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Manila Luzon says Pinoy drag queens are ‘the best drag in the world’

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Rhea Manila Santos

<p>After crowning Naia as the first Drag Supreme of Prime Video’s hit Filipino reality competition show Drag Den with Manila Luzon earlier this month, host Manila Luzon revealed her initial feelings after flying into the country to do the show.</p><p>“I was so excited because I was ready to learn, I was ready to be the outsider. I was the eyes of the rest of the world coming in and watching real Filipino drag and not just a copy of what’s some other country is doing with their drag. I had to unlearn what I learned. I had to unlearn in order to judge these queens.&quot; she recalled.</p><p>&quot;I’m really, really proud that I could give back to the drag community using my audience around the world that I have made over these years and to now shine the spotlight unto these queens and to the Filipino LGBT, trans, and drag community here. It’s an honor for me, I take it very seriously, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment,” she added.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnywirYPOBQ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3541392.899999857%2C%22ls%22%3A3541242%2C%22le%22%3A3541244.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="751" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnywirYPOBQ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A3541406.7000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A3541242%2C%22le%22%3A3541244.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="751" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/1/27/naia-crowned-as-first-drag-supreme-of-drag-den-philippines-1423"><u><strong></strong></u><strong></strong><strong>READ: NAIA crowned as first ‘Drag Supreme’ of Drag Den Philippines</strong><strong></strong><u><strong></strong></u></a></div><p>After doing Drag Den, the Fil-Am international drag admitted she was impressed with the local drag community.</p><p>“I have learned that drag in the Philippines is the best drag in the world. I had no idea how good the drag was here. I know that the Philippines is jam-packed with entertainers, dancers, singers, comedians, and I’m so happy that we’re now opening up a new category for Filipino entertainment that is drag,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;The drag out here is beyond anything. I’ve traveled the world. I’ve performed with some of the most famous drag queens and none of them compare to the queens here. Their dedication, their talent, their beauty of course, and I’ve learned how much dedication and love that they have for what they do,&quot; she added.</p><p>&quot;And I’m so proud to be able to showcase that and let my audience that I’ve garnered over the years around the world get to see how amazing the drag is out here. And also to showcase it to the Filipino people who might not have known everything about drag. And now I’m so excited that everyone here is intrigued and entertained by our queens,” she continued.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnzdBhMyMXk/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3541414.2000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A3541242%2C%22le%22%3A3541244.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2022/9/22/fresh-scoops/manila-luzon-excited-about-the-future-of-drag-ph-202558"><strong>READ: International drag queen Manila Luzon excited about the future of drag in the Philippines</strong></a></div><p>Having grown up abroad, Manila Luzon revealed how much of an adjustment it was to learn about the local culture.</p><p>“It was definitely a challenge. But a challenge that I welcomed whole-heartedly. I have been so intrigued by my mother’s homeland for so long that to come here and to get a front-row seat and to see this firsthand the power of the Filipino people and the Filipino LGBT and drag and trans community, is so moving to me. It took me to watching it on Prime Video to actually understand the things that these queens were saying and all that they were saying were true to them,&quot; she explained.</p><p>Manila Luzon also reiterated how proud she is of the Filipino drag community, saying it inspires her to them entertain and make people happy amid the challenges Filipinos go through every day.</p><p>&quot;Their stories need to be told and I’m so proud that every one of these queens over here went on to international television and to tell their stories, I am inspired and I am so proud to say that so many people watching them are also inspired. It makes me proud to be Filipino and there are so many challenges that Filipino people face and that the LGBT and trans community here face, and I’m so happy that we were able to express themselves in a true and entertaining way,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2022/11/17/fresh-scoops/drag-den-ph-announces-the-eight-drag-queens-203844"><strong>READ: ‘Drag Den Philippines’ announces the eight drag queens joining the competition<br/></strong></a></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cnyw_qsgFH6/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A3543002.0999999046%2C%22ls%22%3A3541242%2C%22le%22%3A3541244.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>The international drag queen also revealed her favorite new Tagalog word is during the recent Drag Den press conference.</p><p>“My favorite is charot and all the reiterations of charot, chariz, chars. I love all of them. Because we love to joke and sometimes it’s hard to get your point across and let people know that you’re joking. Look at me, I’m a man and I’m wearing a wig and high heel shoes and makeup. You can’t take me too seriously. So I love charot. I’m still learning,” she admitted.</p><p>Now that the first season of Drag Den is done, Manila Luzon shared her hopes for the drag community in the country as well as how the show has changed her.</p><p>“I’m so excited for everyone involved in the show including the people that are watching because this is changing entertainment here in the Philippines. And I am so proud to watch all of them shine so bright and inspire so many people including myself. These queens have taught me so much about family, about love, about crazy silliness, and determination. These queens are going to have a very, very successful careers in drag moving forward and I’m so excited for all the people that they will inspire,” she saod.</p><p>Drag Den with Manila Luzon is produced by CS Studios, series creator and director Rod Singh and Antoinette Jadaone of Project 8 Projects.</p><p>All episodes of Drag Den with Manila Luzon are now available for streaming on Prime Video.</p>

<p>Manila Luzon talked about how impressed she was to discover the talent in the LGBTQ, trans, and drag communities in the country.</p>

Manila Luzon talked about how impressed she was to discover the talent in the LGBTQ, trans, and drag communities in the country.