Photo by Monica Da Jose @monicadajose

MANILA — Being a member of the LGBT community from a country known as fans of pageantry, it was a full circle moment for Filipina drag queen Marina Summers to join the spin off series of the hit reality show "RuPaul's Drag Race" as a representative of the Philippines.

Marina was recently announced as one of the contestants of "RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World" season 2. She is the first drag queen from the Philippine franchise to compete in an international edition of the competition series. 

Marina Summers to represent PH in 'RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World' S2

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Marina recalled how Filipino fans raved about her inclusion on the show, which made her feel as though she was a contestant for Miss Universe on par with Filipina winners Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach.

With pageantry fans in the Philippines largely members of the LGBT community, "it feels correct" for Marina that they are finally rooting for a member of the sector.

"Alam mo, actually, pinagtatawanan nga namin kasi nung lumabas 'yung promo for 'UK vs the World' para akong sasali ng Miss Universe, para akong sasali ng pageant, para akong Catriona Gray, para akong Pia Wurtzbach, 'yun pala 'yung feeling," Marina said.

"Ang sarap sa feeling na bakla na ngayon 'yung nakakaramdam kasi kunwari sa Miss Universe, bakla 'yung mga No. 1 fans and to get that support from the same group of people na bakla na rin 'yung sinusuportahan na tama, it feels correct. It feels right na from the queer community for the queer community, 'yun 'yung kurot sa dibdib ko," she said.

With this honor comes responsibility and what it took for Marina is courage to represent the Philippines.

'FILIPINOS MADE ME SAY YES'

After finishing "Drag Race Philippines" season 1 in second place, Marina has been on everyone's lips to join an international franchise.

At first, Marina was somewhat overwhelmed by the clamor, but she was glad that she still had plenty of support after the show.

"Being on 'Drag Race Philippines' is one thing but also getting the support of people after the show... the fact that people want to see more of you not just on Philippine TV but international and even the international fans of 'Drag Race' really want Marina be back onscreen," Marina said.

"To get that support and online clamor was a lot to process but also I feel very honored na na-capture ko 'yung interest ng 'Drag Race' audience, not only in the Philippines but internationally," she added. 

"It was a lot, even on social media, every now and then, actually even before the finale aired, marami nang gusto ng another round for Marina so I'm really, really that I get that amount of support online and on ground."

Having multiple ad campaigns and a music contract with ABS-CBN's Tarsier Records, Marina said that "Drag Race Philippines" really helped them put drag artists at the map of the Philippine entertainment industry.

"'Drag Race Philippines' really catapulted my career into greater heights, not only performing as a drag queen but also as an artist, as a producer, as a director, as a face of different beauty brands and different brands across the country and internationally as well," Marina said.

"It's a great manifestation na drag now is at the forefront of being an image of pride, basically, here in the Philippines, and to be one of those queens to trailblaze this renaissance of Philippine drag, sobrang sarap sa feeling," she added.

It was a lot to process for Marina to join an international franchise but being on various countries made her realize that they have fans outside the Philippines and it would be good to represent the country.

"Siyempre, meron nang mga ad campaigns music deal, for a lot of people they would think na 'kapag sumali ka diyan, it's a loss of income' o like, 'bakit d'yan? wala namang premyo' I mean, 'Drag Race UK' is known for not having a cash prize, at this time around they have," Marina said.

"More than the cash prize and more than the income that comes to it, I think what made me say yes is alam kong it will just boost my career once it airs, mas mag-oopen up 'yung audience that I already have especially travelling abroad in DragCon, mas nakita naman na ok 'yung fans pala ng 'Drag Race Philippines,' hindi lang sa Philippines," she added.

"It bursted a bubble na, okay we're not living in a bubble, talagang mayroon fans out there and for Marina to be seen internationally, I think that's a huge deal not only for myself but Filipino drag in general so when I got [it], sabi ko, yes, let's do it."

It was also a matter of timing for her but when the phone rang, Marina felt that she now has the drive and the momentum -- leading her to say yes and join the show.

"Kasi I've always been ready, even before joining 'Drag Race Philippines,' even before pumasok ako sa first filming namin ng 'Drag Race Philippines,' ang goal ko na is to be seen internationally, I knew it was coming," the drag queen said.

"That's why lahat ng decisions na ginawa ko sa show, the career path that I took even after the show led me to this but 'yung pinaka-question lang lagi (ko) lang iniisip is, 'is it the right time to do it' and I feel na it was the right time," she added. 

"Kasi it was not shortly after 'Drag Race Philippines' when I got the call and I still had the drive, I still had the momentum and people around me, people all around the Philippines wants me to come back and I feel like, yeah, why not, it's the right time."

WEARING THE PHILIPPINES' SASH

Donning a gown inspired by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach which was designed by Albert Andrada, who also made the beauty queen's dress in the said pageant, Marina ensured that she is representing the Philippines with her looks and talent.

