Haus of Rena1ssance aims to ‘elevate’ the Cebu drag scene this 2024

CEBU, Philippines — While Kat Phischeur is responsible for founding the drag collective Haus of Rena1ssance (HoR) in 2023, the drag performer from Cebu panicked at the thought of being called mother of the coop.

“I don’t want to become the mother, to be honest!”, Phischeur  told The FREEMAN in a backstage interview after one of their drag shows. “I don’t even want people to call me mother because I know [of other drag mothers] who have come before me.”

Joining Phischeur in the fold as of January 2024 are fellow Cebu drag queens Letina, Georgina Wales, Ledda Marmalade, Akiko Brown, Leslie Versace, SODA POP, and GIRL.

Even with the hesitation at the label, Phischeur can see why the rest refer to her as de-facto “mother” of HoR.

“I think it was because I founded a group initiative in which drag queens would gather together called Cebu Drag Artists. It was where Cebuana drag artists could gather and get to know each other,” shared Phischeur.

“That initiative from a simple gathering became a platform for Cebuana drag artists and it paved the way for drag here to flourish. We can organize viewing parties, perform on bigger stages, and make noise for Cebu drag.”

Phischeur initially planned to become a fashion designer before realizing that drag could also be one’s bread and butter.

“I started doing drag during the height of the pandemic and it was by chance because I was at a point in my life where I didn’t know what I was going to do. The pandemic gave me a window to pursue drag and that was my start,” said Phischeur.

“What encouraged me was that I could somehow change the landscape of drag in Cebu. I was starting to spend a lot as all of my savings went to drag. I started to buy corsets, makeup, and brushes. I spent so much…why not push for drag instead?”

Rebirth

Cebuano fans of music superstar Beyoncé wonder if the collective got its name from the singer’s latest studio album “RENAISSANCE”, which was seen as her love letter to the LGBTQIA+ community.

“It’s not really named after Beyonce[‘s album]. But we will take the clout! We don’t mind,” Phischeur said.

“Renaissance means rebirth, meaning giving birth to a new era of Cebu drag. Before, drag in Cebu wasn’t recognized. What we mean by ‘new era of drag’ is that it’s now accessible, more recognized, and elevated. We are constantly trying to push boundaries and elevate the Cebu drag scene. We want people to see that Cebuana drag artists can be at par not only nationally, but also internationally, in terms of aesthetics and performances.”

Their recognition within Cebu allowed HoR to perform in various establishments, including at Harrolds Evotel and at the Axis Entertainment and Sports Bar of NUSTAR Resort and Casino, to name a few. They have also bagged endorsement deals, one of which is with Skin 911 Facial and Slimming Centre.

“Having establishments willing to partner with our community is exciting. In that way, it’s going to help us amplify our artistry and voices,” Phischeur continued.

Rena1ssance hopes to showcase that there is more to Cebu drag than comedy – which defined the scene for decades before the emergence of shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” that allowed drag to be seen as multi-faceted.

“A lot of Cebuanos think drag is just one kind of thing because we are accustomed to the idea that we do comedy only. There’s a huge and wide array of drag artists in Cebu that should be celebrated because there’s an abundance of artists waiting to be recognized,” Phischeur said.

“That’s what we are trying to push. Cebu drag is not only comedy, we can do fashion and [performance] concepts. But there is nothing wrong with doing comedy. Some of our queens do comedy and we celebrate it, but we want to show there’s more to drag.”

Plans for 2024

Since its inception last year, HoR has gone through multiple “acts” to establish their current mood as a collective, as well as reiterate their purpose of doing drag and what it means to be part of the sisterhood.

Referring to their start of 2024 as “Act IV - Reformation”, HoR explained on its social media posts, “After their journey towards growth, the queens [will embark] on a period of REFORMATION. Witness as they rise from the ashes of change and radiate in their newfound strength as they welcome their first year as a collective; forging an unbreakable sisterhood.”

Phischeur elaborated, “We have every intent to make sure our presence as a Haus and as artists is felt in Cebu. So you better keep posted because there is no stopping the Haus of Rena1ssance.”

Since January, members of HoR have been performing at NUSTAR’s Axis Bar every Monday at 10 pm, and will hold Valentine-themed drag shows on February 5, 12, 19, and 26.

They also held shows at Ahka Sari-sari Space at Don Julio Llorente Street in Cebu City and at ASMARA Urban Resort & Lifestyle Village in Banilad during Sinulog.

Asked if their plans include joining reality competitions such as “Drag Race Philippines” or “Drag Den with Manila Luzon” to represent Cebu, Phischeur said, “As artists we want our art to be seen by a much wider audience. When the time comes and when destiny permits, there will be an HoR queen representing Cebu on a national level.”