Taking Cebu Drag to the next level

The atmosphere at the function room of Quest Hotel and Conference Center-Cebu was energetic and colorful as Cebuano drag performers Maria Lava, Piayuuuh and Cebu Divettes took to the stage with Drag Race Philippines Season 1 finalist Minty Fresh in celebration of Pride Month.

The “Drag Me to Quest” event was organized by Quest Hotel in partnership with Angat BPO Cebu Bangon Inc. for the benefit of LoveYourself, an organization that offers HIV testing and treatment (its Cebu headquarters is located behind Harolds Evotel).

“Pride is a special month of the year for me because I have been an active activist. For me, Pride is a protest,” Piayuuuh told The FREEMAN after the show. “It’s a reminder for Cebuanos that the community exists. I am very happy that this is my first Pride event [as a drag queen], and it’s with Minty Fresh.”

Drag origins

The first connection of Piayuuuh to drag was her love for make-up during high school which turned into a profession at 20 years old. It was further strengthened with her fascination for the reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race” which is credited for increasing the presence of drag queens in pop culture worldwide.

“It’s the happiness seeing those queens perform and wearing glamorous outfits that hooked me. It’s a representation of their artistry and as an artist myself, I want to be represented as well,” said the 24-year-old, who first did drag in 2022 by posting her make-up and performances online.

“When the [COVID] restrictions were lifted, I started to perform drag in front of a live audience and I think that’s the boom of my career. The moment I started my first performance and I heard the applause and appreciation from the crowd, that ignited me the most to become a drag queen [professionally]. It’s about connecting with people, and for them to understand your craft. If you can do that, you are a successful drag queen.”

Originally from Zamboanga City, Lava started doing drag in 2017, although she didn’t know that time that what she was doing was drag until she watched a TV show about drag queens. Lava did drag to express her femininity but keep her masculinity when she isn’t performing.

“I wanted to transition and become transgender. But when I found drag, I found out that I can be both [genders]. I like my masculinity and I don’t want that taken away from me. But with drag, I can show my femininity,” said the 28-year-old who resides In Mandaue City.

Lava’s highlight as a professional drag performer was when she was invited by Angat BPO Cebu to be their drag representative in last year’s CeBOOM rally.

“They consider me as one of the political drag queens because I am very vocal with my political stance. Pride is a protest and we have been battling with a lot of struggles, so June is a perfect month to showcase my political beliefs as a drag queen,” she said.

Cebu Divettes

Before “RuPaul’s Drag Race” debuted in 2009, Cebu Divettes was already established in the Cebu gay scene since 2005 as an offspring of Cebu Prime Divas. Much like Lava, they didn’t know what they were doing that time was considered drag.

“That time, we were lost and we didn’t know what we should be labeled as. Now, it’s established that what we were doing all along was actually drag,” Shine Naya recalled.

Piayuuuh credits the Divettes as an inspiration. “I was active in our barangay. Every fiesta, we would invite entertainers like Closet Dolls, Cebu Divettes, and Cebu Prime Divas. Even if I have classes early in the morning and their shows start at 10 pm, I would patiently wait and watch them because I enjoy what they are doing. That’s when I realized I want to do what they were doing too,” she said.

Part of the reason seasoned Cebu drag performers didn’t consider themselves drag queens before was because they were considered entertainers expected to amuse audiences.

“We are placed in a box that drag queens are just for comedies. When they find it funny, they thought it’s not harmful or hateful because they thought we just want to elicit laughs. But it’s not just that because drag performances don’t mean we have to deliver comedy. Drag is an art form. A drag performer is like a painter, a singer, a dancer,” Piayuuuh explained.

“It’s the lack of education on what drag means that is to blame. Like how Shine Naya said that they didn’t know what they were doing was drag because it was new to the Divettes before. That’s where the Cebuano public is at right now. They just need a bit of education and we are here to educate them.”

Shine Naya added, “Our entertainers also need to be educated because we are stuck with the concept that when you perform drag, it’s for laughs. Now it’s different. Even entertainers elevated their looks and make-up. We couldn’t do the makeup we are doing now back in the day because it will scare the audience.”

“Drag is our way to express ourselves and get that inner saboteur telling us we are not good enough,” Maria Lava pointed out.

Future of Cebu Drag

With the increasing presence of drag in Cebu, they are optimistic that more establishments will hire them for events. They are grateful for Quest Hotel’s support to the LGBTQ+ community, for one.

“Aside from their [LGBTQ+] employees, they also have their loyal guests. By inviting us, they open their doors not just for them but also for their employees. I am touched because they treat us like we are really important,” Piayuuuh said.

They hope to see a drag bar set up in Metro Cebu much like Metro Manila’s O Bar and Nectar Nightclub which are popular places for drag performers.

“These drag bars have these queens perform daily like regular employees. Most of the queens there get their daily bookings and that is their way of living. They are able to feed themselves and their families because of drag. That’s the fantasy of Cebu right now. It would be great to have a [drag bar] in Cebu that would accept us,” Piayuuuh added.

While Lava and Piayuuuh plan to further expand their drag careers, the Divettes are more inclined to pass the torch to younger drag queens who will take Cebu drag to the next level.

“Our group has existed for 18 years,” said Shine Naya. “It’s time to give younger queens the fighting spirit and the inspiration.”