SPARKING CONVERSATIONS FOR SAFE SPACES

By Patricia Taculao

AFTER landing in the top two of the first-ever Drag Race Philippines, Marina Summers, 26, has solidified her position in the Philippine drag community, inspiring the queer community and aspiring young drag queens.

Unlike before, when drag was frowned upon by Filipino society, the art form has become a topic of discussion between peers, groups, and especially within families. Although the community has been more accepting of younger generations coming out to express their sexuality and individuality, there’s still a long way to go before the journey for the queer community.

“Now that we are tapping more demographics in terms of people who watch drag, not only in the night club scene but also mga brunches, mga dinners, may mga families coming with their children together. Na-e-excite ako sa fact na nagsisimula ‘yung pag- spark ng conversations about being queer, SOGIEs, drag sa basic unit of society, which is family,” the drag queen said. Marina added that a family’s support for queer kids is evident when they can express their creativity without any holds barred, which is a feeling she hopes every queer child across the globe can experience. Her platform as a content creator and drag queen provides ample representation of the queer community in mainstream media, giving younger members hope that they can also achieve their wildest dreams. It also encourages younger generations to explore the opportunities in the drag scene, to which

KNOWLEDGE CHANNEL, ABOITIZPOWER LEAD SUPPORT FOR MORE MOBILE LIBRARIES

Representatives from Baliuag South Central School receive their Knowledge Channel Portable Media Libraries from members of AboitizPower led by (from left) Eduard Ybarbia, Michael Corpus, and Arlene Lavina

THE Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) partnered with Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower) and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.’s (Aboitiz Foundation) business-to-business clientele in providing Knowledge Channel (KC) Portable Media Libraries to partner schools.

These schools received a KC Portable Media Library—consisting of an external hard drive containing beyond 1,500 Department of Education-aligned, curriculum-based video lessons and digital materials— and a 43” smart TV with a built-in Knowledge Channel app.

Along with the tools, the teachers received in-person and virtual technical training to equip them with the skill set to maximize the learning resources they received.

AboitizPower customercorporations who contributed to the project were NEO, JTekt Philippines Corporation, Cargill Bulacan, Cargill Pulilan, Pascual Laboratories, Inc., Philippine Resins Industries, Inc., Mabuhay Interflour Mills, Inc., and Embarcadero Land Ventures, Inc.

Meanwhile, partner schools include Gat Andres Bonifacio Elementary School, Santiago National High School, Baliuag Central School, Rufino A. Cruz Memorial Elementary School, Gat Francisco Balagtas High School, Josephine Khonghun SPED Center, Mariveles National High School Batangas II, and Barangay 17 Child Development Center Day.

Marina advises, “Never be afraid to dream big.”

“A lot of us, lalo na dito sa Pilipinas , we speak so much about humility, we speak so much about respecting the elders. While that is very important, it’s also important for you to dream big, to do things na hindi pa nagagawa before. It’s okay to break boundaries, and don’t be afraid to spark change,” she told Manila Standard Young Life

Before Marina became the drag queen she is today, she had humble beginnings in Nueva Vizcaya. Although her family accepted her sexuality when she was young, she harbored some guilt because of how society treated the people around her. When she discovered drag, she saw an avenue where she could express herself freely and embrace her personality. Eventually, her confidence and self-acceptance paved the way for Marina to welcome her loved ones to her reality, allowing her to unleash her creativity.

Doing drag allowed Marina to spark the change she wanted to see in society. However, it’s not a path so effortlessly taken. As flawless as Marina might look during her shows, it took her three years to master her makeup and establish her brand, which people know and love. She admitted to still exploring the boundaries of her creativity through makeup, and her look is ever-evolving. In the meantime, she encourages young drag queens to take their time in discovering their drag aesthetic.

Parang pagluluto lang ‘yan eh. Kung gagawa ka ng sarili mong recipe, hahanapin mo ‘yung tamang ingredients that would make up to this dish. If you get to apply something from deep down your core, maybe dancing, maybe fashion, maybe music kunin mo ‘yung aspeto na ‘yun, palaguin mo, and hanapin mo ‘yung sarili mo,” she said.

Open conversations about sexuality, drag, and other gender-related topics among families and tightknit groups have generated relevant change in how society perceives the LGBTQIA+ community. Above all else, education is the weapon against ignorance and the key to creating safer spaces for queer members in the present and upcoming generations.