In a queer moment that bridged the gap between streaming and classic Filipino cinema, RuPaul delivered the late Cherie Gil's iconic line from "Bituing Walang Ningning" in the sixth episode of Drag Race Philippines that aired late Wednesday.
The remaining contestants screamed after RuPaul recited Gil's trademark, as she introduced the week's maxi challenge -- Snatch Game. To the uninitiated, it's a game show where the contestants, impersonating popular celebrities -- banter with the host, which is Paolo Ballesteros in the local franchise.
There were roughly 80,000 Twitter posts about the episode as of Thursday morning.
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"My queens, I have one thing to say: You are nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copy cat," RuPaul said.
In that unforgettable scene from the 1984 film, a washed up singer named Lavinia Arguelles, played by Gil, delivered the copy line before splasing a glass of water on the face of her fan-turned-rival, Lavinia Arguelles, played by real-life friend Sharon Cuneta.
"So, game on," RuPaul said, as the queens prepared for the challenge. The episode is streaming on WOW Presents Plus, HBO Go and Discovery+. There will be no spoilers on the challenge itself.
Drag Race Philippines has introduced Filipino culture to a worlwide audience. The third episode had an aswang-themed runway and the fifth one had a dragged-up Pia Wurtzbach co-judging a Miss Shutacca gay pageant.
Past mini challenges also introduced the world to chinese garter, palo-sebo and isaw and lumpiang shanghai as bar chow or pulutan in the Untucked set.
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