Attention, squirrel friends! Prepare to be gooped and gagged as RuPaul’s Drag Race Philippines will finally arrive front and center in August.
On May 15 (Philippine time), American production company World of Wonder released the teaser trailer of RuPaul’s Drag Race Philippines, giving the first glimpse of the Werk Room and the runway.
The clip also revealed that Drag Race alum Jiggly Caliente will be one of the staple judges of the hit TV reality show’s Filipino version.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Caliente shared how she couldn’t imagine that being a judge in the show was a responsibility that she didn’t know would be given to her five years ago.
“If you would have asked me 5 years ago if I would ever be a judge on a RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise, let alone be part of my homeland—the Philippines, I would have told you to stop doing drugs because they would never entrust me with such a responsibility. A responsibility I took seriously and care[d] for,” she wrote.
The trans Pinay drag artist then continued that she knew the weight of her responsibility as she had been in the same position before where she was criticized for her art as well.
“I also believe in the talent, beauty, and tenacity of the culture of the Filipino people,” Caliente added.
Caliente is the third Drag Race contestant to be officially part of the judging panel after Season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes who’s hosting Drag Race Canada, and Season 12 contestant Nicky Doll for Drag Race France.
Shortly after, fellow Filipino-American Drag Race alumni also took to Twitter to express their excitement for the show and Caliente’s stint as a staple judge.
Drag Race Season 1 and All Stars Season 5 contestant Ongina, who was the first Filipino drag artist to grace the show, congratulated Caliente.
In a Tweet, Ongina wrote: “As the first Pinoy of this franchise, I’m so happy to see this! Congratulations Jiggly and the whole team and cast. Mabuhay!”
As the first Pinoy of this franchise, I’m so happy to see this! Congratulations @jiggly_official and the whole team and cast. MABUHAY! https://t.co/2PN1gdI79D
— Ongina (@ongina) May 15, 2022
Drag Race legend Manila Luzon also did the same, saying that one of their dreams is to appear on Philippine television.
“I am so excited [that] my Pinay sister, one of my dearest friends, is joining the judges’ panel on Drag Race Philippines! This is one [of] our dreams together to be on PH TV,” Luzon tweeted.
I am so excited my Pinay sister, one of my dearest friends is joining the judges panel on Drag Race Philippines!! 🇵🇭 This is one our dreams together to be on PH TV! pic.twitter.com/GGbEBA1E5I
— Manila Luzon (@manilaluzon) May 15, 2022
Luzon will also bring the Philippine drag scene to local television soon with her own reality drag show, Drag Den Philippines, teasing that the show is coming soon but just on “Filipino time”—a Filipino habit that refers to being late or starting things later than the set time.
Aside from Caliente joining the judging panel, Drag Race Philippines has another surprise for the fans—one that includes an Untucked segment, a companion series that allows viewers to witness the behind-the-scenes drama, secrets, and never-before-seen videos from the queens. This is the first international version that has an Untucked series.
“It’s also the first international edition of the franchise to have an Untucked because these bitches are f*cking dramatic,” Caliente quipped during the second day of RuPaul’s DragCon at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Following the news of the Untucked segment of the Drag Race Philippines, the show’s Filipino fans across Facebook and Twitter were quick to show excitement and expectations of the possible bardagulan of the contestants.
drag race philippines has an untucked i hope someone recreates this pic.twitter.com/Xp4v4bt7Ms
— icesis h&m (@srodulvss) May 15, 2022
Drag Race Philippines: Untucked?????!!!! ALAM NILA NA FILIPINO GAYS LIVE FOR DRAMA AND MADAMING MARITES I LOVE IT I CANT WAIT!!!!
— Telebisyon Ng Ano (@TelebisyonNgAno) May 15, 2022
Drag Race Philippines was first announced by RuPaul and opened its auditions in August 2021. Both Drag Race Philippines and Untucked are now set to premiere on August 17, 2022, on WOW Presents Plus. As of writing, the show has yet to announce its host and contestants for the first season.
Premiered in 2009, RuPaul’s Drag Race is an American reality show created by RuPaul that follows him on his journey of finding the next drag superstar. Since its release, the reality competition series has now 14 seasons and spawned numerous spin-offs, including Drag U and Drag Race All Stars, and many versions across different countries, namely in the United Kingdom, Canada, Holland, Italy, Thailand, Spain, Chile, and soon in France.
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