THE STAGE CALLS SERIES
As we follow Richard’s story into the present, we delve into the complicated relationship he has with his family. For years, he hid his drag persona, because he was afraid of familial rejection, judgment, and due to his parents believing that drag was not a respectable act or art form. When his viral moment brought his identity back into the spotlight, Richard faced the emotional conversation of opening up to his extended family.
Through his reflections, we explore a universal theme within the drag community: the long, uneven road to acceptance. Richard’s story helps highlight how many drag performers navigate cultural expectations, religious pressures, and generational divides before finally finding the courage to claim their truth.
The episode also features Ms. Eliza, a performer from the Rampa Drag Club, known for being the stage of today’s Metro Manila drag scene, especially after performances from well known drag queens like Marina Summers and Tiny Deluxe, even Filipino theatre veterans like Phi Palmos.
Ms. Eliza offers insight into the modern landscape that performances of golden drag queens like Richard Luna helped pave the way for. We explore her rise as a drag artist, the evolution of the craft, the pressures that she faces, and why respect for drag as an art form remains essential. Through Ms. Eliza, we witness the creativity, discipline, and resilience that define Filipino drag today.
With this video series, we hope to encourage viewers to keep in mind that respect and that talking about their experiences and their journey at home and on the stage. By sharing their stories and perspectives, drag artists contribute to a broader conversation about identity, gender, and how it intersects with LGBTQ+ rights in the Philippines. Together, these stories remind us that drag is history, culture, and identity and THE STAGE CALLS video series is here to amplify every voice that continues to shape it.
Words by Jannah RicafortFilmed by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba Edited by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba
THE STAGE CALLS is a video series that dives deep into the careers, identities, and lived experiences of drag queens across generations and cultures. In this episode, Richard Luna is a Filipino drag queen from the 80s who had immigrated to America for a better life.
In a random, small-town interview with Matt Shearer, a reporter from the WBZ Radio in Boston, who is also known as ReporterMatt, Richard becomes a viral sensation overnight. His translation of the Filipino phrase “joke lang” to “joke only”, combined with a sweet voice made American audiences swoon and invested to learn more about his story. In this video, we uncover his career as a drag queen in the Philippines in the 80s and 90s.
In this episode, we go beyond the viral video to uncover the full story of Richard Luna’s life and career. We revisit the Philippine drag scene of the ’80s and ’90s—a world filled with improvisational glamour, underground pageants, and performers who mastered their craft long before drag became mainstream entertainment.
Richard’s early years were defined by both joy and struggle: the exhilaration of performing in Manila’s nightclubs and the ever-present fear of being discovered by family or authorities in a time when drag was far from embraced.
PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
THE STAGE CALLS SERIES
THE STAGE CALLS is a video series that dives deep into the careers, identities, and lived experiences of drag queens across generations and cultures. In this episode, Richard Luna is a Filipino drag queen from the 80s who had immigrated to America for a better life.
In a random, small-town interview with Matt Shearer, a reporter from the WBZ Radio in Boston, who is also known as ReporterMatt, Richard becomes a viral sensation overnight. His translation of the Filipino phrase “joke lang” to “joke only”, combined with a sweet voice made American audiences swoon and invested to learn more about his story. In this video, we uncover his career as a drag queen in the Philippines in the 80s and 90s.
In this episode, we go beyond the viral video to uncover the full story of Richard Luna’s life and career. We revisit the Philippine drag scene of the ’80s and ’90s—a world filled with improvisational glamour, underground pageants, and performers who mastered their craft long before drag became mainstream entertainment.
Richard’s early years were defined by both joy and struggle: the exhilaration of performing in Manila’s nightclubs and the ever-present fear of being discovered by family or authorities in a time when drag was far from embraced.
As we follow Richard’s story into the present, we delve into the complicated relationship he has with his family. For years, he hid his drag persona, because he was afraid of familial rejection, judgment, and due to his parents believing that drag was not a respectable act or art form. When his viral moment brought his identity back into the spotlight, Richard faced the emotional conversation of opening up to his extended family.
