The Pinoy Drag scene is ready to Shantay-You-Stay with two sickening Drag shows coming into the country: Drag Den with Manila Luzon and Drag Race Philippines.
In June 2021, Manila Luzon announced her interest in starting a reality TV drag competition in the Philippines. Weeks later, Pinoy fans received the announcement of Drag Den with Manila Luzon airing on the WeTV channel.
However, RuPaul shocked Drag Race fans on August 17, 2021, with the ‘sickening’ announcement for the auditions of Drag Race Philippines through WOW Presents Plus’ Twitter account.
Calling all glamazons! 🇵🇭 #DragRacePHL is coming to @wowpresentsplus, so if you think you have what it takes to become the Philippines' First Drag Superstar, apply today at https://t.co/I6116wQ21x 👑
Save 16% with a yearly #WOWPresentsPlus subscription, sign up/upgrade today!✨ pic.twitter.com/X9A3Agkrod
— WOW Presents Plus (@wowpresentsplus) August 16, 2021
Fans of Drag Race tweeted their mixed reactions on social media.
Whether it be Drag Den with Manila Luzon or Drag Race Philippines, I am just excited to see my drag queen friends to take up the space they deserve. Mga Sis galingan niyo ha! I am rooting you for all of you to win and shine. Hikhikhik.
Laban mga baklang twoah!
— Ate Dick (Inah Evans) (@_AteDick) August 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/laurenssshhh/status/1427307649473814528
Some even started pitting the shows against each other with some shady remarks.
https://twitter.com/villegaskrishna/status/1427470692702851073
https://twitter.com/jraquamarine/status/1427427256356401152
https://twitter.com/DAMlANRBLX/status/1427306965378600961
https://twitter.com/thebullfrog__/status/1427305316723482624
Drag Den with Manila Luzon Drag Race Philippines with RuPaul pic.twitter.com/3X0MC7VO0j
— Meh (@Spilling_The_T) August 16, 2021
https://twitter.com/ianjereth/status/1427302306052071426
Manila Luzon after Wowpresents announce the new DragRace Philippines Franchise#DragRacePHL pic.twitter.com/SEnVVZE4AK
— Gothim (@gayoftheyear69) August 16, 2021
https://twitter.com/roitinaja/status/1427559989279793152
Manila Luzon to RuPaul and Wow Presents after they announce the new DragRace Philippines Franchise#DragRacePHL pic.twitter.com/NC12kiDGqV
— Archer Polachek (@archerxcx) August 17, 2021
Some also went on social media to share their opinions on who should host Drag Race Philippines.
Regardless of what people say, Vice Ganda would be the perfect host for Drag Race Philippines. Vice is literally the biggest drag artist we have right now. Vice made drag, acceptable to the masses. And drag is embedded in Vuce's undeniable success. @vicegandako #DragRacePHL pic.twitter.com/hL8XPzEypt
— Felix Gervacio (@writingfelix) August 17, 2021
For me Paolo Ballesteros @pochoy_29 is the right fit host in Drag Race Philippines 🙌 Labaarrrnn Mama#DragRacePHL #DragRace pic.twitter.com/Kfa9DrHJrz
— Ubemiles09 (@ubemiles09) August 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/Ymir_Ekito/status/1427305318724161536
However, as Manila Luzon’s tweet implies, having two Drag competitions on TV will only benefit the Pinoy viewers, especially the LGBTQIA+ community in the country.
This is MAJOR! The Philippines is going to have TWO drag reality shows on TV! 🇵🇭❤️ @dragdenph & @dragraceph pic.twitter.com/EtWWS5TsId
— Manila Luzon (@manilaluzon) August 16, 2021
