00:00 New Den, New Rules, the second season of reality competition series Drag Den Philippines gets underway.
00:07 Episode 1 premiered last January 18th and new episodes will be out every week on Prime Video.
00:13 Before the show's premiere, I got to speak with award-winning host and legendary film drag queen Manila Luzon,
00:19 as well as co-host Nicole Córdovés and Sasa Girl and director Ron Singh.
00:23 And they told me what to expect from season 2 and why it's gonna be bigger and better with more sparkle and glitter.
00:30 The original concept of Drag Den since season 1 was that every season we were gonna, we will change the den.
00:38 Okay.
00:39 So that was the idea, that's why on season 1 we had the cliffhanger there that the drag den, yeah, there was a raid.
00:46 So for season 2, yeah, luckily we got season 2 so we were able to do that, you know, to transfer to a new den, bigger.
00:55 And of course with this time we got more sources, thank you Prime Video.
01:00 Yes, bigger budget.
01:01 Thank you. And yeah, that was it. So if given the chance, you know, to make more seasons, we will be creating more dens.
01:11 So another den. So this den, you have the alley and then you also have, what's next, what's after the alley?
01:19 The arcade.
01:20 The arcade. And then you have the main stage where everything kind of happens and whatnot.
01:24 Yes.
01:25 Okay. Next we do have the cast. Tell me about how you selected the contestants. How many actually auditioned?
01:35 We had hundreds, if not thousands. I don't know, with drag queens it's so hard to keep count because we change wigs and we're like a whole new person.
01:45 And that's allowed?
01:46 Yes.
01:47 That is so allowed.
01:48 So because of the success of the first season, we had so many more people interested in competing in our season this time.
01:54 So the casting process was very intense, but we were able to select 10 fantastic drag queens in the Philippines.
02:03 How did you break it down to 10? I mean, you opened the auditions way back in April and you only had like two weeks and then it was the end.
02:12 How were you able to now, what were you looking for, for season two in terms of your casting, your contestants?
02:19 Well, I think that all drag queens are so unique in their own way. So we want to get a good range of different kinds of queens.
02:27 So, you know, we have queens from different cities and different towns here in the Philippines. We have trans queens representing.
02:35 We even have an AFAB queen, which stands for Assigned Female at Birth.
02:40 There you go.
02:41 Because anyone can do drag. And so it's important that we show a really wide range.
02:46 So you have 10 contestants this time, though you only had eight last, no?
02:50 Yeah.
02:51 And then you reprise your role. You are still the runner.
02:55 Aha!
02:57 We're still going.
02:59 Anything new, different for you, Sasa Girl?
03:01 Well, last year I was very, I don't know what to do actually.
03:07 Oh, you didn't know what to do?
03:08 You know, because of course, most of the drag competitions that are available, they don't have like a host, like, you know, functions like Sasa Girl.
03:21 Yes, okay.
03:22 It's like something new to a drag competition.
03:25 So I was like, "Okay, I'll just do what I do online and what not."
03:32 Being a content creator.
03:33 Correct, right? I'll just show my personality and all, right?
03:36 So now in season two, what's the difference? Or is it still the same?
03:40 In season two, I'm more self-aware of what I should do. I don't do much. I'm already three.
03:47 Oh, okay, okay. You've already reared me in season two.
03:50 I've already been paid by Prime Video.
03:52 Good thing.
03:53 Good thing.
03:54 You're already hired.
03:55 And for Nicole, the guest, I mean, you are back as the dealer.
03:59 Yes.
04:00 Still as a dealer. I understand that you have a crazy lineup of guests, of judges for this season.
04:07 Yeah, I think it's a heavier set of judges this time, especially since we also have drag agents with us.
04:15 So more expertise and opinion on the production, the drag queens themselves, their brands.
04:24 I think there are more people weighing in on it and it makes it so much better.
04:30 It's a bigger, better, and I think more informative show.
04:34 Because coming into season two, I feel like we poured out all our ideas, our passion, our blood, sweat, hard work into it.
04:42 We didn't leave a stone unturned. And I was like, okay, what are we going to give in season two?
04:48 But then direct with all the ideas.
04:50 Okay, here's the deck. It's going to be bigger. It's going to be more colorful.
04:55 And then, yeah, I actually learned so much more in this season.
05:00 I mean, we already branded ourselves as a very localized.
05:05 We wear the Filipino culture on our butterfly sleeves very proudly.
05:10 Filipinos for Filipinos.
05:11 Yes, but then it just goes to show that just the same way as it is in pageantry, where we see the national costumes every year,
05:19 there's so much more to learn because our culture is that rich.
