Drag Race PH' pays homage to Golden Gays in touching makeover challenge episode

If there's anything that separates "Drag Race Philippines" from other franchises, it's that it constantly pushes the envelope to bring to the forefront those who paved the way for the LGBTQIA+ community in the country.

In the show's Episode 7, Drag Race Philippines paid homage to the Golden Gays, a community of older gay men established in Manila the '70s by Justo Justo, by having six of their members join the makeover change.

The remaining queens needed to transform the Golden Gays into members of their drag families, as they walked on the main stage in their twinning looks.

After winning the mini-challenge in the episode, Bernie was given the advantage of pairing up the competing queens with the Golden Gays.

Bernie chose Amparing for herself, and paired ØV CÜNT with Carmen Dela Rue, Captivating Katkat with Evangeline Pascual, Arizona Brandy with Madonna, M1ss Jade So with Tricia Javier, and Hana Beshie with Cherry Pie Picache.

“Binigay ko sa kanila ‘yung gusto nila, gusto ko maging maganda yung kalabasan para sa kanila, gusto ko maging masaya yung mga lola natin,” Bernie said.

(I gave them who they wanted to be paired with because I wanted the outcome to be great. But more importantly, I want our Golden Gays to have fun.)

The episode was undeniably filled with love and light, pushing the judges to make it into a non-elimination round, with the top two queens lip syncing for the win.

ØV CÜNT and Bernie did the honors, with latter ultimately winning her second RuBadge of the season and a cash tip of P80,000. She pledged to share half of to the Golden Gays.

In a D'Intervention viewing party on Wednesday night, Golden Gays members Amparing and Cherry Pie talked about their experience as special guests in "Drag Race Philippines."

“Masayang masaya [ako] dahil [kahit] sa ganitong edad namin ay nabibigyan niyo pa rin kami ng kasiyahan,” Cherry Pie Picache, 60, said.

(I'm very happy because you still make us happy even at our age.)

Meanwhile, Amparing expressed her fondness for her winning partner.

“Bernie is a nice person, tsaka bilib na bilib ako sa kaniya kasi binago niya ‘yung makeup ko, ‘yung itsura ko, it’s my first time na nag makeup ako ng ganon,” the 62-year-old drag legend said.

(Bernie is a nice person. I'm very impressed with her because she did great with my makeup. It's my first time doing my makeup like that.)

“I was very proud of her, tuwang tuwa ako nung gabing yun, pinapanuod namin sila and I’m so happy for her also, atsaka malaking bagay na nai-share niya yung kanyang blessing,” she added.

(I was very proud of her. I was very happy that night because we watched them during the lip sync. It also means a lot to us that she's able to share her blessings with the Golden Gays.)

The appearance of The Golden Gays in episode 7 of Season 2 echoes Season 1 winner Precious Paula Nicole's mention of them previously.  

In her introduction video, Precious Paula Nicole highlighted her advocacy to help the Golden Gays, whom she credits as those "who started drag here in the Philippines.” 

After she won the competition, Precious even spearheaded the creation of Precious Foundation, a non-governmental organization dedicated to helping and supporting the Golden Gays. Her first goal is to build a "forever home" for the Golden Gays.

Season 2 of "Drag Race Philippines" is now streaming on HBO Go and Wow Presents Plus.

— LA, GMA Integrated News