For Bety and Country: Gay Filipo men the world of pageants

Contents:

• CEBUANO IS PH BET TO 2021 MR. GAY WORLD PAGEANT
• IN PICTURES: MISTER GAY WORLD PHILIPP 2021 OFFICIAL NDIDAT
• FIRST FILIPO TERNATNAL GAY PAGEANT WNER WEIGHS ON LAYS PASSAGE OF SOGIE LAW
• MANILA’S GOLN GAYS PROVE YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE A QUEEN MEET THE GOLN GAYS, MANILA’S MOST SENR TROUPE OF DRAG QUEENS | © SHIR BHANDARI SHIR BHANDARI 24 DECEMBER 2019 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT BY DAY, THEY’RE BETY SALON TECHNICIANS AND STREET VENDORS. COME SHOWTIME, RHTON AND GLTER TRANSFORM THEM TO THE GOLN GAYS: MANILA’S MOST SENR TROUPE OF DRAG QUEENS. DPE THEIR ADVANCED YEARS (AT AN AVERAGE AGE OF 85), THE GRAND DAM ARE NOT SUPPORTED ENOUGH BY THE PHILIPPE STATE – MEANG THEY MT LIP-SYNC FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS. VIEW ALL TRIPS RAMON BA ADJTS HIS BUBBLEGUM-PK WIG, STYLED TO A CHIC BOB CUT. IT PERFECTLY PLEMENTS HIS BLACK SEQU DRS AND SILVER FOUR-CH STILETTOS, MAKG HIM TOWER, AMAZONIAN-LIKE, OVER THE OTHER DRAG QUEENS. HERE, FULL STUME AND MAKE-UP, THE TRIM 68-YEAR-OLD GO BY THE STAGE NAME MONIQUE LA RUE. HER SISTERS LL HER ‘MOTHER’. TAKE A SP TO FD YOUR PERFECT SMALL-GROUP TRIP STATN PASSPORTS READY? YOUR NEXT STATN IS... VIEW TRIP SP INDIA ICELAND MOROC ECUADOR EGYPT BALI SOUTH AI GREECE JAPAN TURKEY THAILAND MEXI CROATIA SPA “ARE YOU READY LOLAS?” RAMON ASKS THE OTHER PERFORMERS THE CRAMPED, MANILA APARTMENT. LOLA IS THE TAGALOG WORD FOR GRANDMOTHER AND A TERM OF ENARMENT FOR ELRLY GAY MEN THE PHILIPP – WHICH IS PARTICULARLY FTG FOR THIS GLAMORO GROUP. THE QUEENS ARE PREPARG TO PERFORM THE GOLN GAYS OF MANILA BETY PAGEANT, HELD FOR POOR AND ELRLY GAY MEN MANILA. TODAY’S PERFORMANCE FEATUR A LIVE RENDN OF ‘IF WE HOLD ON TOGETHER’ BY DIANA ROSS AND A MEDLEY OF KUNDIMAN CLASSICS (TRADNAL FILIPO LOVE SONGS). MAJESTIC TURKEY TRAVEL OM THE BAZAARS OF ISTANBUL TO THE BETIFUL BEACH OF ANTALYA. VIEW TRIP THE GOLN GAYS OF MANILA BETY PAGEANT IS FOR ELRLY GAY MEN | © SHIR BHANDARI RAMON PLAC AN EXTRA VIBRANT DRS TO A BAG, JT SE THEY W THE CROWD OVER ENOUGH FOR AN ENRE. THE DRS IS OLD THROUGH YEARS OF E BUT IS STILL ONE OF HIS FAVOUR BEE HIGHLIGHTS HIS SHAPELY LEGS. RAMON AND HIS SISTERS GO BY THE NAME ‘THE GOLN GAYS’. THE NAME WAS ORIGALLY RIVED OM THE HOME FOR THE GOLN GAYS, A RE FACILY AND REFUGE FOR SENR GAY MEN MANILA. LGBTQ RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND LUMNIST JTO JTO, AN IN PHILIPPE QUEER HISTORY, TABLISHED THE HOME 1975. BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. A DAY AFTER JTO’S PASSG 2012, THE GROUP WAS EVICTED OM THE SPACE BY HIS FAY. THEY HAVE REMAED HOMELS SCE – MEANG THEY HAVE NO PHYSIL ‘HOME’ THAT THEY SHARE. SOME WENT BACK TO THEIR FAI, WHILE THOSE LS FORTUNATE TOOK TO THE STREETS. MEMBERS OF THE GOLN GAYS PREPARE FOR THE PAGEANT | © SHIR BHANDARI YET EVEN WHOUT A PERMANENT BASE, THE GOLN GAYS STILL EXIST TODAY AS A MUNY THAT SUPPORTS ONE ANOTHER, HEAD BY JTO’S CLOSE IEND RAMON. THE AVERAGE AGE OF MEMBERS IS 85, WH THE OLST BEG 92. JTO ONCE OWNED A HOE A PRTIG GATED MUNY, WHERE RAMON WORKED AS THE ADMISTRATOR OF THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATN. IT WAS HERE WHERE THE PAIR MET 20 YEARS AGO. “WHEN JAYJAY [JTO] WAS STILL ALIVE, WE ED TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF THE GOLN GAYS,” REMEMBERS RAMON. “WHEN HE BEME SICK, HE REQUTED ME TO HELP OUT AFTER HIS ATH. “AS A GOOD IEND, I SAID Y.” A NTTANT POS FOR THE MERA | © SHIR BHANDARI CHANGG ATTUS THE PHILIPP THE PHILIPP IS A PREDOMANTLY CATHOLIC UNTRY, WH A REPUTATN