05:23 And I think the queens this season educated us and will educate the viewers even more with stories.
05:32 And speaking of colors, I heard there are more colors this year when it comes to the set.
05:36 For this set, the treatment is more of psychedelic.
05:42 So we were playing around the puns on, you know, with what happened in the previous, you know.
05:53 But for this season, we're thinking about, we did psychedelic for the reason that, you know, it's more visual.
06:01 It's more trippy. And at the same time, we get to play with not just colors, but more on textures and shapes this time.
06:09 Okay. And also understand, you know, a lot has been learned from season one.
06:14 You come back in season two, you have a new den, you have 10 queens that are vying for, you know, drag supreme.
06:23 You have extensive lineup of judges, but you also changed the game just a bit.
06:29 Did you change the rules just a bit? Are we keeping the same concept as what you had in season one?
06:37 Well, I think that what's great about our show is that we like to keep everyone on their toes.
06:43 We are on our toes. And that's not just because we're wearing really, really super high heels.
06:48 But we want to make sure that when we come into this, when people come into this competition, they don't really know what to expect.
06:55 So we like to throw a little wrench into the gears and trip people up.
07:01 Are you allowed to talk about the challenges that we can look forward to?
07:05 Well, actually, yeah. We like to reuse some of the themes and challenges from the last season and expand on it and see what else we can do.
07:15 What will stay and what are you going to change? Are we still going to have the drag... you say that really well.
07:22 You say that, you have mastered that word. Are we still keeping that with the wrecking ball and whatnot?
07:28 Well, the wrecking ball remains. She is the symbol, she is the icon of our show.
07:34 But what we really wanted to do is be able to showcase the talents of the Queens and what they usually do when they perform live in the nightclubs and in the bars.
07:46 So with the bigger budget from Prime, we were able to afford some rights to music.
07:52 So instead of just having them try to dodge a wrecking ball, we have the Queens now lip syncing songs to a wonderful sets of music.
08:02 And speaking of songs, you came up with a wonderful song, your Pom Pom.
08:06 Oh, yes. Featuring Sasa Girl.
08:09 Lovely rap and of course, the wreck, you also helped collaborate. I mean, it was wonderful.
08:15 So a lot of exciting things are coming up for Season 2 of Drag Den. And we also come back with you having a new award.
08:25 Well, actually a few.
08:27 Asian Academy Creative Awards of Entertainment Host. Congratulations to you.
08:32 Thank you, Slamet. And I just got back from Vietnam where I won the Asian Television Award for Best Entertainment Host.
08:39 So it is quite an honor for me as a Filipino-American to showcase Filipino drag artistry to the world and to bring those trophies home to the Philippines.
08:51 It's really great for our show, you know, to showcase Filipino culture in this unique way that hasn't really been seen before.
09:00 And for all these Asian entertainment media industry people to recognize us and give us our merits, it's really important.
09:09 And I'm very proud and honored to be awarded this.
09:12 OK, so before I let you beautiful ladies go, do tell us first, what excites you the most with Season 2 for Drag Den? Sasa Girl, tell.
09:25 This is a new flavor. Especially, Drag Den is surprising every season, you know.
09:33 And we are very excited for this new season because there's a lot that will make people go crazy.
09:40 This is very Filipino.
09:42 Yes, Filipino. New flavor. How about you, Direk?
09:46 I'm very excited to show what we worked hard for this season, especially to the world this time because we are streaming worldwide.
09:57 Yes!
09:58 On Prime Video. So I'm very, very excited to show that because this time it's not just bigger than, bigger set, or bigger budget.
10:08 It's more of like bigger talent and of course, bigger opportunity for Filipino drag artists.
10:15 OK, and Nicole?
10:16 I think it'll be the emotions. It was all over the place and with a bigger set, they have more chance to spread their emotions.
10:24 But like, it was a wild ride. Like, everything exciting, everything dramatic. We got it for you.
10:33 And lastly, Manila, win zone.
10:36 Win zone!
10:38 What are you most excited about this season?
10:41 I'm excited for the opportunity for Filipino drag artists to showcase to the world on Prime Video what they have to offer.
10:49 Filipino drag, I've always been impressed by. And so, it's really great that they have this platform to show everything, everyone out there wanting to watch what they're capable of.
11:01 So, here's to all those Filipino drag queens that are just vying for a chance to show off their beauty, their wit, their creativity, their dedication, everything.
11:10 So, I'm really excited for everyone to fall in love with these queens, hear these stories from members of the LGBTQ community, get to know us at a deeper level, relate to us, and even be inspired.
11:22 Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us here on CNN Philippines.
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