THERE is no doubt that the internet played a big part in drag becoming mainstream in the Philippines. It is now a cultural phenomenon and source of entertainment, aside from being a political statement about gay rights and human rights in general.
Drag artists don’t just perform in gay bars and clubs. They are everywhere, from the Araneta Coliseum to beauty and fashion events. Their faces can be seen in the campaigns of global brands.
Filipino drag artists are now known across the region and around the world as great performers and queens.
Precious Paula Nicole, who won Drag Race Philippines Season 1, recently took on the role of Sampaguita in the short film Lip Sync Assassin and bagged the Best Lead Performance award in the 2025 CinePride Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.
Jon Galvez, the film’s director, also got the Best Director award in the festival, which was a celebration of LGBTQIA+ stories, highlighting queer artists and filmmakers on a global stage. This year’s films featured international drag legends BenDelaCreme, Monét X Change, and Jinkx Monsoon.
In Lip Sync Assassin, Precious Paula Nicole plays Sampaguita, a drag queen who moonlights as a hired assassin to provide for her daughter, her sick mother, and her drag children.
Galvez, even when he was writing the script, always thought that Nicole would be perfect for the movie.
‘Complex nga ‘yung character ni Sampaguita
pero kailangan puno siya ng puso kasi willing siyang
ibigay ang lahat lahat para sa pamilya. And meron din
akong nakitang parang magic kay Precious even when I was following her career in Drag Race na ‘yun eh all heart lagi ang binibigay niya [I followed Precious’
areer since Drag Race and I saw this magic in her. I knew she had heart and that’s what is needed to play this role].’
In a mediacon and special screening for Lip Sync Assassin, Precious revealed that she manifested the opportunity and got the call from Galvez two weeks later.
‘Kasi siyempre hiniling ko siya eh, so bakit ko siya tatanggihan? Tsaka may nakapagsabi kasi sa akin na friend ko na kapag may in-offer sa iyo, huwag kang magno-no. Dapat laging yes, kasi hindi naman daw ibibigay sa iyo kung di mo kaya. Kung iyan, pag nandiyan ka na, kapag di mo kaya, di bahala ka na [I manifested it so I said yes. A friend once told me to never say to job offers. Also, I think it wouldn’t have been offered to me if I could not do it].’
For Precious, acting is not just a new channel for her to show her talent and artistry but a path toward a different journey.
‘To be honest po, nung nailabas na itong Slaysian Royal ng mga kapatid ko, ng mga Divine Divas [Viñas Deluxe and Brigiding] parang naka-feel ako na parang baka mamaya left out ako, alam mo yun?
‘Parang, baka makalimutan na po ng mga tao kasi may panibago ng show na inaabangan. So noong nag-episode one na, napi-feel ko talaga siya na parang, ‘Ay, hindi na ako yung priority ng mga fans kasi siyempre wala naman ako dun sa show.’ Pero siyempre, hindi ko naman siya tini-take as negative.
‘Kumbaga, parang sabi ko nga na tapos na siguro yung time ko to show my talent sa drag kasi parang, ayun na, naipanalo ko na siya [I honestly felt a bit left out because of Slaysian Royale but I didn’t take it negatively. Instead, I saw it as a sign for me to explore other opportunities].’
With drag queens now landing major endorsement deals and starring in mainstream television commercials, films and TV shows, what’s next?
In a previous interview with GMA Network, drag queen Brigiding attributes the rise of drag in the Philippines to the pandemic.
‘It was when all of us lost our jobs, so we started performing through livestreams. The move to online allowed drag to become more accessible to Filipinos, unlike before, when drag was only seen in nightclubs.’
So, yes, drag has come so far in the Philippines but there is still a long road ahead for our beloved drag performers.