FOR BEG ONE OF THE MOST LGBTQ-TOLERANT PLAC ASIA. OVER 70 PERCENT OF FILIPOS AGREE THAT HOMOSEXUALY SHOULD BE ACCEPTED, BUT THE UNTRY IS BY NO MEANS EE OM DISCRIMATN. GROWG LGBTQ ADVOCY AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ARE MET WH STRONG OPPOSN OM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND NSERVATIVE GROUPS. THE NATN ALSO LACKS PROGRAMM THAT SECURE THE HEALTH AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE ELRLY. WH LTLE ASSISTANCE OM THE STATE, THE GOLN GAYS HAVE TURNED TO EACH OTHER FOR SUPPORT. THEY ARE GETTG READY THE APARTMENT OF FELLOW MEMBER REY RAVAGO. REY’S MCULE FLAT MOSTLY SERV AS A MEETG PLACE FOR THE PERFORMERS TO STORE THEIR GOWNS AND ACCSORI. FOR SOME, LIKE RIKKA, IS THEIR HOME. THE GOLN GAYS SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER | © SHIR BHANDARI RIKKA GREW UP A NSERVATIVE HOEHOLD THE ZAMBOANGA PROVCE DURG THE 1950S. HIS FAY, WHO ULD NOT E TO TERMS WH HIS SEXUALY, DISOWNED HIM, AND HE HAS NOT BEEN BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN SCE 1969. HE HAS SCE WORKED AS A MUNY SWEEPER AND DISHWASHER, UNTIL LOSG HIS HOME TO A TRAGIC FIRE 2017 – TAKG ALL OF HIS POSSSNS WH . RIKKA, WH NO FAY THE CY, WAS TAKEN BY REY. THE APARTMENT STS 5,000 PHILIPPE POS (£74) A MONTH TO RENT. WHEN THE E GENERATED BY THE GOLN GAYS’ SHOWS IS GOOD, THE GROUP PCH TO HELP REY PAY FOR . REY, NOW 58, IS A CERTIFIED REFLEXOLOGIST AND OFFERS PRIVATE MASSAGE SERVIC TO EARN A LIVG. ORIGATG OM THE NORTHERN BATAAN PROVCE, WH FOUR BROTHERS AND FOUR SISTERS, HE HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE MANILA. “WHEN MY BROTHERS FOUND OUT I WAS GAY, THEY WOULD BEAT ME UP,” HE SAYS. REY EVENTUALLY BEME A MEMBER OF THE MIDNIGHT SWARDS, A POPULAR FILIPO DRAG QUEEN TROUPE THAT PERFORMED JAPAN THE 1980S. FROM DNNE WARWICK TO BEYONCé, REY SPECIALIS LIP-SYNCG AND CHANNELLG THE ENERGY OF INIC, AMERIN BLACK DIVAS. IT IS THIS TALENT, HE EXPLAS, THAT EVENTUALLY HELPED W HIS FAY OVER. “WHEN [THEY] SAW MY PENNCE AND HOW MY TALENT BROUGHT ME OVERSEAS, THEY STOPPED GIVG ME A HARD TIME.” THE GOLN GAYS PROVI A FAY-LIKE ENVIRONMENT | © SHIR BHANDARI LIP-SYNCG FOR YOUR LIVELIHOOD ALL DOLLED UP, THE QUEENS LEAVE REY’S APARTMENT AND WALK TOWARDS A NDOWN ALLEY, LEADG TO A MOST LOL RTRANT A FEW BLOCKS UP. THE GROUP NNOT AFFORD TO HAIL A TAXI. TRAFFIC TO A HALT AS THE LOLAS STT DOWN THE STREET VIBRANT GOWNS, PLETE WH IMMACULATE HAIR AND MAKE-UP. AS THEY ENTER THE SAVORY RTRANT, THE MEZZANE TRANSFORMS TO A MAKHIFT NWAY, WHERE TABL AND CHAIRS HAVE BEEN PHED BACK TO MAKE SPACE FOR A STAGE. THE HALL IS FILLED WH THE AROMA OF CHEAP PERFUME MIXED WH THAT OF THE IED CHICKEN BEG PREPARED THE KCHEN BELOW. A RICKETY SOUND SYSTEM LOUDLY BLAR THE LATT NIGHTCLUB TUN AS A SMALL CROWD BEGS TO ARRIVE. THE GOLN GAYS RELY HEAVILY ON ANISED EVENTS LIKE THIS TO EARN MONEY, BACKED BY PANI AND ANISATNS THAT SUPPORT THE LGBTQ MUNY. PRIVATE SPONSORS ATTENDANCE MAY ALSO OFFER TO SHOULR THEM A EE MEAL FOR THE DAY, OR PROVI A WEEK’S WORTH OF GROCERI. SOME EVEN ASK THE GROUP TO PERFORM AT BIRTHDAY PARTI. THE DAY’S SPONSORS ARE A GROUP OF YOUNG STUNTS OM A TOP UNIVERSY MANILA. THE QUEENS PILE TO THE SMALL RTRANT BATHROOM AND MAKE LAST-MUTE ADJTMENTS TO THEIR MAKE-UP AND GOWNS. RAMON, NOW MONIQUE, TAK THE STAGE TO ROARG APPLSE. THOUGH HIS VOICE IS SOFT AND MURE, HE IS TODAY’S HOSTS EXTRAORDAIRE, TRODUCG EACH MEMBER TO THE CROWD WH PRI. MEMBERS CLU PEPSI PALOMA, CELIA RODRIGUEZ AND EVANGELE PASCUAL – DRAG NAM SPIRED BY FILIPO CELEBRI OF THE PAST. THE DIENCE IS THRILLED, MEETG EACH QUEEN WH THUNRO EXCEMENT AS THEY TWIRL ALONG THE NARROW TWALK. