Today is not a day to rest.
More than just remembering those who have passed, our dearly departed remain a living call and struggle for justice for the voices that are forcibly silenced.
One example of this is the world of drag, which stands as a stronghold of protest and a symbol of liberation. Despite attempts to confine it within the walls of commercialism and entertainment, drag is a meaningful art form that asserts the space for freedom of speech and expression.
Every space where drag artists perform—whether at celebrations, bars, or in small communities—serves as a stage for resistance.
Maxie and her call for justice for victims of EJK
Maxie Andreison was crowned the champion of Drag Race Philippines Season 3.
In Maxie’s recent Instagram post, the drag queen called for justice for victims of extrajudicial killings in the bloody war on drugs.
“It is not enough that the dead scare us this Halloween. People who are alive and can kill are more frightening – people in power but with no accountability, hiding in the shadows of the violence of the law,” Maxie said.
On October 28, former President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his brutal drug war, confirmed before the Senate the existence of the Davao Death Squad under his direction since 2016.
Former Philippine National Police (PNP) generals, including Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and others, were implicated after his confession.
“Let us not forget the innocent people who perished in the war on drugs; their memories are the real ghosts asking for justice,” Maxie added.
Despite years of denying a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy, Duterte’s testimony challenges a pattern of calculated power and fearmongering antices used as a governance tool to silence opposition and maintain control. However, amid these revelations, Duterte, alongside his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte, continues to evade accountability and mock the law.
According to the rights group Karapatan, over 30,000 individuals have fallen victim to EJK during Duterte’s controversial drug war. This figure is four times higher than the government’s official count, which claims approximately 6,000 people were killed in the crackdown.
Unkabogable political statement
In 2022, drag artists Marina Summers, Eva Le Queen, and Viñas Deluxe stunned the UnkabogaBALL party hosted by LGBTQIA+ icon Vice Ganda to celebrate the rich tapestry of Filipino LGBTQIA+ culture and identity in the entertainment industry.
Themed Philippine Herstory, the drag queens became head-turners not only because of their elegant and stunning outfits but also for the political statement they embodied.
Drag Race PH season 1 runner-up and RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs The World season 2 finalist Marina Summers transformed into Imelda Marcos, her hair styled in a big bun and an elegant white terno gown adorned with blood-like handprints down to the fringes of her skirt. She completed the ensemble with a single glove that appeared to be dripping red, shimmering blood.
Notably, Marina’s gown also featured an attached speaker that played the sounds of people crying as she walked down the red carpet, adding an emotional layer to her statement.
Marina’s stylist Paul Sese shared her photos on social media accompanied by the poignant hashtag #NeverForget.
In a light-hearted response to a comment about her jewelry, she remarked, “It’s not stolen; mine is authentic.”
Marina’s impactful performance earned her the title of “Unkabogable Star of the Night,” along with a cash prize of P100,000. On X (formerly Twitter), Marina described her drag as a crucial part of Philippine history that “they are trying to conceal with glamour and misinformation.”
During her Drag Race stint, Marina also portrayed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) in the ‘Snatch Game’ episode. She even released a vlog, sporting GMA’s look while under a four-year hospital arrest for plunder charges: the mole, aquamarine suit, and a neck brace, titled “Breaking My Silence, My Truth, I’m Sorry,” referencing the infamous wiretap scandal about the 2004 presidential elections.
“Hello Garci, will I still lead by one million?” Marina asked as her political jab. When told that the video was rolling, she quickly interjected, “One million TikTok followers?”
On the other hand, Drag Race PH runner-up and RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars contender Eva Le Queen dazzled in an all-black haute couture inspired by Kim Kardashian’s MET Gala outfit in 2021.
More than just the inspiration, Eva showcased the ABS-CBN shutdown in her look.
“I may not have eaten, but the message was heard loud and clear. Never forget,” Eva tweeted.
Still under the Duterte administration, ABS-CBN was ordered to stop its broadcast operations in May 2020. The media giant was forced to close 53 regional radio and TV stations (or 21 regional stations) and retrench more than 4,000 workers by the end of August 2020 due to financial losses.
Meanwhile, Drag Race PH Season 1 contender and dubbed the “Pambansang Misis,” Viñas DeLuxe, paid homage to the GomBurZa priests Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora in a drag version.
