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EXCLUSIVE: Drag Race PH’s Turing on how she became a drag queen, shares love for Sharon Cuneta

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Gary Ann Lastrilla

<p>Prior to joining the first season of Drag Race Philippines, Filipino drag queen Turing Quinto was on a different path. In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com"><strong>PUSH</strong></a>, Turing revealed how she got into the drag industry.</p><p>“Drag is actually just an accident,” began the professional drag performer whose life story was featured in an inspiring short film by GCash that was directed by Antoinette Jadaone.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtRNAuVprEF/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A223644.59999990463%2C%22ls%22%3A12414.099999904633%2C%22le%22%3A12427.399999856949%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" 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>“Like, ano lang ‘yan, naghahanap lang talaga ako ng stable job. Kasi I was a struggling artist. So I was doing woodworking back then – gumagawa ako ng furniture. Pero it’s like per commission lang. So kapag walang kumuha, gawa ka lang nang gawa,” she said, adding that she would sell her works through online platforms. “Tapos kapag may bumili, bumili. Kapag may commission, commission. Pero walang stability,” she added.  </p><p>“So, one night, I was with my friends and then my friend was scrolling through Facebook and nakita niya lang, ‘Oh heto, O Bar, nagpapa-audition sila ng drag queen.’</p><p>“I mean alam ko na kung ano ‘yung drag back then pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang drag dito sa Pilipinas. So, sabi ko, ‘Game na ‘yan! Laban na ‘yan! Audition lang naman at performance lang yan. Kaya ko yan!’ Ang naging problema ko lang is how to dance in heels kasi ‘yun ‘yung requirement sa drag na hindi naman ginagawa sa theater. So ‘yun lang yung prinactice ko, inaral ko. Pero yeah, I got in. I trained and yeah, I am an O Diva,” she said.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChbAt3hJgEw/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A223651.29999995232%2C%22ls%22%3A12414.099999904633%2C%22le%22%3A12427.399999856949%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" 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>People may think that drag is an impromptu performance but there’s actually an art behind it that it requires context. The songs and choreographies are well thought of. Turing, for her part, said that her background in theater has helped her in delivering powerful performances.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/6/26/exclusive-drag-race-ph-s-turing-on-the-lgbt-issue-that-needs-to-be-addressed-2152"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Drag Race PH’s Turing on the LGBT+ issue that needs to be addressed</strong></a></div><p>“So, I have a degree in Theater. So it’s basically the same preparation when you study a show, when you study a script. Basically, drag and theater is the same––same fundamentals, same theory. Magkaiba lang talaga sila ng platform or ng entablado. So the way I prepare for a piece or a number or a performance sa drag is basically how I prepare when I study a character, a script, sa theater.</p><p>“So ganoon yung naging proseso ko. I listened to the song first, inaalam ko muna if it’s–kung normal pop song lang siya, madali lang siya kasi walang–aalamin mo lang yung story, kakabisaduhin mo lang yung lyrics, and yung mga nuances, that’s it,” she narrated.</p><p>Agreeing that there is a method or a technique behind it, Turing reiterated the importance of learning the performance rather than just memorizing it. “Kasi mahahalata mo kapag ang isang performer, inaral niya yung kanta niya. Kasi you can easily spot a memorized performance to a learned performance.”</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CskgDRpRCMQ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A223660%2C%22ls%22%3A12414.099999904633%2C%22le%22%3A12427.399999856949%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" 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>Talking more about her life before drag, Turing, aside from joining theater productions, also worked in films including the John Arcilla-starrer Heneral Luna. “Na-try ko na lahat eh–film, commercial, AVP, events, and of course, theater,” she said.</p><p>Talking about the artists that inspired her, Turing mentioned that she is a Sharonian.</p><p>“In drag, I really love Sasha Velour and Bob, the drag queen. Sila ‘yung favorite drag queens ko. Pero kilala niyo sila because of Drag Race pero kilala ko sila bago pa sila maging Drag Race queens. Naghahanap ako sa YouTube, I followed them together with Aja, Evah Destruction… When it comes to theater, Jon Santos. At saka Sharonian ako kasi Sharonian yung nanay ko,” she revealed.</p><p>Has she met Sharon Cuneta in person?</p><p>“Hindi pa nga po eh! Kasi kamukha ko daw siya, may anggulo na kamukha ko. Tapos sa Drag Race, ginawa ko rin Sharon Cuneta. Pero, tawag dito, may isang fan na nag-message sa’kin na ‘Mami, nandito kami sa concert ng K-something. Korean na group…’ Malapit daw sa kanila si Sharon saka si Kakie tapos parang napag-uusapan daw nila ako,” Turing recalled.</p><p>“Kasi si Cherry Pie Picache na kamukha ko talaga, eh may video siya na Boom Turing. Si Sharon ang wala,” she added.</p>

<p>Prior to joining '<i>Drag Race Philippines,'</i> Turing Quinto worked in the theater and film industry.</p>

Prior to joining ' Drag Race Philippines,' Turing Quinto worked in the theater and film industry.