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE GOLN GAYS TAKE TO THE STAGE | © SHIR BHANDARI ‘RPECT YOURSELF, AND YOU’LL RECEIVE THE RPECT YOU SERVE’ THE EVENT IS NOT AS REFED AS THE POLISHED SHEEN OF RUPL’S DRAG RACE, NOR MANILA’S LEGENDARY DRAG NIGHTS, BUT THE GOLN GAYS MAKE CRAFTY E OF THE FEW ROURC THEY HAVE. THE GOWNS ARE SLIGHTLY TATTERED THROUGH YEARS OF E. MOST OF THE QUEENS SHARE THEIR STUM, JEWELLERY AND MAKE-UP, WHICH THEY SOURCE OM THRIFT STOR THROUGHOUT THE CY. THE MORE RHTON, FEATHER AND GLTER, ACRDG TO RAMON, THE BETTER. IT STS ABOUT $700 (£540) TO PUT ON A SHOW. THAT CLUS A MEAL FOR ABOUT 20 PERFORMERS, THEIR GUTS, THE E OF THE VENUE AND SOUND SYSTEM, AND A GROCERY BAG OF FOOD FOR EACH MEMBER. IT IS UP TO THE DIVIDUALS THE DIENCE WHETHER THEY TIP A QUEEN EXTRA. AT THE END OF THE SHOW, THE SPONSORS ACT AS PAGEANT JUDG AND CROWN THE WNERS OF THE BETY AND TALENT SECTNS. IN THE PAST , THE PHILIPP HAS SEEN AN CREASE HIV/AIDS S, WH THE HIGHT RATE OF FECTN ASIA. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EXPRSED NCERN OVER WHAT LLS AN EPIMIC AMONG GAY MEN BETWEEN THE AG OF 15 AND 27 YEARS OLD (WHO MAKE UP NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF NEW S). RAMON THE GATHERG AS AN OPPORTUNY TO SPEAK OUT ON THE ISSUE. “RPECT YOURSELF, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE RPECT YOU SERVE,” HE SAYS, ADDRSG THE CROWD. “WE WANT TO SHOW YOUNG GAY PEOPLE THAT YOU N LIVE A CLEAN, HEALTHY LIFE SPE THE CIRCUMSTANC HAND TO YOU.” CONTTANTS RECEIVE A EE MEAL AND BAG OF GROCERI FOR THEIR PARTICIPATN | © SHIR BHANDARI IN SEARCH OF A PERMANENT HOME AFTER THE GLAMOUR OF THE SHOW FAS, THE GOLN GAYS WILL RETURN TO THEIR ODD JOBS AS BETY SALON TECHNICIANS, STREET VENDORS AND DISHWASHERS. AT LEAST 20 PERCENT OF FILIPOS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LE, EARNG LS THAN 200 PHP (£3) A DAY. EVENTS LIKE THIS GIVE THE GOLN GAYS A FEW HOURS RPE OM THE HARSH STGGL TO SURVIVE MANILA, THE WORLD’S MOST NSELY POPULATED CY. PEOPLE VALUE AND TOLERATE THEM AS LONG AS THEY HAVE MONEY AND N EARN A LIVG – NOT SO MUCH WHEN THEY ARE OLD AND NEED OF RE. RAMON IS NOT UNAWARE OF THE FACT THAT HE’S GETTG OLR AND WEL NEW MEMBERS EACH YEAR TO RRY ON THE GOLN GAYS’ E. DPE THIS, HE HAS YET TO FD SOMEONE TO REPLACE HIM – SOMEONE WHO POSSS THE SAME PASSN AS HE DO. “I WILL ONLY RETIRE WHEN I ACHIEVE THE MA MISSN OF THE GOLN GAYS,” HE SAYS. “THAT IS TO HAVE A PERMANENT RINCE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND FUTURE MEMBERS. “THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OFFERS TO FUND A HOE, BUT NONE HAVE PULLED THROUGH SO FAR. EVERY DAY IS A STGGLE TO SURVIVE, TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. “BUT YOU LEARN TO HAVE FAH AND LEAD A SIMPLE LIFE.” THE CROWD MANDS AN ENRE. RAMON RETURNS AS THE POISED MONIQUE LA RUE – MIC HAND AND HIS FAVOURE DRS THAT SHOWS OFF HIS LEGS – LEADG THE ENTIRE DIENCE SONG AS HE CHANNELS HIS IDOL, DIANA ROSS, LIKE A QUEEN. THE GOLN GAYS ARE STILL SEARCHG FOR A PERMANENT HOME | © SHIR BHANDARI VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
• GAY PRI A TIME OF GLOOM: BARELY SURVIVG THE PANMIC
• ‘THE GAYS ARE WNG’: FILIPOS CELEBRATE BEATRICE LUIGI GOMEZ’S MISS UNIVERSE PH 2021 W
• MANILA READY TO DAZZLE FOR HISTORIC GAY BETY PAGEANT
• MISS GAY QUEEN CAINTA 2022
• FOR BETY AND COUNTRY: GAY FILIPO MEN THE WORLD OF PAGEANTS
• MEET SON LOR, THE GAY FILIPO MAN WHO CATWALKED HIS WAY TO FAME
• THE ‘GOLN GAYS’ RETURN TO THE STAGE THE PHILIPP
• BEATRICE LUIGI GOMEZ, FIRST OPENLY GAY MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPP, PROUDLY WEARS RABOW OUTF