Viñas wore a dramatic black dress adorned with a rope around her neck and arms, alongside two mannequin heads that represented her fellow Divine Divas sisters, Precious Paula Nicole and Brigiding, also draped in ropes.
The GomBurZa priests were executed at Bagumbayan through garrote or strangulation by Spanish authorities on February 17, 1872, for conviction of treason and sedition and for “supporting” the Cavite mutiny.
The priests incurred the hatred of Spanish authorities for fighting for equal rights among priests and leading the campaign against the Spanish friars. They fought on the issues of secularization in the Philippines, which led to the conflict of religious and secular authorities.
Conservatism and lawfare
Despite the relentless attacks on their character, Pura Luka Vega has remained steadfast in their stance on the right to express and choose their faith.
In November 2022, Pura Luka Vega gained recognition as a contestant on the first season of Drag Den.
Pura faced backlash and legal battles after performing as a religious figure, especially in the rock remix of the “Ama Namin” song while in a Jesus-inspired outfit, which sparked controversy over the intertwining of faith and LGBTQIA+ identity.
Having been arrested twice, in October 2023 and again in February 2024, Pura faced three counts of violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) which penalizes “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows,” after their performance was allegedly cited for “bordering” on profanity, blasphemy, and sacrilege. Eighteen provinces, cities, and towns also declared Pura as persona non grata.
The court has set bail at P360,000 for the case.
Meanwhile, a Tacloban court resolved and dismissed one of the sets of Article 201 complaints against Pura citing “the intent on the part of the person is taken into consideration, and taken as a whole, the performance in question has serious literary, artistic, or scientific value.”
The resolution noted that the complaint failed to prove the material was obscene and that the respondent sold, exhibited, published, or gave away such material. The prosecutor further believed that Pura’s performance had serious literary, artistic, or scientific value against what is stated in the fine and that the complaint must necessarily fail.
Various LGBTQIA+ and human rights groups condemned the ongoing harassment and threats against Pura following the conservative religious stance and the climate of censorship and legal battles surrounding them.
“For countless times, as a queer person, I’ve had people use the Bible as a weapon against us, and now we have laws that are used, the same thing, as weapons against us,” said Pura.
Many groups drew comparisons between Pura and self-proclaimed pastor and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Apollo Quiboloy, who has been linked to political figures, including Rodrigo Duterte, and is wanted in the United States on various charges, including sex trafficking of children, as well as force, fraud, and coercion including bulk cash smuggling.
While claiming to be the “Appointed Son of God,” Quiboloy has drawn skepticism and criticism from various sectors.
Kabataan Partylist’s Raoul Manuel said this sends an ironic message about how controversial performances can be penalized to the fullest extent of the law.
“While individuals who claim to be God himself, like Apollo Quiboloy, despite exploiting women and children in a sex trafficking scheme, remain beyond the reach of justice. Moreover, P360,000 is being fined for the ‘immoral’ performance of Pura Luka Vega, which did not directly intend to harm innocent civilians, but only P30,000 is being fined against red-tagging queen Lorraine Badoy’s threat to kill a judge and bomb judges’ offices,” Manuel added.
Dragging down freedom
Drag artists like Maxie, Eva, Viñas, Pura, and others continuously maximize their platform to engage and critique the status quo. In doing so, they also honor the memories of those who have suffered and perished at the hands of systemic violence and oppression.
The rise of drag artistry, however, is still marred by constraints. The real question lies in how society has arrived at a point where artistic expressions can be stifled by conservative outrage and lawfare.
In the face of the ongoing struggle for the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill, it remains unpassed despite being filed in Congress for over two decades.
Beyond the overt authoritarianism since the Martial Law era down to the heinous and bloody Duterte drug war and state neglect under the Marcos Jr. administration, it is imperative that the protection and promotion of artistic freedom is realized to ensure the voices of the oppressed are amplified and their stories remembered.
As we remember those who have fought and suffered, we must also commit to continuing and supporting vibrant expressions that call for truth, justice, and accountability.
Indeed, today is not a day to rest. Each performance, every voice raised in defiance, is a step toward a more just society.
