do that. I was like, girl, yes, take it. Let that power go to your head. Um, there was a beautiful quote. This was the quote of the episode for me, maybe even the quote of the season. Bamba says, yes, I respect you for your art, but do I really respect you because of your heart? Bamba, you ate with that.

Yes. That was—

I, I literally wrote that down because that was so fierce. Fierce Bamba.

Yeah.

The poet laureate of the season.

Yeah. And I just remembered, you know, Bort says, am I really going to be judged because I just said kinda? I think she has a point. Semantics, literally.

I'm like, that's where I was like, Merks, come on, let's reel it in a bit. But at the end of the day, they all get cast. So the characters are Andy Crocker is Madame Cirque, who's kind of like the hostess of the entire thing.

Yeah.

Borishka is Hadiyana Karanina, who is kind of like the sultry, the vixen, the, you know, a little bit more of a vixen type role. Bombalicious is Hocus Pocus. Pocus. Golly Gosh is Zoe DeLeon. Is that a reference to something?

Yes. So, so Golly Gosh, they, they say that Golly— so, okay, this is such a, a huge lore.

Okay, tell us.

So there's these 3 guys who are comedians. They're called Tito, Vic, and Joey, and they've been around for like 50 years doing, uh, a variety show, and they have movies And they're so funny. And one of them looks like Golly Gosh. So that's why they call him Enteng Kabisote, because that's his movie name. And one of the guys, his name is Joey DeLeon. And that's where Zoe DeLeon comes from.

Oh, okay. So it was very meta for her because she looks like one of the characters. Okay, got it. Katana is Catherine Beardenardo. Manza is Ariel Rivera. Marine Biology is Siam Booty. And Valeria is Siam Pussy. And that's obviously a reference to our GAPA winner sister. Siam Pusri of Drag Race Philippines— I'm sorry, Drag Race Philippines Season Royale and Drag Race Thailand Season 3. Taylor Sheesh is Fanny Serrano. Is that also a—

Yes, it is. So there is a really popular hairdresser in the Philippines who's been around for maybe 50 years as well, and their name is Fanny Serrano.

Okay, there's lots of double entendres here. And then Merx is playing Manila Folter. Is that a reference?

Manila folder.

I think that's just like a reference to manila folders.

Oh yes, yes, yes. Like the office supply. Yes.

Okay. I was like, is there some other reference? Okay. So they go into— I love this choreographer that they have. She seems like such a great teacher.

Yeah.

I would love to learn something from her. She just seems so like personable. And yeah, so they go through with the rehearsal. Nothing much really happens there. And then the show happens. What do you think about the show, the musical?

So here's the thing. I actually studied theater arts.

Yes.

And I acted on several theater productions as well, starting when I was 17 years old. And then I actually went to college, like to the main university, to study theater arts. And, you know, the moment I demystified theater arts, I— and this is what ADHD people does. The moment you demystify something, you get bored and you move on.

So once you figured it out, you're like, I'm ready to move on.

Okay, yeah, I figured it out. I'm gonna go do film now. So anyways, to your question, what was it?

No, what did you think about the musical, the Rusical?

I thought it was great.

I thought it was great too.

Yeah,

um, I think it— yeah, there was a similar challenge that they did in Drag Race Canada season 2. They did like a clown circus themed, um, A musical as well. This was a little bit different. This was—I mean, this is spoof of The Greatest Showman—but it was literally like each girl gets a number and that's it. There were really no scenes where people were interacting. Did you notice that?

Yes.

It just felt like a variety show. It was like, here's your number. Oh, you're right. Opening number, closing number—that's it. Yeah. It didn't feel like actual

unlike the last season where there was a story.

It was similar. Station Royale was also similar because it was each character opening number. Closing number, individual characters. I, I think for Slaysian that worked because there was a language barrier and they wanted to make it even for everybody. For this one, I would have liked like scenes. Like, I would have liked scene work, you know?

Interacting. Interacting.

There was no interaction in this one. It was just like, here are all your numbers. I mean, I guess if you're looking at like a circus, that's how a circus works. But I feel like that makes— because that's where you can test your acting skills too, instead of just like— it just felt like a lip-sync performance.

Yeah. Should we critique each and every one of them? I thought Andy Crocker really redeemed herself.

Yeah, absolutely. She was a very good host. Uh, yeah, we could just run through them. So Andy was a really good host. Um, Monza, what did you think about hers?

I've seen her so many times doing aerials, so I was like, meh.

Okay, yeah. I mean, it's very much like the thing of like, if you do your same stunts— we were talking about this when she was lip-syncing— if you do the same stunts over and over and over again, by the time you have to lip-sync and show the judges, they've already seen that. So they might be a little— they might judge you a little differently.

The judges were still in awe though.

Oh, I mean, that was a talent because that is talent. That is incredible.

