By Julianne Galera & Thomas Quidlat |
Strobing lights and colorful personalities conquer places where the LGBTQ+ community can be most uninhibited by societal norms. Queer spaces offer a carefree atmosphere for anyone who steps inside—enveloping them with love and acceptance. With this, luminous arrays of colors poured down last February 23, 2023, as the Lip Sync Battle, inspired by the longstanding international franchise RuPaul’s Drag Race, enamored the Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School (AdDU-SHS) gymnasium. It was a sight to behold; boisterous laughter and joyous chanting filled the air as the event undoubtedly placed the Atenean talents on the map of drag eleganza.
Of course, Lip Sync Battle prides itself on an exceptional roster of drag queens from the eight clusters who perfectly represent the opulent, zany, and charming culture of drag. Widely known is the reality that so much time and effort is placed into performing a particular piece in front of the audience, drawing confidence and charisma from the ecstatic crowd while on stage.
Eleganza extravaganza
Starting with Paris’ Nelle Dominique Asdillo and Barcelona’s Vince Dimayuga, they exhibited an iconic performance of the hit song I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston. They made the people amused with their antics along with their backup dancers that have surely made their performances memorable.
The next set of performers was Rome’s Francis Gio Opinaldo and Montserrat’s Anna Calipusan, channeling their inner divas and showcasing their own renditions of the timeless classic, I Will Survive by Gloria Gayno.
With Jerusalem’s Kimi Yeztine Pedro and Pamplona’s Josh Ashley Reyes's performance of Let’s Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez, their chemistry was electrifying and served to up the ante of the vibrant competition.
Lastly, Salamanca’s Vinz Charles Lumanas and Manresa’s Carlo Miguel Sasil brought out their carefree personalities with their performances of Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. In the mid-performance, Lumanas raised their pride flag and a banner stating “SOGIE BILL NOW,” filling the place with ear-shattering roars. Representing both an acknowledgment and a wish, this statement is a celebration of the hard-fought victories of those that came before, and a battle cry for the war that is far from over.
But the crown jewel of Lip Sync Battle was the final five contenders. Each queen possessed a unique aspect that made them qualified to win. Whether it’s Salamanca’s versatility, Barcelona’s comedic charm, Rome’s razzle-dazzle, Jerusalem’s upward trajectory in the competition, or Montserrat’s regality—Ateneans certainly had their favorites for the crown.
On top of the top 5 queens’ lipsyncing prowess in the finale, they demonstrated heart throughout the ruthless competition with Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) by ABBA to compete for the top 3. Nevertheless, only one of these queens could take home the crown. At the end of a particularly entertaining and lavish final round, Vinz Charles Lumanas of the Salamanca Cluster emerged victorious as the queen of all queens of the Lip Sync Battle, Barcelona’s Vince Dimayuga as the first runner-up and Rome’s Francis Gio Opinaldoas the second runner-up.
Out of the shadows
Although some may simply see it as individuals dressing up in ridiculous outfits, and putting on excessive makeup, there’s truly so much more to drag culture than meets the eye. Drag culture encompasses self-expression through art, fashion, performance delivery, and strong representation. It gives voice to the silenced, mocked, or scared parts of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Ultimately, lobbying for LGBTQ+ rights is what unites drag artists together, as they aim to provide queer individuals with safe spaces for self-expression. Until then, queer spaces will live on, creating a safe environment for all who simply wish to feel that they belong.
Lip Sync Battle has truly celebrated the talent, ingenuity, and determination that Atenean drag queens have etched upon their spirits.
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