CEBUANO IS PH BET TO 2021 MR. GAY WORLD PAGEANT

Acrdg to a study entled "The Global Divi on Homosexualy" that was nducted by the Pew Rearch Center 2013, the Philipp ranked the top 10 most gay-iendly untri the world.

That same study showed that 73 percent of adult Filipos agreed that "homosexualy should be accepted by society. Gay World was Wilbert Tg Tolento, reunts Rodgil Flor of the Kagandahang Flor bety mp, which handl all the trag needs of the Philippe legate to the Mr. Gay World and way back before Tolento was part of 2009, he has been nsired as a magnate of sorts of pageants for gays and bisexuals the untry.

IN PICTURES: MISTER GAY WORLD PHILIPP 2021 OFFICIAL NDIDAT

“Wilbert Tolento is nsired to be the Donald Tmp of pageants for gay men, ” says Ryan Soto, one of Tolento’s long-time llaborators. In 2003, Soto and Tolento started a bath hoe and entertament lounge bs lled the Fahrenhe Cafe and Fns Center, which beme an exclive meetg place and membership club for gay men.

It was the first pageant exclively for gay men the Philipp, and has now bee an annual tradn and one of the longt nng gay pageants the untry. This then snowballed to a strg of siarly brand specialized pageants for gay men: Miss F Universe, a ntt for gay men and bisexuals, and a play on the origal Miss Universe; Miss Earth Fahrenhe, which advot for environmental volvement for gays; and Fahrenhe Look of the Year, which is Mr. Gay World Philipp Organizatn (MGWPO), which handl the overall productn of the natnal pre-pageant before movg onto the ternatnal stage, wh Soto and Flor beg members of the board of directors.

FIRST FILIPO TERNATNAL GAY PAGEANT WNER WEIGHS ON LAYS PASSAGE OF SOGIE LAW

Gay World’s Philippe reprentative, and after a pre-pageant show wh an dience of around 3, 000 at the UP Theater last year, the tle was won by 36-year-old John Fernanz Raspado.

Three years ago, Raspado me out ABS-CBN’s Showtime segment, “I Am PoGay, ” a black su vt and leather tie, sgg a slightly sensual rendn of “Sway” a tenor voice. So there’s a nnotatn that … a person like me who’s buff, wh a mtache, manly lookg, jog a gay ntt [would make them say], ‘Are you really gay?