I mean, Rahul Aurel, he's seen this so many times and he must have been like—

I think when you're a judge, you also have to be like, even if you've seen it a bunch of times, this is on you.

You have to act.

This is an acting challenge for everybody. Everybody's acting in this one. So Taylor?

I thought she was actually good.

She was good?

Yeah.

That's shady. I thought she was originally—

No, I didn't expect her to be able to pull that off. Yeah. I'm just saying.

So, and then up next was BORG3. She was very sexy.

Oh, oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, fans. I wasn't impressed. I mean, they did their best, they were good, but I mean, okay.

I also noticed— did you notice these are all like parodies of songs?

Yes.

It was like, I think, Roar by Katy Perry, Applause by Lady Gaga. Uh, there's another Gaga song, Abracadabra. There was a bunch of— and then, um, the twins. The twins were next. They did, um— I thought that was really funny. That was obviously a Wicked reference. I think they did Loathing. Loathing was the reference. So I think they did a good job. Do you— okay, so let's just go. Bomba, how did Bomba do?

She was great as well. I think everybody kind of did a really good job, now that I'm thinking about it. But I can think of people who stood out.

Okay.

The twins really stood out for me. Okay. The coordination and The way they worked together, that was really, really impressive. And the fact that they weren't supposed to really take those, those roles, um, they really did great.

Yeah,

yeah.

And then we have Gully, who she got overshadowed by the, the dancers and the props. There was just a lot going on that I think the focus shifted away from her.

I also, I, you know, when they were being made to choose the role, she gave in. She was like, okay, I'm just gonna get this role because nobody's getting this role. You know, she didn't really fight for it.

Right. And Merckx picked that up really quickly and said, you're not coming. Merckx was not having it. Uh, Merckx. What did you think about Merckx?

I was gagged.

Come on, contortionism.

Oh my God. Book her! Book her!

When she turned upside down, I was gagging. Come on. I think she did the right choice.

She did the right choice by picking that. In the Outworld tour, I should say.

I think she should have won.

Yeah.

I think she should have won this episode.

Yeah, me too. If not for the shoes, that's the only thing.

What? Okay, we'll get there. We'll get there. Okay, and then Katana. Katana, she was towards the end. She did the. If I had to pick a role, I would have wanted the This Is Me number because I think that would have. That's the song that every drag queen knows like that. So whatever the parody is, I think there's a really good way to make a good.

Well, you're so far away.

Am I? I'm like literally sliding back. Oh my gosh! Let me let me fix that. They see me going like. Okay, yeah. Now now I'm in frame again. Um, so Katana, Katana did the bearded lady who did This Is Me, um, the This Is Me version in this play.

Yeah.

Um, my highlights were definitely Mercs. My highlights are definitely the twins. And I would have given Andy because I think she hosted.

Yeah.

Because I like the storyline of bottom 2 did a really good job hosting. So my top 3 would have been Mercs, Andy, and the twins.

I feel like Katana's role was also written for her as well. Although she didn't like the role, it was like so perfect.

I think she's a really captivating performer, and that was that was shown through in her thing. But I really feel like I think there was a lot of other things that made that performance great that wasn't directly just because I think the production of her number was really good. I think the song itself was really good. But again, I would have given it to Merks. I would have given it to Merks.

Yeah.

But are you ready for the runway?

Yeah.

So we'll talk about Mama Pow first. What did you think about Mama Pow's look?

I loved it. I loved it. It's not a butterfly sleeve, you know, something similar, but.

You're one to talk, wearing Kabaddi vibes to sleep. Well, it's not, but, um, I liked it. It kind of— it doesn't— I didn't like the hair. Anyways, it was like a white wig. It was similar to the ones that she wore in like season 2, which I don't think anybody really liked. Um, but it was, it was like a white sculpted kind of— oh, right, right here, right here.

Oh, I remember now, the orchid, the orchid gown.

Yes, I love the back piece. I love I thought it was a cane that she had, but it was actually like a drip of pearls. I wish the wig was different because I think the white behind the white kind of gets lost, and I don't love that exact shade of platinum blonde. But I think other than that, it looked really nice.

For some reason, my mind exchanged her gown to what Karen was wearing.

Oh, and Karen looked great. I loved Karen's hair. I loved the outfit that she wore. She was wearing all those feathers. So yes.

This orchid though, I haven't seen anything like it. I mean, I may have seen something like that.

I've seen things like this, but I think it's still well done regardless. But yeah, so let's go down the runways. So everybody is representing their hometown. So let's take a look at—

Andi Crocker. I really love the dolls in the sleeve, and I love that there's a historical print in the corset, which is Andres Bonifacio, one of our national heroes.

Oh wow, okay. Is this where she is from, or is she just referring to Like a Filipino cultural moment.

She she comes from a town where Andres Bonifacio is from as well. Oh, got it.

Okay, got it. So this is a so is he like a freedom leader or like a revolutionary?

Yeah, and um so here's the thing: the the revolutionary movement then was called KKK, which is which doesn't translate right, right. Well, it makes sense there. It makes sense there.

Yeah.

Uh huh. Katipun. I forgot the literal meaning, but Something like coalition, katipunan, kalayaan, peace or freedom, something like that. Sorry, I haven't— I've forgotten, I've forgotten it, but— Oh,

it's okay, got it.

So you tell us, you tell us in the comments.

But I like it, I think it was a good look. I liked the color and it made— I think the black and white print is accentuated by the black and white hair, the doll pieces on the side. I think it's very well done, I like it, it's a cool look. Up next we have Manza, who is kind of wearing like a woven basket. It was okay.

Yeah, you know what? They— okay, yeah, Manza, great. It's just that the other girls were wearing so much more.

I think it was hard because some girls really took it.

Exactly.

And some girls were just taking it like, you know, it's a look. Yeah, it wasn't the, you know, the highlight of the night, but I think it's fine. Like the woven basket pieces in the back, the, the gold accents, the hair. Um,

it's safe to say it's safe.

It's safe. Uh, up next we have, uh, Taylor. Who's— what is the reference here? She said that she's a figure from her hometown.

I actually did not understand as well. She's— it's all white. I don't know.

She looks beautiful. She looks very different. She doesn't look like normal.

Yeah. Can you tell us what the reference is? Yeah.

I mean, I was like, is this like ice, snow? I'm like, is there— when she came out, I'm like, wow, is there snow in the Philippines? Is she from the part of the Philippines that has ice and snow? But it's another safe look.

I mean, it's intricate. I just didn't understand it.

I didn't understand it either. Okay. Oh, I really liked Borja's look. This is really good for her.

It's great. Yeah,

and there's a couple of references that she has. So she's referencing sugarcane from Bacolod.

Yeah, Bacolod.

Bacolod.

Yeah, that's where she comes from,

and she's known for the sugarcane and their mask festival.

Okay, and it's really, really nice to see her polished and, you know, and not alternative.

She looks like a, you know, a typical pageant, like very glamorous drag queen. Hair looks great. I love the outfit. And no nip slip this time.

Yeah, that's what Mama Pao said.

The biggest issues for me with her outfits have always been portion and then just the fitting.

Yes.

So it fits great. She looks great. Oh my gosh. Yes. Amazing. And then up next we have Valeria. And she has like these animals. Are those koalas?

No.

What are those animals?

It's the smallest monkeys that are only found in the specific island. Okay. Bohol. They're really, really tiny, like, and they're called tarsier.

Okay.

Yeah.

So that's what she has on her head and on her shoulder. It's cute. Yeah.

Yeah.

And then she is the forest, kind of.

I thought what she was wearing was great, just a little bit cumbersome for me.

I agree.

It was too— she couldn't even ride the carabao.

Okay, let's talk about that, because if I spent however much money on these elaborate runway looks and they said get on this mechanical bull, I would have stood there just like that. I would I was gagged when Valeria physically couldn't get on. I'm like, that's funny. I'm like, yes, okay. But the fact that, uh, the fact that Merx got

on— oh my God, I was scared. I felt for the— that was such a beautiful gown.

I was like, girl, don't crease it. It's crushed.

Don't break it. The intricate details of that outfit.

Up next we have Marine Biology. Now— Tell me, tell me.

Now the judges is really trying to save her because this is I'm not gonna say the word.

No, say it. Say it, girl, whatever.

This is not RuPaul's Drag Race, you know, deserving outfit. This— it's not. It's just not. It's like the other girls are wearing 8 to 10, she's wearing like 4 to 5, in my opinion.

My thing is, is this an outfit she just had? Because this— if it doesn't look like it was made for the challenge, it's not, you know what I mean? It looks like she had a sunflower

print dress

and said

And to think, you know, Baguio, they have this flower festival where they have floats full of flowers, and she could have worn a fully flowered gown.

Or even fake flowers instead of the print.

Yeah.

It was just very safe.

And I don't know why the judges said it was fine. It was bad. It was bad. This is where you see where the favoritism trails.

Because they gave the critique, and here's why I agree, because they gave the critique to Gully and said this is not at the same level. I would argue the proportion, great. Hair proportion, everything great. It's like, I understand why Gully's was taken a little bit even worse, but I feel like this is in the same level. They're like the least, least 2 favorites for me. But yes.

No, yeah, that's like drag in your backyard, something like that.

That's, that's, that's second number at the gate, so not the first one. The second one, or like that's the second number in a 3-show.

It's just not deserving with all the other girls doing all of the, you know, effort and investment.

Yeah, time for your girl Bumbalicious.

Yes, loved it, loved it, loved it.

Super ornate, super beautiful. But what is the story?

Uh, so I think this is referencing— we call it santo, like the, uh, this statue of, um, gods.

