In a landmark moment for cultural inclusion, Cebu's vibrant drag community carved out a significant space within one of its most sacred and traditional festivals. During the Sinulog 2026 season, the benefit drag event 'Dragdagulan na sa Sinulog 2026' was held on January 10, 2026, at From Here in Crossroads, Cebu City. This event marked a visible step forward for an art form that has long persisted in the city's underground scene.
A Collaboration Forged for Advocacy
The event was a partnership between the drag community and the advocacy organization Angat Cebu Bayanihan Pag-asa and Opurtunidad. According to the group's founder and executive director, John Michael Remollo, the collaboration was years in the making. He explained that after years focused on community and disaster relief work, the organization made animal welfare a key priority for 2026.
"Every time we go on relief operations after typhoons, we see how many animals are also affected. They cannot ask for help," Remollo shared, highlighting the motivation behind the benefit show. The proceeds from Dragdagulan were directed towards supporting organizations that help stray animals.
Visibility and Respect During Sinulog
For drag show producer and 'Drag Den' alumna Maria Lava, the event was a crucial statement of visibility. She emphasized that drag could respectfully coexist with the religious celebration of Señor Sto. Niño. "There has to be a drag show, specifically Dragdagulan, our kind of drag... Drag can exist alongside the celebration without mocking it," Lava stated during the event.
The Cebu iteration of 'Dragdagulan'—a high-stakes lip-sync battle format popularized by the reality show 'Drag Den'—featured prominent queens from the show's second season. This included the crowned Drag Supreme, Deja, along with runners-up Mrs. Tan and MOI.
Provincial Drag Takes Center Stage
The event powerfully highlighted the importance of drag scenes outside Manila. Deja, who hails from Baguio, expressed her immediate connection to Cebu's drag culture. "Cebu drag resonates deeply with me. It reminds me of Baguio drag. This is how we started, too," she said.
Mrs. Tan, currently on a break from performing, traveled from Batangas to show support. She praised the political nature of Cebu's queens. "I love Cebu drag. There are so many political queens here. So many who have something to say. It shows that their art is not just for themselves, but for others and for society," she noted.
Fan favorite MOI from Bacolod saw the event as a vital statement against the underestimation of provincial artists. "As a provincial queen myself, we are often deprived of the opportunities given to those closer to mainstream media," MOI explained, while affirming that her passion for drag continues alongside her new career as a licensed teacher.
More Than Performance: Community and Survival
The partnership between Angat Cebu BPO and the drag community runs deep. Remollo revealed that drag artists have been among the organization's most consistent supporters since its founding in 2023. The collaboration also extends to partnerships with groups like AIDvocates, providing HIV education and testing, transforming events into safe spaces for learning and breaking stigma.
For local queen Blacc Dahlia, the stage served as a form of redemption and storytelling during a difficult period. She reflected on the grassroots growth of Cebu drag since she started in 2019 with a collective of seven performers. "Before, people did not understand drag. But now, because of social media, people have evolved. Cebu drag has grown," she observed.
By integrating drag into the Sinulog festivities, Cebu's artists and their allies have demonstrated that celebration, devotion, and bold artistic expression can weave together, shaping a more inclusive and dynamic cultural future for the Queen City of the South.