"So for this promo, sabi nila sa 'min, prepare a pageant look, so sabi ko, 'ano bang pageant look that screams Filipina?' One of our gay icons is Pia Wurtzbach and alam naman nating lahat na love na love ng Philippines and Miss Universe so I had to carry that love for pageants ng Philippines," Marina said.

"Itong promo look na 'to was also a callback to Pia Wurtzbach, iconic moment in Miss Universe where she wore a blue dress the one who made is the same designer who made her dress, it's Sir Albert Andrada na nung ni-present namin sa kanya 'yung concept yes agad siya so I'm really, really happy not only because it get to show Marina na mas pulido fully realized but also represent Filipino queer artistry from the designers to hair styling and basically Filipino queer art," she added.

In "Drag Race Philippines" season 1, Marina stuck to her own brand as an artist. This time around, it was different as she was carrying the country like a sash.

"In the Philippines, nahirapan ako kasi alam naman natin sa Philippines, we're a very humble country, let's admit that, internationally mas nailabas ko, naibuka ko 'yung personality ni Marina as a superstar, I'm really, really excited," the drag queen said.

"Ever since naman I've always wanted to display excellence, andoon pa rin 'yun 'yung excellence, I think, in terms of like TV and in terms of like how I presented Marina this time, it's All Stars kasi, it's a different ball game, hindi lang siya basta labanan ng talent, labanan siya ng star power, labanan siya ng mileage, labanan siya ng personality, so it's more than just talent, they are looking for a superstar, so I had to display that," she added.

"International level 'tong competition, I had to make sure that everything, from the runways are all on an international level and also bilang we are different queens from different countries, I have to represent an entire nation and there's a responsibility that comes with that." 

For Marina, being Filipina became her best asset and she pulled a lot of strength and inspiration from that reality going into the competition.

"All in all, when it comes to the runway and representing Marina's image this time, siyempre ako lang 'yung galing sa Pilipinas and I'm competing with tall girls, white girls, international (queens) who speaks English or like a foreign language, my best asset is being Filipina and 'yun 'yung maiintindihan ng people back home or back here and I would like to introduce the Filipino culture, being Filipino on an international scale so dapat lahat ng runways, lahat ng ipapakita ko, screams Filipina," Marina said.

"I really wanted to represent the Philippines this time kasi nung first season ko nung 'Drag Race Philippines' it's all about Marina eh and what her brand is but this time, I had to make sure na I am going there with a bigger purpose, that I am representing not only Marina but 106 million Filipinos I'm still not sure if that's accurate but still not a scientist," she added.

"I represent Filipinos not only here in the Philippines but abroad as well kasi parang meron akong ganoon feeling eh na nung lumipad ako, pumunta ako ng UK, alam mo 'yung feeling ng mga Filipino na nag-abroad para kang nanliliit ako but I had that Filipino-ness in me and that's my strength, doon ako humuhugot na para kanino ko ba ginagawa 'to." 

WHY PH REPRESENTATION MATTERS

As she competes on the international stage, Marina hopes that her story will resonate with the audience -- especially the Filipinos.

"This time around, 'yung importance of being represented as a Filipino queer artist, a Filipino drag queen in front of RuPaul. Let's admit it, 'Drag Race' is one of the most successful TV show across the globe and it's watched by people of different ages, hindi na lang LGBTQ+ ang nanonood nito, so for me to be the first Filipina to actually represent the Philippines on an international scale as a homegrown Filipina with brown skin, maliit, mapayat, itim ang buhok, itim ang mata," the drag queen said. 

"Ang sarap-sarap sa feeling na ngayon, the whole Philippines, the whole country is behind my back to support me in this journey. Through and through, Marina is the quintessential Filipina performer, Filipina queen and I wanna bring that with me on an international scale and to have an entire country supporting that and validating that is just amazing," she added.

The drag queen is hopeful that the show would also open doors to other Filipino queer artists and more opportunities would come for them in the future.

"Not only does it represent our culture, it boosts the Filipino queer artists na nandito eh, nakaka-boost siya ng confidence na kaya pala natin, pwede pala, may chance pala, pwede rin pala nating gawin 'yun. We just need one person to do it first," Marina said.

"I hope this open a lot of doors for a lot of Filipino drag queens to just see themselves on an international scale na hindi lang tayo pang-Pilipinas kasi Filipinos are arguably one of the best performers in the entire world. Alam ko 'yan. We just need to take our space talaga, we need to show up," she added.

As the show airs, Marina will also be hosting viewing parties and be with other members of the LGBT community in the Philippines.

"Mag-ingay tayo sa social media, iparamdam natin sa kanila ang kamandag ng mga Pilipino in terms of social media presence pero apart from that they could also come to my shows where I host viewing parties," Marina said. 

"Ang sarap sa feeling na manood ng episode kasama 'yung sangkabaklaan eh, para siyang laban ni Pacquiao, para siyang laban sa Miss Universe na every week mangyayari, I'm really, really excited for that," she added.

"I hope people extend this support, this love for Marina sa ating mga local queens dito sa Pilipinas kasi they are as important as Marina kasi ako, ako lang 'yung representative but what I represent is them."

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