Okay.

Yeah, Christian gods.

With the halo?

Yes.

Is that— 'cause I see this in a lot of Filipino art and stuff. Like, there's always like the sun rising.

Oh yeah, she might be referencing Mother Mary.

Okay.

Yeah,

got it. Well, it look— it's really well done, very ornate. Love the hair. I love the detail in the back of the hair because when she turned around, she had the same gold details. Yeah, in her hair. Up next we have Galligash.

So I've noticed that, um, Galligash, she likes to turn, um, male iconography and turn it into drag. Gender bending, very gender bending. The revolutionary, and now she's turning it into drag. Yeah.

Was it enough though?

I like that, but it wasn't enough. Yeah, I agree.

I think the hat was a letdown for me because it just seems like she took one of those normal hats and spray painted it gold. Yeah, I think there are aspects of this that look good, but, um, but you know, more. We need more. We need more. Oh my gosh, Merckx.

Merckx,

this was—

I was sick. Oh God.

What is she referencing though?

I know. No, she's also referencing those.

The Christian Catholic iconography?

Iconography, yes.

I see that very— I see, but I also love the colors. The gold, red, and white, blue. All of the colors of the Philippines. Beautifully well done. And the fact that she was able to get on that bull. That would have made me mad. If I was in that outfit and they said, get on the bull, I'd be like, no. No, but she did. So that props to her.

No, but unfortunately she forgot her shoes!

So she could just wear other heels. With an outfit like this, you're not looking at the shoes. You're looking at, you know, all the other details.

She could have chosen another shoe and borrowed from the other girls as well.

I mean, if it's at the hotel, I would be like, all right, I'm not getting on that stage until— it's like, how far away could it be? Can we, can we send a van? Can we send a Grab or something to go out there and get it? Uh, and then lastly, we had Katana.

I loved it. She's, she's, she's the only one different from the others.

I think it's cool when you pick a landmark from your hometown and you embody that landmark because this is like the So this is a representation of the— not graffiti, but the murals and the paintings on the side of the tank in her hometown, right? Did you know her hometown is hosting official viewing parties?

Oh yeah.

For Drag Race Philippines. Her hometown, um, I forgot where, but her hometown, they sent out like the official mayor's office is hosting viewing parties.

The only thing I didn't get about it is the collar. Why does it have a collar if she's referencing like cultural-specific, um, you know, iconographies in there as well? Because the collar, that's referencing Western culture, right?

Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's like a suit, almost like a lapel. Yeah, like a lapel. Yeah, I don't know where that came from. I think you have to make it— you have to make it— if it's not a dress, it has to be something. So maybe they said, let's not make it like a full dress, let's, you know, add an element that makes it, you know, not a dress.

I mean, I understand the modern take. I mean, the hair also says it all.

Yeah, I think I would have picked different hair, but yeah, all right. Yeah, overall, who is your favorite runway?

I would say Merx. I can forgive the shoe.

Yeah, I could forgive the shoe too. Merx had my favorite runway as well. If I had to pick a second, I really liked, uh, Borge. Borge and Merx are my top 2 for the runways. Yeah, Borge and Merx. Surprise! Um, okay, so then we, uh, they announced the top 7. They picked 7. So the tops are Merx, Katana, the twins, so Valeria and, um, Valeria and Marine. And then the bottoms are Borge, Bumblelicious, and Gully Gush. Do you agree?

Who would have been the other bottom?

I would have made Andy one of the tops and maybe taken the twins away. Or no? Okay, this is my hot take. I would have taken Katana out and swapped Andy.

I thought Maureen should have been bottom. I mean, she did great in the duo performance, but the gown is really, really bad.

Okay.

Yeah.

Do you think— I think Borge was saved from the bottom because her gown was really good. Do you see what I mean?

Yeah.

I think the reverse is also true as well. The judges didn't really give a lot of critiques this episode. Did you notice that?

Yeah.

They gave critiques then, but when they went back to the deliberations, it was very quick. Like, there wasn't a lot that they showed. Maybe— of course, they probably talked about it. We just didn't see it. But ultimately, the winners are Katana. I still think Merc should have won.

I think Merc should have won.

It should have been Merc's win.

Yeah. Sorry about it. It's, it's— I mean, I can understand the show. I mean, they could have edited it out and still proclaimed Burks as the winner. I really think Burks should have won.

Same. I think Merks did a really good job. It was Merks.

The gown, the performance. It was all about Merks. And the way she handled the casting.

Yes. And they— and Mama Pow really gave her props and said, you did a good job leading the team. Yeah. So yeah, Merks. Merks. It felt like Merks's episode. But ultimately, we have our good girl Bomba and Gully Gush in the bottom.

Yeah.

What did you think about this lip sync?

Yeah, before we do that, I was so curious about what Bomba experienced during— Oh, yes, during the marathon.

