Cover Filipino drag queen Brigiding lit up the stage at Rampa Drag Club on September 17 during the ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ Episode 6 viewing party (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Filipino drag queen Brigiding lit up the stage at Rampa Drag Club on September 17 during the ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ Episode 6 viewing party (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
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On Rampa and on television, Brigiding shows that drag in the Philippines is a cultural force and not just mere entertainment
Rampa Drag Club was buzzing with excitement on a Wednesday night. Neon lights bled across the walls. Sequins glinted under the strobes. Basslines from the DJ rippled through the crowd. It was especially so when our well-loved drag queens came out one by one. Every performance, and the subsequent cheer, carried the weight of joy and, dare I say it, frenzy and madness. Hosted by Buknoy Gonzales, the night had the air of a festival and the closeness of family—long-time fans pressed in shoulder to shoulder with casual onlookers. A fun get-together. A fortuitous gathering.
And on the stage with her fellow queens Viñas Deluxe, Khianna, Captivating Katkat, Minty Fresh, Shewarma, Odasha and Misua stood Brigiding, radiant in the afterglow of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’s latest episode. It was Snatch Game night (or rather—Snatch Elections night), a challenge that had once haunted her reputation, and yet here she was: steady and by her own measure, more honest than ever.
“Napaka-emotional ng episode na ito. Dito sa episode na ito ako pinaka-nagheal [This episode was very emotional. It’s where I healed the most],” she said backstage after the show. “Through the competition, I was able to rediscover who I am.‘Yon pa lang, panalo na ako [That alone is already a win for me].”
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Above Brigiding brought the house down at Rampa Drag Club during the ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ Episode 6 viewing party (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Brigiding brought the house down at Rampa Drag Club during the ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ Episode 6 viewing party (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
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Watching herself on-screen portraying Nobel laureate Maria Ressa, she admitted to a mix of self-awareness and humour.
“Habang pinapanood ko ‘yong episode, first line pa lang ni Maria Ressa—umiiyak na ako. First line pa lang, parang nakuha na siya agad. Ako mismo, natatawa ako sa sarili ko. Pero doon bumuhos lahat ng effort, lahat ng realisation, na effort ko ‘to—pinaghirapan ko lahat ng ito sa competition. Ang sarap ma-realise siya sa harap ng lahat, sa harap ng judges [As I was watching the episode, I was already in tears from Maria Ressa’s very first line. It felt like it hit me right away. I was even laughing at myself. But that was when all the effort and realisations came pouring out—that this was my work, all the hard work I poured into the competition. It was so rewarding to recognise that in front of everyone, in front of the judges].”
As to why she chose the journalist, Brigiding explained that it was about aligning with her branding and choosing a character worthy of an “All Stars” level performance, someone who fit into what she called “the grander scheme of things.” It also had to be someone who resonated with her values. “Makakaintindi ang mga makakaintindi [Those who get it, will get it.]”
The contrast between her past and present weighed heavily in our conversation. On her debut season, she admits she arrived unprepared. “Hindi ako handa. Hindi ako nakapag-prepare. Naging mayabang ako—I took it lightly [I wasn’t ready. I didn’t prepare. I was arrogant; I took it lightly],” she confessed.
“Basically, hindi puwede iyon. This time, talagang pinaghandaan ko. Kailangan matuto sa nangyari no’ng una. I spent most of my time preparing [Basically, that doesn’t work. This time, I really prepared. I had to learn from what happened the first time. I spent most of my time preparing].”
It shows. In Slaysian Royale, even a casual viewer can see how Brigiding now radiates with intention. Her drag is no longer in search of definition; it is anchored in her own name, her own self. “Parang hindi ko na kailangan i-explain ang Brigiding brand [I don’t think I need to explain the Brigiding brand]. I think it’s just my name—it’s just me, the drag that I do. That’s the brand. I do not need to explain; you have to see it and experience it for yourself.”
Still, she refuses to frame this return as redemption. “I don’t intend for this to be a redemption story. I just want to have fun and make new memories,” she said firmly. “Kung maredeem ko man ang sarili ko [If I redeem myself], thank you. Pero ang importante [But what’s important], I opened myself to new challenges, new experiences, taking the risk, being courageous enough to show up for my older self.”
Her voice cracked as she recalled moments of doubt. “Umiyak talaga ako, as in totoo. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, naging mayabang ako noon. Pero narealise ko, hindi ako handa. So ngayon, kailangan kong matuto. Kahit mahirap, kahit masakit, kahit tumagal ng tatlong taon bago makabalik—ito na ang panahon para patunayan ko kahit sa sarili ko lang [I really cried, truly. I told myself, I was arrogant then. But I realised, I wasn’t prepared. So now, I need to learn. Even if it’s hard, even if it hurts, even if it took three years to come back—this is the time to prove myself, even if only to me].”
Above Brigiding with Khianna with a K and Viñas Deluxe at Rampa Drag Club (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Above Full house at Rampa Drag Club for ‘Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale’ Episode 6 viewing party (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Brigiding with Khianna with a K and Viñas Deluxe at Rampa Drag Club (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
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Brigiding is deeply aware of the grind of drag—10 years of performing before and after the pandemic, balancing the applause with the solitude backstage, constantly chasing the next show. But her pride rests not only in personal success. “Noon, ginagawa ko ang drag para sa sarili ko, sa pamilya ko, para sa mga followers. Pero ngayon, natutunan ko na ang pinakamahalaga [Before, I did drag for myself, for my family, for my followers. But now, I’ve realised what matters most], I get to share the platform with my kids, with the future of the community and to the future of drag,” she said.
“We’re pushing boundaries. We have Rampa, a platform for queens to hone their craft. I produce shows to help queens express themselves and to give them platforms, para mas maintindihan ng tao na ang drag ay trabaho, among others,” she says. “Ang sarap sa feeling na chinachampion natin ang drag [It feels so rewarding to be championing drag] for it to be more understood. Hindi lang ito basta nagbabaklaan o nagtatawanan [It’s not just fooling around or laughing]. There’s a deeper meaning to it—kung bakit natin ito ginagawa, at kung paano natin ito minamahal [why we do this, and how we love it].”
And perhaps that is Brigiding’s win in Slaysian Royale—that beyond the looks and challenges, she has come to embody drag as both craft and conviction. She has weathered doubt, and even arrogance, only to return with a steadier sense of self and a deeper commitment to community. When asked to describe herself in a single word as a drag artist, she did not hesitate: she is “a royalty of her own”. It was her truth, a title earned through grace and her commitment to self and to the community she champions.
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Credits
Interview: Chris Palentino; Jove Moya; Angela Nicole Guiral
Images: couresty of Team Brigiding
Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
