Before we actually discuss the Filipino version of drag race, let us first know the origin of the word “drag”, because reading is what? FUNDAMENTAL.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “drag” has existed since at least 1388, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that it was used in connection with performing in clothes or a persona different from your own gender.

In 1870, the Reynolds Newspaper in the United Kingdom printed the word in a gender-bending context in reference to a party invitation. “‘We shall come in drag,’ which means men wearing women’s costumes,”.

This definition originated in the theatre of the late 1800s, where male performers wore petticoats to perform as women. Their petticoats would drag on the floor, and so they referred to dressing up as women as “putting on their drags.”

The 2000s made way for the definition of “drag” to broaden from rigidly being about “realness” to a more expansive art form for gay men, trans folks, queer women, and more.

In March 23^rd, 2009, RuPaul's Drag Race, hosted by the Emmy-winning host, RuPaul, premiered on Logo TV. It is an award-winning American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race Franchise that documents RuPaul in the search for "America’s Next Drag Superstar."

RuPaul’s Drag Race already has twelve seasons, five seasons for RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (season five is coming on June 6^th), one season for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, two seasons for Drag Race Thailand, and an upcoming season for Canada’s Drag Race. But still, we have not yet seen a Filipino franchise of Drag Race to showcase our talented local Drag Queens like the legendary ones such as Manila Luzon, Ongina, or Jiggly Caliente.

Filipino fans’ suggestions for the Pinoy version of Drag Race:

Filipino Drag Race fans believe that Philippines is very creative and ready enough for the Pinoy version of drag race. They can perform the house down and bring the lip-syncing for your life to a whole new level.

And actually, to make the producer’s life easier in making the Drag Race in the country happen, we already have different ideas and versions of the iconic Drag Race challenge for the Philippines’ own franchise of the show.

Pinay Stars: The Unauthorized Rusical

The original Rusical is always an autobiographical musical about a successful artist in America like Madonna, and Cher. So it’s going to be an eleganza extravaganza to see the Pinoy Drag Race contestants play an authobiography musical about Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Superstar Nora Aunor, Diamond Star Maricel Soriano and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos, the four pillars of the past generation’s Philippine showbiz industry.

Superheroes of Drag

Back in the early 2000’s, fantasy was the reigning genre in the Philippine television that gave us Krystala, Volta, Marina, Mulawin, Darna, Dyosa, Dyesebel, and Wonder Twins. It would be a great way to see the Drag queens showcasing their creativity and eye for design by recreating these local superheroes, or local villains such as Valentina (Darna’s villain) and Icy (Captain Barbell’s villain)

Philippine Island Ball

Based on the original ball challenges in the competition that is made to test the contestants’ talent for style, design and also their creativity. With three categories/looks in one challenge that may be about Filipino festivities and delicacies will definitely going to showcase every Drag Queen’s charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.

Snatch Game

The most popular and much-awaited challenge in every season, the Snatch Game! It is a challenge that’s made to impersonate any celebrity or prominent person. And in the Philippines, there are actually a lot of big personalities that are perfect for Drag Queens to portray like Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda, Ai-ai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo, Gary Valenciano, etc.

Lip-sync For Your Life

For those who are really fond into watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, this is always the part that we all are waiting for, to see the two contestants who are at the bottom to lip-sync for their lives. Of course, we are ready for that! There are actually quite a lot of pop songs in the Philippines that are best to dance and lip-sync to, such as Sexbomb Dancer’s Halukay Ube and Spaghetti, Kilometro, and the very iconic Tala by Sarah G., and Chuva Choo Choo by Jolina Magdangal.

And just in case you’re still not convinced how ready we are for the franchise, Karlo Victoriano, a motion graphic artist in the Philippines, already has created a Philippine Drag Race version of its opening billboard. Check the link below!