Yes, yes, yes.

And Bomba has told me this story in person as well. And if you saw the picture that they showed, she was really the only Asian in there. And having experienced that kind of discrimination within our community of drag, Actually, that's something that happens. I don't know if it still happens so much right now, but from the way I've come to know drag here in San Francisco, maybe about 10 years ago, that was kind of like the norm. Like, you see really catty attitude towards each other. I guess it was because the opportunities are far and few. You know, in between. Yeah.

Um, yeah, do you, do you have any— I mean, have you done drag in any other places where you might have experienced something similar to what Bomba experienced? Or do you have any experiences from when you first entered the drag scene similar to what she described?

I have. I'm just not gonna— oh, okay. I've experienced it here, and even within the Asian drag community, that happened before. Um, the, uh, it used to be so cliquey, but I think what RuPaul's Drag Race made is that it made Drag proliferate and there's more opportunities. And I guess there was more space for the girls to actually build community instead of being catty towards each other. That's my analysis.

I mean, I feel like drag queens are always gonna find a way to be shady. I mean, even if we— we don't need to get into the drama in our own San Francisco AAPI drag scene, but there is plenty. There is plenty. There are queens who spend their holiday afternoons talking shit about another queen for 25 minutes on Instagram. I know that.

I'm pretty sure a lot of queens I've heard queens talk about me too.

Yeah, I mean, you know, so, you know, there are people who have nothing else to do with their time.

Yeah.

You know, when they don't have gigs.

How do you handle this kind of stuff? How do I handle it?

Okay, so we're talking about 2 different things.

Yes.

She is talking about racism that she experienced, and we're talking about shady bitches on the internet.

It's totally related. It's totally related, I think.

Okay, if— okay, so we can talk about both. Yeah. Um, when I first started performing regularly, like 3 years ago in the South Bay drag scene, I was often the only South Asian performer. In a lot of the shows that I do now, I think I'm often the darkest person on the cast. I'm also the, uh, the only South Asian, sometimes the only POC in like some cast. But honestly, that's pretty rare because there is so much diversity in our scene, whether that be through the Latinx queens who we have, the Filipina queens who we have, the other AAPI and, you know, POC communities. So that's never an issue. But sometimes when you are the only person who's doing what you're doing, and if I'm doing like a South Asian song or an Indian film song, a Bollywood song or whatever, I have always felt a sense of empowerment because I know, I know our audience and I know who's there to receive it. And I know that they're often there to receive it with open arms. So I've been very fortunate enough to be in spaces where I have been uplifted for being the person who brings in something different rather than put down or othered. And I think genuinely in all the drag spaces that I've been in, that has never been an issue in that regard. There have been other shady things that have happened to me, but not because of that.

Yeah.

How about for you when it came to specifically the topic of being like an AAPI performer or like a Filipino drag artist? Has there— because to be honest, we run in circles where AAPI drag is the standard and is the is championed.

Right now, yes. Yeah, yeah. I haven't experienced racial discrimination yet in the drag scene, or maybe I just did not recognize it yet before. But specifically with other races, the supposed superior races, maybe the least I have experienced is being told, speak in English. I would really appreciate it if you could speak in English so that we can understand you.

Wow.

And that's microaggression then. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I mean, the only thing that I could like think about is like, like I'm even trying to like really think hard. Like, like when I perform songs that aren't in English, I have half a mind sometimes thinking like, should I do this? Should I not do this? Like half of me thinks like, will the audience understand it? Will I not be tipped? Will I like, you know, will they not like it at all if I do a song in another language? And almost always that is never the case. I once did a, like a bingo where I only did 2 Indian songs and I was It was tipped down, like people were living. 'Cause drag is a language, drag transcends language. It transcends culture. If you are an entertainer doing drag, the last thing that should matter is your culture or your— I'm not saying it's the last thing that should matter, but the thing is nobody needs that affinity to appreciate your art form. You know? They don't need to see that specifically because they'll see you as the art that you're presenting.

Yes, but I would say this is really new. This type of honoring the diversity of drag is really, really new though. Sure, absolutely. But there are organizations like Oaklash who really welcomes this, right?

Absolutely. I was performing this past year, and the first time I did it was 2 years ago. Oaklash is a huge drag festival that's organized here in the Bay Area, probably our biggest drag festival.

Yeah, and I'm part of the board actually.

Yes, and they do the most to highlight and champion the the most diverse drag from not only in California, around the country.

Yeah, right.

So, um, it is beautiful. It's one of my favorite shows I've ever done.

Yeah, and that's the first time I met you actually. I interviewed you, remember?

Yes, and I remember so— I didn't know who you were then, but you, you remembered what I said, which was drag is a multidisciplinary art form. Yes, you know, I stand by it. Yeah, yeah. So, you know, I think that's, that's that conversation. The other conversation of how to handle Shadiness.

Yes.

