Shining with glam and aesthetic, the local spinoff of the Emmy-winning US reality competition RuPaul’s Drag Race arrived here in the Philippines last August. Hosted by Paolo Ballesteros, Fifth Solomon directs the powerhouse production. Meanwhile, Ice Seguerra and  Arnel Natividad are the directors that handle the challenges given to the contestants. 

Apart from the team, the program is co-produced by World of Wonder and Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc. The show airs every Wednesday on WOWPresents Plus, Discovery+ and HBO Go in the Philippines. On an international scale, Crave Canada and WOWPresents Plus televise Drag Race Philippines.

With its star-studded judges, including Nadine Lustre and Pia Wurtzbach, together with a phenomenal production team, the netizens raved about the series. Landing a spot on the trending list on Twitter every week, Drag Race Philippines captured the hearts of its viewers worldwide. 

Aside from their fans online, some actors like Vice Ganda expressed support for the show. In an interview, the comedian mentioned that the series is a massive win for the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community. “Tuwing may lalabas na bagong episode, parang may Miss Universe na nagaganap. Gising na gising, buhay na buhay ang mga bakla, ang buong komunidad,” Vice said. 

As the queens continue to battle for the title of being crowned as the first Filipino “Drag Race Superstar,” their supporters rally behind them, undyingly showing their admiration for their favorite contestant. 

It is undeniable that Drag Race Philippines is making its mark on Philippine culture. This show is a stepping stone for the community to be more accepted and loved. Furthermore, it aids in changing the representation of  LGBTQIA+  in media, where they always play a comedic role. Like the “president” Nadine Lustre’s wise words in 2017, “C’mon guys! It’s 2022!”  It is about time we give a platform to these talented people and let them showcase the beauty and art of drag.