Exclusive with Brigiding

Brigiding, welcome to Spill the Tea gorgeous! To start, when did you discover that you wanted to do drag?
It all started after watching a drag performance at Obar in Malate back in 2012, at that moment I was in a 9-5 job and I told myself being on stage, covered in sequins and glam, is something i want to do. I began drag one year after in 2013.

How did it feel to be selected for the very first season of Drag Race Philippines? 
It’s a complete honour to be part of the first season of the most celebrated drag platform in the world. I was so excited to participate in the show, knowing that it is going to be a movement for our LGBTQ+ community, especially coming from the pandemic where what we all needed as drag queens was a platform to showcase drag. I knew I wouldn’t let this first season go without me.

As one of the most prominent names on the Philippine drag scene, did you feel any added pressure to do well?
Definitely! Considering it’s the first season and it has been done around the world, people will be expecting the best. Especially as Filipinos are known to be talented people. When the casting announcement came out, people were like “Brigiding, Brigiding”. I was frightened to enter the competition with that expectation, but I think helped me in a way to challenge myself in doing something I’ve never done before.

Was the competition what you expected or totally different?
It was totally different from what I expected. It’s crazier, “baliw” for real! Nobody can prepare you for Drag Race and it’s not an easy game. You have to be physically and mentally ready… more than that. you have to financially capable.

You said that the competition made you realise who you were, having had time to reflect on the show do you still feel the same?
Yes! And I am in a complete and better understanding now of who I am and who I can be if we focus on that. Honestly, I was completely changed for the better after the competition. It made me realise that it’s just a show and none of that defines who you are as an artist. No one can tell you who you are but you yourself.

This week you were joined by your cousin for the make-over challenge. The judges felt you let them take the spotlight from you too much (I personally disagree and think it was super sweet). Would you change your approach to this challenge if you could?
Definitely not, I completely understood the challenge, to make our family over and let them be seen. I think I was successful on that. I wouldn’t take the spotlight from my cousin; it must be so hard for him also to enter the competition without any preparations. And, given the short amount of time given to us, I’m so proud that my cousin did very well.

When you realised you and Minty Fresh would be battling it out again, did you think there was a chance you could both be saved?
Of course not, I thought finally I was sending her home! Just kidding. But yeah… Minty Fresh is a beautiful queen and I think she also deserves everything that’s happening to her, as it is for me.

Let’s not forget losing is the new winning (as RuPaul says), getting on the show is a huge achievement. What do you hope the future holds for you?
I really am a performer and I’d love to travel the world bringing drag to live audiences. I also just started to vlog on YouTube (click here to view) and maybe go on a tour with my Season 1 sisters, or the DIVINE DIVAS tour with Precious Paula NIcole and Vinas Deluxe!

 Shout-out time! What queer performer deserves a shout from you and why? - This can be a drag King, Queen or anything in-between or simply a queer artist doing their thing.
I would like to give a shout out to ButterBoyPH – it’s a pastry shop on Quezon City that provides safe space for queer performers and audiences. 

Not a question just a fact – I’m totally gutted you went home this week! You were of my favourite queens and I will miss seeing you on next week’s episode!
Thank you soooo much!! I really appreciate you doing this… :) Hope to meet you soon :) 

Drag Race Philippines continues every Wednesday, exclusively on the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus. To subscribe click here.