And how about you lead the— how about you start off?

I've learned not to react. I know that there's a lot of talking shit, and I, I even experienced being like indirectly told about, you know, uh, something that I might have done. Um, I just don't understand why people can't directly tell you, you know. Um, so the way I handle it is I don't react. I, I don't, you know, I don't make the fire even bigger. Than it is, and because I know what I you know I know who I am, and I if I have committed a mistake, I will also apologize immediately.

Absolutely, absolutely.

Yeah, yeah.

How about you? I I I you know I like to. I think it's important to take the high road.

Yeah.

My issue is when it becomes an issue about my character because I would never want anyone to think I'm a bad person because of the words that someone else. misrepresented me for saying.

Yeah.

And the solace that I receive in staying silent or not saying anything about it is the fact that the rest of our community sees this behavior and they know who to side with.

Yes.

You know, so, you know, the darkness will always come to light, whatever they say, you know, so whatever they say in the Bible.

So we're actually— we have the same approach to it.

Yeah, I don't think it's— you're right. You not saying anything makes you look— because The thing is, when anything happens like that, immediately they're going to your Instagram page. They're checking your story because they want to know what you're saying. And it's one thing to talk about it with your close friends, your confidants. It's one thing to just put it out there. I feel like in the instances that it's happened to me, staying silent publicly and letting other people do the talking is the cunty way out of it. Or the fierce way out of it.

I also think that in the long run, they will find out who's actually in the wrong. Yeah, absolutely. And who's talking shit and who's being truthful. And you know, I have this feeling that I'm— I sometimes— not sometimes, maybe I oftentimes get misinterpreted because I have a tendency to be autistic and introvert, you know, like, and sometimes I react like delayed.

Yeah,

so I get misinterpreted as not being authentic or I'm just faking it. Actually, my brain is actually processing and believe because I'm processing so many things as someone who has ADHD. And that's why, that's what, how I think about it. It's like I'm oftentimes misinterpreting.

Yeah, absolutely. I think, I think in any instance, I think it's always best to lead with good intentions. I think the intention should always be that everybody is operating with good intentions until there is something that explicitly states otherwise. So that's the mindset that I go in with where, you know, you lead with grace, you lead with compassion, but you know, What

do you think of the drag community now? Is it still as toxic as—

It can be. Yeah, it can be. I think, okay, if we really want to get into it, I— the biggest thing that I think is like, if you're— I think as marginalized people, when we get the opportunity to be in charge or have that power, it can sometimes be intoxicating.

Yeah.

Do you know what I mean? Where like, if you are the person who's been othered in very many aspects of your life, and you now have an avenue in which you have the channel, you have the, you're channeling power and you are in a position of power, it is very easy for that to be corrupted. I'm not saying this is what happens, but I am saying that, you know, from an outside perspective, it is easy to feel slighted by members of the community, whether it be somebody who does like, let's say, this is not, I'm not, I'm not saying from my personal experience, but if someone is like booking a show and you see that they only book the same people over and over again,

Yeah.

Is that like, is that a slight to all the drag artists who they are not booking? Or is that just, you know, the relationships that have been developed? You know, like, I think that is the biggest issue where people call out toxicity is when they see stuff like that happening. I think all drag is valid, not all drag is bookable. I think all drag deserves— and that's, that's a quote from Manon. That's a quote from my drag sister Manon down in the South Bay. All drag is valid, not all drag is bookable. So You know, when there are spaces that are created, you know, whether it's an open stage, whether it's a private booking, like, you know, you need to understand that like your artistry is valid. It might not be the one that brings people to, you know, sell drinks at a show.

Yeah.

So I feel like, like I said, best intentions, but there are instances where people might feel slighted because they might see people just booking their friends. And to that I say, it's their show. They can do what they want. If you want to build that relationship and rapport, it's on you as a new artist, as a new person to Yeah, ingratiate yourself into that scene. Yeah, so that's, that's my thing. Yeah, in regards to toxicity in other ways, I'm sure there are, but I can't— like, in my mind I'm like, what can I do?

I'm pretty sure each of us are going through this, and I'm not sure, maybe I'm, maybe I'm generalizing, but I actually go through this fear-osis myself. But yeah, you know, that's the way I, I settle it, is that I don't say anything. But it does, it does bother me sometimes.

It will. We are human beings at the end of the day. I just feel like I know I can rest knowing that by not engaging in that same way, you are taking the high road and protect your peace.

It can be really disappointing because, you know, I help a lot of people in our community and especially the queens. You know, I, I— oh my God, I'm ranting already.

No, I'm saying this is what they live for. We're done talking about that. Okay, so girl, girl, you guys want home, bye.

But just tell us, you know, I have avenues where I can platform people and I do platform people. I give people the opportunity to shine. And I think the feedback sometimes I get is that I'm doing things for my own light to shine, and it's actually the opposite in my perspective.