MANILA’S GOLN GAYS PROVE YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE A QUEEN MEET THE GOLN GAYS, MANILA’S MOST SENR TROUPE OF DRAG QUEENS | © SHIR BHANDARI SHIR BHANDARI 24 DECEMBER 2019 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT BY DAY, THEY’RE BETY SALON TECHNICIANS AND STREET VENDORS. COME SHOWTIME, RHTON AND GLTER TRANSFORM THEM TO THE GOLN GAYS: MANILA’S MOST SENR TROUPE OF DRAG QUEENS. DPE THEIR ADVANCED YEARS (AT AN AVERAGE AGE OF 85), THE GRAND DAM ARE NOT SUPPORTED ENOUGH BY THE PHILIPPE STATE – MEANG THEY MT LIP-SYNC FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS. VIEW ALL TRIPS RAMON BA ADJTS HIS BUBBLEGUM-PK WIG, STYLED TO A CHIC BOB CUT. IT PERFECTLY PLEMENTS HIS BLACK SEQU DRS AND SILVER FOUR-CH STILETTOS, MAKG HIM TOWER, AMAZONIAN-LIKE, OVER THE OTHER DRAG QUEENS. HERE, FULL STUME AND MAKE-UP, THE TRIM 68-YEAR-OLD GO BY THE STAGE NAME MONIQUE LA RUE. HER SISTERS LL HER ‘MOTHER’. TAKE A SP TO FD YOUR PERFECT SMALL-GROUP TRIP STATN PASSPORTS READY? YOUR NEXT STATN IS... VIEW TRIP SP INDIA ICELAND MOROC ECUADOR EGYPT BALI SOUTH AI GREECE JAPAN TURKEY THAILAND MEXI CROATIA SPA “ARE YOU READY LOLAS?” RAMON ASKS THE OTHER PERFORMERS THE CRAMPED, MANILA APARTMENT. LOLA IS THE TAGALOG WORD FOR GRANDMOTHER AND A TERM OF ENARMENT FOR ELRLY GAY MEN THE PHILIPP – WHICH IS PARTICULARLY FTG FOR THIS GLAMORO GROUP. THE QUEENS ARE PREPARG TO PERFORM THE GOLN GAYS OF MANILA BETY PAGEANT, HELD FOR POOR AND ELRLY GAY MEN MANILA. TODAY’S PERFORMANCE FEATUR A LIVE RENDN OF ‘IF WE HOLD ON TOGETHER’ BY DIANA ROSS AND A MEDLEY OF KUNDIMAN CLASSICS (TRADNAL FILIPO LOVE SONGS). MAJESTIC TURKEY TRAVEL OM THE BAZAARS OF ISTANBUL TO THE BETIFUL BEACH OF ANTALYA. VIEW TRIP THE GOLN GAYS OF MANILA BETY PAGEANT IS FOR ELRLY GAY MEN | © SHIR BHANDARI RAMON PLAC AN EXTRA VIBRANT DRS TO A BAG, JT SE THEY W THE CROWD OVER ENOUGH FOR AN ENRE. THE DRS IS OLD THROUGH YEARS OF E BUT IS STILL ONE OF HIS FAVOUR BEE HIGHLIGHTS HIS SHAPELY LEGS. RAMON AND HIS SISTERS GO BY THE NAME ‘THE GOLN GAYS’. THE NAME WAS ORIGALLY RIVED OM THE HOME FOR THE GOLN GAYS, A RE FACILY AND REFUGE FOR SENR GAY MEN MANILA. LGBTQ RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND LUMNIST JTO JTO, AN IN PHILIPPE QUEER HISTORY, TABLISHED THE HOME 1975. BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. A DAY AFTER JTO’S PASSG 2012, THE GROUP WAS EVICTED OM THE SPACE BY HIS FAY. THEY HAVE REMAED HOMELS SCE – MEANG THEY HAVE NO PHYSIL ‘HOME’ THAT THEY SHARE. SOME WENT BACK TO THEIR FAI, WHILE THOSE LS FORTUNATE TOOK TO THE STREETS. MEMBERS OF THE GOLN GAYS PREPARE FOR THE PAGEANT | © SHIR BHANDARI YET EVEN WHOUT A PERMANENT BASE, THE GOLN GAYS STILL EXIST TODAY AS A MUNY THAT SUPPORTS ONE ANOTHER, HEAD BY JTO’S CLOSE IEND RAMON. THE AVERAGE AGE OF MEMBERS IS 85, WH THE OLST BEG 92. JTO ONCE OWNED A HOE A PRTIG GATED MUNY, WHERE RAMON WORKED AS THE ADMISTRATOR OF THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATN. IT WAS HERE WHERE THE PAIR MET 20 YEARS AGO. “WHEN JAYJAY [JTO] WAS STILL ALIVE, WE ED TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF THE GOLN GAYS,” REMEMBERS RAMON. “WHEN HE BEME SICK, HE REQUTED ME TO HELP OUT AFTER HIS ATH. “AS A GOOD IEND, I SAID Y.” A NTTANT POS FOR THE MERA | © SHIR BHANDARI CHANGG ATTUS THE PHILIPP THE PHILIPP IS A PREDOMANTLY CATHOLIC UNTRY, WH A REPUTATN FOR BEG ONE OF THE MOST LGBTQ-TOLERANT PLAC ASIA. OVER 70 PERCENT OF FILIPOS AGREE THAT HOMOSEXUALY SHOULD BE ACCEPTED, BUT THE UNTRY IS BY NO MEANS EE OM DISCRIMATN. GROWG LGBTQ ADVOCY AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ARE MET WH STRONG OPPOSN OM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND NSERVATIVE GROUPS. THE NATN ALSO LACKS PROGRAMM THAT SECURE THE HEALTH AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE ELRLY. WH LTLE ASSISTANCE OM THE STATE, THE GOLN GAYS HAVE TURNED TO EACH OTHER FOR SUPPORT. THEY ARE GETTG READY THE APARTMENT OF FELLOW MEMBER REY RAVAGO. REY’S MCULE FLAT MOSTLY SERV AS A MEETG PLACE FOR THE PERFORMERS TO STORE THEIR GOWNS AND ACCSORI. FOR SOME, LIKE RIKKA, IS THEIR HOME. THE GOLN GAYS SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER | © SHIR BHANDARI RIKKA GREW UP A NSERVATIVE HOEHOLD THE ZAMBOANGA PROVCE DURG THE 1950S. HIS FAY, WHO ULD NOT E TO TERMS WH HIS SEXUALY, DISOWNED HIM, AND HE HAS NOT BEEN BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN SCE 1969. HE HAS SCE WORKED AS A MUNY SWEEPER AND DISHWASHER, UNTIL LOSG HIS HOME TO A TRAGIC FIRE 2017 – TAKG ALL OF HIS POSSSNS WH . RIKKA, WH NO FAY THE CY, WAS TAKEN BY REY. THE APARTMENT STS 5,000 PHILIPPE POS (£74) A MONTH TO RENT. WHEN THE E GENERATED BY THE GOLN GAYS’ SHOWS IS GOOD, THE GROUP PCH TO HELP REY PAY FOR . REY, NOW 58, IS A CERTIFIED REFLEXOLOGIST AND OFFERS PRIVATE MASSAGE SERVIC TO EARN A LIVG. ORIGATG OM THE NORTHERN BATAAN PROVCE, WH FOUR BROTHERS AND FOUR SISTERS, HE HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE MANILA. “WHEN MY BROTHERS FOUND OUT I WAS GAY, THEY WOULD BEAT ME UP,” HE SAYS. REY EVENTUALLY BEME A MEMBER OF THE MIDNIGHT SWARDS, A POPULAR FILIPO DRAG QUEEN TROUPE THAT PERFORMED JAPAN THE 1980S. FROM DNNE WARWICK TO BEYONCé, REY SPECIALIS LIP-SYNCG AND CHANNELLG THE ENERGY OF INIC, AMERIN BLACK DIVAS. IT IS THIS TALENT, HE EXPLAS, THAT EVENTUALLY HELPED W HIS FAY OVER. “WHEN [THEY] SAW MY PENNCE AND HOW MY TALENT BROUGHT ME OVERSEAS, THEY STOPPED GIVG ME A HARD TIME.” THE GOLN GAYS PROVI A FAY-LIKE ENVIRONMENT | © SHIR BHANDARI LIP-SYNCG FOR YOUR LIVELIHOOD ALL DOLLED UP, THE QUEENS LEAVE REY’S APARTMENT AND WALK TOWARDS A NDOWN ALLEY, LEADG TO A MOST LOL RTRANT A FEW BLOCKS UP. THE GROUP NNOT AFFORD TO HAIL A TAXI. TRAFFIC TO A HALT AS THE LOLAS STT DOWN THE STREET VIBRANT GOWNS, PLETE WH IMMACULATE HAIR AND MAKE-UP. AS THEY ENTER THE SAVORY RTRANT, THE MEZZANE TRANSFORMS TO A MAKHIFT NWAY, WHERE TABL AND CHAIRS HAVE BEEN PHED BACK TO MAKE SPACE FOR A STAGE. THE HALL IS FILLED WH THE AROMA OF CHEAP PERFUME MIXED WH THAT OF THE IED CHICKEN BEG PREPARED THE KCHEN BELOW. A RICKETY SOUND SYSTEM LOUDLY BLAR THE LATT NIGHTCLUB TUN AS A SMALL CROWD BEGS TO ARRIVE. THE GOLN GAYS RELY HEAVILY ON ANISED EVENTS LIKE THIS TO EARN MONEY, BACKED BY PANI AND ANISATNS THAT SUPPORT THE LGBTQ MUNY. PRIVATE SPONSORS ATTENDANCE MAY ALSO OFFER TO SHOULR THEM A EE MEAL FOR THE DAY, OR PROVI A WEEK’S WORTH OF GROCERI. SOME EVEN ASK THE GROUP TO PERFORM AT BIRTHDAY PARTI. THE DAY’S SPONSORS ARE A GROUP OF YOUNG STUNTS OM A TOP UNIVERSY MANILA. THE QUEENS PILE TO THE SMALL RTRANT BATHROOM AND MAKE LAST-MUTE ADJTMENTS TO THEIR MAKE-UP AND GOWNS. RAMON, NOW MONIQUE, TAK THE STAGE TO ROARG APPLSE. THOUGH HIS VOICE IS SOFT AND MURE, HE IS TODAY’S HOSTS EXTRAORDAIRE, TRODUCG EACH MEMBER TO THE CROWD WH PRI. MEMBERS CLU PEPSI PALOMA, CELIA RODRIGUEZ AND EVANGELE PASCUAL – DRAG NAM SPIRED BY FILIPO CELEBRI OF THE PAST. THE DIENCE IS THRILLED, MEETG EACH QUEEN WH THUNRO EXCEMENT AS THEY TWIRL ALONG THE NARROW TWALK. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE GOLN GAYS TAKE TO THE STAGE | © SHIR BHANDARI ‘RPECT YOURSELF, AND YOU’LL RECEIVE THE RPECT YOU SERVE’ THE EVENT IS NOT AS REFED AS THE POLISHED SHEEN OF RUPL’S DRAG RACE, NOR MANILA’S LEGENDARY DRAG NIGHTS, BUT THE GOLN GAYS MAKE CRAFTY E OF THE FEW ROURC THEY HAVE. THE GOWNS ARE SLIGHTLY TATTERED THROUGH YEARS OF E. MOST OF THE QUEENS SHARE THEIR STUM, JEWELLERY AND MAKE-UP, WHICH THEY SOURCE OM THRIFT STOR THROUGHOUT THE CY. THE MORE RHTON, FEATHER AND GLTER, ACRDG TO RAMON, THE BETTER. IT STS ABOUT $700 (£540) TO PUT ON A SHOW. THAT CLUS A MEAL FOR ABOUT 20 PERFORMERS, THEIR GUTS, THE E OF THE VENUE AND SOUND SYSTEM, AND A GROCERY BAG OF FOOD FOR EACH MEMBER. IT IS UP TO THE DIVIDUALS THE DIENCE WHETHER THEY TIP A QUEEN EXTRA. AT THE END OF THE SHOW, THE SPONSORS ACT AS PAGEANT JUDG AND CROWN THE WNERS OF THE BETY AND TALENT SECTNS. IN THE PAST , THE PHILIPP HAS SEEN AN CREASE HIV/AIDS S, WH THE HIGHT RATE OF FECTN ASIA. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EXPRSED NCERN OVER WHAT LLS AN EPIMIC AMONG GAY MEN BETWEEN THE AG OF 15 AND 27 YEARS OLD (WHO MAKE UP NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF NEW S). RAMON THE GATHERG AS AN OPPORTUNY TO SPEAK OUT ON THE ISSUE. “RPECT YOURSELF, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE RPECT YOU SERVE,” HE SAYS, ADDRSG THE CROWD. “WE WANT TO SHOW YOUNG GAY PEOPLE THAT YOU N LIVE A CLEAN, HEALTHY LIFE SPE THE CIRCUMSTANC HAND TO YOU.” CONTTANTS RECEIVE A EE MEAL AND BAG OF GROCERI FOR THEIR PARTICIPATN | © SHIR BHANDARI IN SEARCH OF A PERMANENT HOME AFTER THE GLAMOUR OF THE SHOW FAS, THE GOLN GAYS WILL RETURN TO THEIR ODD JOBS AS BETY SALON TECHNICIANS, STREET VENDORS AND DISHWASHERS. AT LEAST 20 PERCENT OF FILIPOS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LE, EARNG LS THAN 200 PHP (£3) A DAY. EVENTS LIKE THIS GIVE THE GOLN GAYS A FEW HOURS RPE OM THE HARSH STGGL TO SURVIVE MANILA, THE WORLD’S MOST NSELY POPULATED CY. PEOPLE VALUE AND TOLERATE THEM AS LONG AS THEY HAVE MONEY AND N EARN A LIVG – NOT SO MUCH WHEN THEY ARE OLD AND NEED OF RE. RAMON IS NOT UNAWARE OF THE FACT THAT HE’S GETTG OLR AND WEL NEW MEMBERS EACH YEAR TO RRY ON THE GOLN GAYS’ E. DPE THIS, HE HAS YET TO FD SOMEONE TO REPLACE HIM – SOMEONE WHO POSSS THE SAME PASSN AS HE DO. “I WILL ONLY RETIRE WHEN I ACHIEVE THE MA MISSN OF THE GOLN GAYS,” HE SAYS. “THAT IS TO HAVE A PERMANENT RINCE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND FUTURE MEMBERS. “THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OFFERS TO FUND A HOE, BUT NONE HAVE PULLED THROUGH SO FAR. EVERY DAY IS A STGGLE TO SURVIVE, TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. “BUT YOU LEARN TO HAVE FAH AND LEAD A SIMPLE LIFE.” THE CROWD MANDS AN ENRE. RAMON RETURNS AS THE POISED MONIQUE LA RUE – MIC HAND AND HIS FAVOURE DRS THAT SHOWS OFF HIS LEGS – LEADG THE ENTIRE DIENCE SONG AS HE CHANNELS HIS IDOL, DIANA ROSS, LIKE A QUEEN. THE GOLN GAYS ARE STILL SEARCHG FOR A PERMANENT HOME | © SHIR BHANDARI VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Gay World Philipp pre-pageant, where om now on, not only uld he exprs himself to a larger dience, but he uld also make a stand for for himself and for gay men general. Gay World leans toward a more holistic visn of empowerg gay men, the MGWPO and the rt of Tolento’s pageant brands, as a rponse to the untry’s perceptn of LGBTQ, uphold the breakg of stereotyp. There are gay men who are the armed forc and other profsnal fields … We are also troducg gays om the different nservative sectors such as the Mlim muny and the Filipo-Che muny.

