Queen Nique Manza walks us through the Philippine drag culture

Did you know there's a large drag community in the Philippines? As early as the 1970, drag queens have been a part of Filipino films with Ms. Gay competitions coming aplenty.

Drag gained even more popularity in the 2000s, with queens putting on their best shows night after night in different bars and events across the country.

Ongina, Manila Luzon, and Jiggly Caliente from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and Mocha Diva from “Drag Race Thailand” are just some of the Filipino drag queens who brought the Pinoy culture and flavor to the global stage.

An episode of “Dapat Alam Mo!” discussed how the drag industry became all the more colorful thanks to the queens in the local scene.

Twenty-year-old Nique Manza tried her hand at drag performances following a career of being a professional dancer. After ranking first place in a competition in 2019, Nique decided drag was the path she wanted to take, thanks to the many opportunities for self-expression, artistry and creativity.

“Naisip kong pasukin ‘yung drag kasi ang meaning niya is to express yourself. Ako, marami akong ideas na hindi nailalabas as ako. Tinry [kong pasukin ang drag] para mailabas ko ang creativity ko,” she shared.

“Sa panahon kasi ngayon, mas okay na alam [ng public] ‘yung drag,” Nique continued. “It’s a protest din, para sa aming mga gays [and members of the] LGBTQA+. Pino-promote kasi namin ito para sa mga younger gays na makita nila kung sino talaga sila. Hindi nila kailangan magtago.”

It is also important to note that their beautiful outfits and personas are so much more than that—these are ways for queens to share their talent and turn their imagination into reality.

In Nique’s case, she takes on a transformation and performance that is completely her own.

“Ang performance ko is death-defying, so tawag sa 'kin is Death Defying Circus Queen,” she passionately said of her trademark.

For Filipina drag queens, it is important for them to not just let their names be known, but to also make sure that their industry remains alive.

“Challenging siya and honor din for the older queens na i-present naman ang bagong generation ng drag. Mas lalaki pa siya kasi sa panahon ngayon, maraming magagaling. It’s a universe—hindi lang siya para sa bakla. Para siya sa lahat. Hindi siya problema, tulong siya sa sarili,” Nique expressed. — Nika Roque/LA, GMA News