Mm-hmm.

Like, I am doing all of these things— I mean, it's not my fault that I, you know, I have these opportunities that I can do, and I try my best to really include everyone by including, inviting people to come in and, you know, do my photo shoots and do my exhibit. And sometimes it's really disappointing, especially when you sort of hear it or feel it from people who you've actually platformed.

I want to co-sign everything you've said because I was also accused of being self-centered. The exact words were— oh my God, what were the exact words? They said that like I am a self-centered person who is an opportunistic bitch. That was the word that was said. to my drag child in that same way. They're like, oh, you're Calypso's drag son? Oh, that opportunistic bitch. I mean, like, the thing is, I agree, a rising tide lifts all ships.

Yeah.

My success is all of our success.

Yes.

I always lead with that mindset. And that is why I'm so grateful to be a part of organizations like GAPA, to be part of scenes like ours in the AAPI drag community in the Bay Area. Because what our— your win is our win.

Yes.

Your win is all of our win. And especially I can speak to you specifically the way that you champion all of these AAPI drag artists in your work, in your exhibitions. When you get a chance to present your art, you are taking photos of everybody who used those photos in their, you know, to make their art better. So, you know,

I've had queens— okay, people are gonna talk about this.

Girl, let them talk!

I have queens who first said yes to my project and then all of a sudden said no, and it's just— and You know, and sometimes they're part of a whole group, and I just wonder, like, why would you all of a sudden turn down the project? Like, for what reason? And I could just speculate, but there's history behind that.

Yeah, I'm sure.

I'm really disappointed because, you know, you come from a perspective of building community, and it's really not just— and Someone has actually said to me that I'm capitalizing on the others too.

Girl, girl. Yeah. Oh, sorry, sorry. An artist wants to make money. I mean, okay, like, uh, yeah, like, you know.

Anyways, oh my God, that riled us up.

That really did rile us up because bitches, we— people are testing us and we're just trying to do good. This is— and let me zoom all the way out.

Yeah.

Look at us right now. This is the most unserious, silly thing ever. Me doing drag is the most unserious thing I do in my life. Like, I'm standing here wearing, you know, jewelry and a fucking wig on my head. Like, this is so unserious. I just think like people need to zoom out and just— unless you actually hurt someone, don't take it that seriously. It is never that serious.

It goes the same with the fans. Don't take it too seriously. We're all having fun here.

We're literally, literally, you know.

And again, yes,

yeah, back to the

episode. If there's anything else you want to say, there was another thing. Oh, because I want to give this to them because this is what they like about it.

Yeah, no, you're right, you're right.

Now I want to, I want to talk about bullying.

Yes.

What was the cruelest bullying you've ever experienced? And, um, this is, you know, to Katana's point that her family really supported her. That's why, yeah, she cannot stand bullying when it is done to her. But let's talk about our experiences.

Yeah, when I was young, I definitely experienced that There was something about me that I knew was different, and kids hone in on that. And there can be very— like you were talking about, they can be very cruel in the way that they try to alienate people and to make people feel othered. There aren't specific instances that come to mind like that. I think my mindset has always been like onwards. We just move forward and we move through it.

Yeah.

We don't carry the baggage and the pain. I, at least I feel like that's not something that proliferates in my life. I try to very much just keep it and just, you know, take it in stride.

Yeah.

But, um, I would say definitely I've experienced— I've experienced bullying. I've experienced— I've also— I've been on the other side of it too. I can admit that because hurt people hurt people. And if you are insecure about yourself or if your needs aren't being validated because of your— the way that you show up and represent yourself in a space, you are— and if there's a mismatch of expectations, whether that be in a friendship, whether that be in any relationship, it will lead to things that hurt people.

Yeah.

So I think it's, it's important to, to, like I said, now I can go in with a place and say lead with best intentions. Yeah. Except when people obviously don't have them and, you know, just want, you know. But I, I think those experiences have shaped me into who I am. How about you? How about for yourself?

I'd say the same. Like, I've been so bullied a lot, it took me a while to really go through the process of shadowing and looking at all the trauma and hurt that I've experienced in order to be become a better person than, you know, than how I was treating people in my earlier years. Maybe 25 years ago I was such a terrible person, but I would say that I have changed so much and have, you know, figured things out, um, given the opportunity to heal. But I would say the, the most horrific bullying I experienced was I was in high school and I was in a Boy Scout, um, group. And, um, so they thought that I was so effeminate And they wanted me to like man up and show my masculinity. So they blindfolded me, uh, all the other— and these were my friends, um, in high school. And so they got another guy, they blindfolded him as well, and they made us fight. And so I— little did I know, they told the other guy not to fight. So I was like fighting for my life. And when they took out the blindfold and when I saw him, he was bloody. And the guilt that I felt was just unimaginable. So the next day, they did the same thing again, and now they restrained me and let the other guy, you know, punch over me and, you know, did everything to me, and I was the one bloody. And so that was such a traumatic experience for me. Yeah.