GAY PRI A TIME OF GLOOM: BARELY SURVIVG THE PANMIC

It has been an spiratnal and motivatnal tool for gay men to really be fortable about who they are. The typ of gay pageants, for example the Miss Gay, are really graed our society right now. Naman, the [image of the] mascule lookg, the mascule actg gays, ’s [gradually] gog to mastream.

‘THE GAYS ARE WNG’: FILIPOS CELEBRATE BEATRICE LUIGI GOMEZ’S MISS UNIVERSE PH 2021 W

“But then aga, of urse, nobody will e out and jo a pageant and brand himself as gay if he is not gay. Gay World Philipp gaed more televisn exposure, some straight men even attempted to jo for the prize money, which is higher than that of a nventnal male pageant. This is largely bee the gay pageant hg on the procs and format of hetero pageants — an issue pable of sparkg a double edged bate.

MANILA READY TO DAZZLE FOR HISTORIC GAY BETY PAGEANT

On one hand, there is the aforementned specialized problem, and on the other, the fact that this sort of screeng procs template has been effective for bety pageants everywhere, and the same way, should be applied to every aspirg dividual, gay or not. "It has been an spiratnal and motivatnal tool for gay men to really be fortable about who they are. Gay World n take pri settg self apart om other nventnal pageants, terms of s prry and foc on advoci and LGBTQ issu.

Gay World is an advocy pageant, ” answers Raspado, when asked about the pageant’s edge over others. Gay World, [John is] the ambassador of the LGBTQ muny so he really has to have a ep volvement on all the projects that will be beneficial for the muny.

Gay World, "bee we've nquered everythg, all the pageants for women, and now ’s time for gay men to she ternatnally. WINNERS (om left): Mister Gay World Philipp Joel Rey Carsona of Cebu, Mister Fahrenhe first nner-up Jhapett Raymundo of Hagonoy, Bulan, and Mister Fahrenhe send nner-up Gerald Regidor of Occintal Mdoro. MAKATI CITY, Philipp — A fancial associate om Cebu bted 23 other aspirants the 2021 Mister Fahrenhe ntt, earng the tle Mister Gay World Philipp and takg home P100, 000 sh.

MISS GAY QUEEN CAINTA 2022

Joel Rey Carsona earned the right to reprent the Philipp the 2021 Mister Gay World pageant the virtual stagg of the 19th Mister Fahrenhe ntt on Aug. Mayan was set to pete the 2020 Mister Gay World pageant South Ai, but the global health crisis phed the ternatnal anizers to postpone the petn.

Two Filipo men had already taken home the Mister Gay World tle — John Raspado 2017, and Janjep Carlos 2019. CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, La Unn — Dpe the proceedgs volvg the versns of the SOGIE (sexual orientatn, genr inty and exprsn) bill htg a snag ngrs earlier this month, lawmakers eventually would need to craft a law that would ern and protect the terts of the LGBTQIA+ (lbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer, tersex, asexual, and others) muny.

This, acrdg to John Raspado, wner of the 2017 Mister Gay World, the first Filipo to ever w the global tle when he was terviewed by INQUIRER durg the Mutia ti La Unn pageant held this cy. Come showtime, rhton and glter transform them to the Goln Gays: Manila’s most senr troupe of drag queens. Lola is the Tagalog word for grandmother and a term of enarment for elrly gay men the Philipp – which is particularly ftg for this glamoro group.

FOR BETY AND COUNTRY: GAY FILIPO MEN THE WORLD OF PAGEANTS

The queens are preparg to perform the Goln Gays of Manila Bety Pageant, held for poor and elrly gay men Manila.

The name was origally rived om the Home for the Goln Gays, a re facily and refuge for senr gay men Manila.

MEET SON LOR, THE GAY FILIPO MAN WHO CATWALKED HIS WAY TO FAME

Yet even whout a permanent base, the Goln Gays still exist today as a muny that supports one another, head by Jto’s close iend Ramon. “When Jayjay [Jto] was still alive, we ed to talk about the legacy of the Goln Gays, ” remembers Ramon.

THE ‘GOLN GAYS’ RETURN TO THE STAGE THE PHILIPP

Over 70 percent of Filipos agree that homosexualy should be accepted, but the untry is by no means ee om discrimatn. The Goln Gays rely heavily on anised events like this to earn money, backed by pani and anisatns that support the LGBTQ muny. ‘Rpect yourself, and you’ll receive the rpect you serve’ The event is not as refed as the polished sheen of RuPl’s Drag Race, nor Manila’s legendary drag nights, but the Goln Gays make crafty e of the few rourc they have.

The Department of Health exprsed ncern over what lls an epimic among gay men between the ag of 15 and 27 years old (who make up nearly 80 percent of new s). “We want to show young gay people that you n live a clean, healthy life spe the circumstanc hand to you. ” In search of a permanent home After the glamour of the show fas, the Goln Gays will return to their odd jobs as bety salon technicians, street vendors and dishwashers.

Events like this give the Goln Gays a few hours rpe om the harsh stggl to survive Manila, the world’s most nsely populated cy.

BEATRICE LUIGI GOMEZ, FIRST OPENLY GAY MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPP, PROUDLY WEARS RABOW OUTF

Ramon is not unaware of the fact that he’s gettg olr and wel new members each year to rry on the Goln Gays’ e. For gay pageant nttants now reelg om the impact of the COVID-19 panmic, mirrors their hope and the reason they ntue to strive the dark days. Ossa Jon, a 55-year-old gay pageant nttant om Manila, said he hoped thgs will return to how they were before the panmic as he was “exced to perform aga” to brg the “kd of happs no one else uld give.