Aug 03 2021 09:10 PMThanks to the smashing success of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the world of drag has managed to sashay out of the shadows and into the public consciousness.
In July, Filipino-American Drag Race alum Manila Luzon announced that she will be hosting Drag Den, a reality TV series showcasing drag culture in the Philippines – and the first drag queen competition series of its kind in the country.The concept of drag in RuPaul’s hit series can be traced back to 19th century New York City, but the Philippines has its own gender-bending history too.
During pre-colonial times, babaylans or shamans occupied important positions in society. Most of them were women – or people who were assigned male at birth, but who chose a feminine gender.