I'm so sorry. Yeah. Physical violence is never okay. I'm fortunate enough to have never experienced anything that horrendous, but just because picking on you and then also bringing another person who got hurt in it as well. That's really horrible.

Yeah.

How do you think that experience has kind of shaped your outlook?

You know, it really took me a while to get over that, and I couldn't even understand it at first, but that was something that I had to really process. It contributed a lot to my PTSD, and my PTSD, you know, eventually led to, for some time in my life, substance abuse, you know. Although I didn't do the hard drugs like meth and heroin like that, but I was out partying and I was really trying to self-medicate during that time. But those are just one of the experiences. I had so much more experiences like that growing up in the Philippines. So yeah, it really contributes to the well-being of that queer child that's being bullied. Parents, like what Katana's parents did to him. If you have an opportunity to protect your queer child, please do because this is the result: Katana having that confidence.

When you have the support of your family or when you have the support of a community around you that rallies around you, then you can get through anything.

Yes.

I think right now there's a big discussion about the trans community in especially in Tamil Nadu right now because of a movie that just came out. But one thing that these trans activists were saying is. Just like when you know kids are coming out now as trans, or they're having that instead of the tradition of like running away from home, living with your trans family, and you know growing up with that struggle. A lot of these trans elders are saying, "I go to their parents and I tell them the situation, and I keep them at their parents' homes. I don't take them with me, and I don't you know build my family outside of the thing because the most important thing that parents can do to support their." children, the queer trans children, is by being there to support them. So, you know, it changes with generation to generation, but, you know, the classic tale is always like you run away, you find your home, you find your chosen family, and you have that thing. But if that support is given from your own family, there's no saying what can be done by that child.

Yeah, and, you know, the world is getting so much worse as we speak, you know, with what's happening in Turkey. Is that Turkey? Well, no.

What's happening with the crackdown that they—

yeah, the crackdown. Yeah. Is it Turkey?

Yeah, I think— I believe that did happen.

Not only the club, they're arresting LGBTQ rights organization leaders of organizations. I think they've arrested more than 60 people already going to their houses and, you know, kidnapping them and arresting them. It's horrible.

Yeah,

yeah,

yeah, yeah. And it's— yeah, like What people don't understand is always going to be something— like, when they fear something they don't understand, then that's how they will respond.

And that's why we will keep doing this, because we need representation and visibility so that people will understand who we are, because we are human beings too.

Yes. And that visibility is so very important.

Yeah. Okay, where were we?

Okay, okay, well, the lip sync happened. Very short lip sync. I didn't know the song. Did you know the song?

Uh, what song was it?

Uh, uh, Boomerang. By a P-pop girl group.

No, I didn't know it either. Oh, it's a Filipino group.

Yeah, Boomerang.

Yeah.

Okay, well, girl, I didn't know it either, but it seemed like neither of them knew it either. They were words that were being missed. I'm gagged that Bombalicious at her age— that's no shade— she's doing stunts that queens half her age can't do.

This is how I knew Bomba. The first time I seen her, she's like, ah!

Oh my God, did you see that video of her throwing the bucket and breaking the TV?

No,

she did

it. Oh yeah, yes, yeah. And there's this guy

There's this guy in the audience just like,

Chad Bamba was like, it's okay, I can pay for that.

I think there was like, I think Marina Summers was in the audience too. There was a bunch of people who were just watching this. I thought it was so funny. She was like, ah, then she just throws the— that's what I think about when I see her performance. Come to San Francisco, Bamba, please do a show out here. Um, but yeah, Bombalicious wins, and then Gully Gush is unfortunately eliminated. Her wig fell off. She looked, you know, She's struggling, and then her exit line was just so funny.

Yeah, she

was just

like, you know, I said something about Galigash the first episode, and I told her, I said that, you know, I expected that she would be the queen who's not very popular, is professional, who got in. But I will say this, Galigash really fought a real good fight.

Yes, you know, absolutely.

Yeah, and I was really impressed at that level that she's achieved right now.

Yeah, you know what, I should— I think every queen should be proud. This was, this was a very good challenge. Everybody did a really good job. It was—they were literally splitting hairs. Like, what did they say in the untucked? Like, they were poking holes to see where people faltered.

Valerius. Valerius.

And so it—you know—good, good, good for everybody. This is—I think it's a really strong cast. I think the Philippines does a great job with their casting because I think there's been many seasons where like every queen's departure feels like a huge loss for the overall cast. So, Galigash, no longer a PA. You are now the drag superstar.

Yes. Congratulations, Galigash. Congratulations on your run. Proud of you. Really good job. Yes. Yeah.

Well, I guess we'll see you all next week.

Yes.

This has been—

Slay Gen Persuasion. Bye.