Through his reflections, we explore a universal theme within the drag community: the long, uneven road to acceptance. Richard’s story helps highlight how many drag performers navigate cultural expectations, religious pressures, and generational divides before finally finding the courage to claim their truth.
The episode also features Ms. Eliza, a performer from the Rampa Drag Club, known for being the stage of today’s Metro Manila drag scene, especially after performances from well known drag queens like Marina Summers and Tiny Deluxe, even Filipino theatre veterans like Phi Palmos.
Ms. Eliza offers insight into the modern landscape that performances of golden drag queens like Richard Luna helped pave the way for. We explore her rise as a drag artist, the evolution of the craft, the pressures that she faces, and why respect for drag as an art form remains essential. Through Ms. Eliza, we witness the creativity, discipline, and resilience that define Filipino drag today.
With this video series, we hope to encourage viewers to keep in mind that respect and that talking about their experiences and their journey at home and on the stage. By sharing their stories and perspectives, drag artists contribute to a broader conversation about identity, gender, and how it intersects with LGBTQ+ rights in the Philippines. Together, these stories remind us that drag is history, culture, and identity and THE STAGE CALLS video series is here to amplify every voice that continues to shape it.
Words by Jannah RicafortFilmed by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba Edited by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba
PART 3
PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
THE STAGE CALLS SERIES
THE STAGE CALLS is a video series that dives deep into the careers, identities, and lived experiences of drag queens across generations and cultures. In this episode, Richard Luna is a Filipino drag queen from the 80s who had immigrated to America for a better life.
In a random, small-town interview with Matt Shearer, a reporter from the WBZ Radio in Boston, who is also known as ReporterMatt, Richard becomes a viral sensation overnight. His translation of the Filipino phrase “joke lang” to “joke only”, combined with a sweet voice made American audiences swoon and invested to learn more about his story. In this video, we uncover his career as a drag queen in the Philippines in the 80s and 90s.
In this episode, we go beyond the viral video to uncover the full story of Richard Luna’s life and career. We revisit the Philippine drag scene of the ’80s and ’90s—a world filled with improvisational glamour, underground pageants, and performers who mastered their craft long before drag became mainstream entertainment.
Richard’s early years were defined by both joy and struggle: the exhilaration of performing in Manila’s nightclubs and the ever-present fear of being discovered by family or authorities in a time when drag was far from embraced.
As we follow Richard’s story into the present, we delve into the complicated relationship he has with his family. For years, he hid his drag persona, because he was afraid of familial rejection, judgment, and due to his parents believing that drag was not a respectable act or art form. When his viral moment brought his identity back into the spotlight, Richard faced the emotional conversation of opening up to his extended family.
Through his reflections, we explore a universal theme within the drag community: the long, uneven road to acceptance. Richard’s story helps highlight how many drag performers navigate cultural expectations, religious pressures, and generational divides before finally finding the courage to claim their truth.
The episode also features Ms. Eliza, a performer from the Rampa Drag Club, known for being the stage of today’s Metro Manila drag scene, especially after performances from well known drag queens like Marina Summers and Tiny Deluxe, even Filipino theatre veterans like Phi Palmos.
Ms. Eliza offers insight into the modern landscape that performances of golden drag queens like Richard Luna helped pave the way for. We explore her rise as a drag artist, the evolution of the craft, the pressures that she faces, and why respect for drag as an art form remains essential. Through Ms. Eliza, we witness the creativity, discipline, and resilience that define Filipino drag today.
With this video series, we hope to encourage viewers to keep in mind that respect and that talking about their experiences and their journey at home and on the stage. By sharing their stories and perspectives, drag artists contribute to a broader conversation about identity, gender, and how it intersects with LGBTQ+ rights in the Philippines. Together, these stories remind us that drag is history, culture, and identity and THE STAGE CALLS video series is here to amplify every voice that continues to shape it.
Words by Jannah RicafortFilmed by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba Edited by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba
PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
THE STAGE CALLS SERIES
THE STAGE CALLS is a video series that dives deep into the careers, identities, and lived experiences of drag queens across generations and cultures. In this episode, Richard Luna is a Filipino drag queen from the 80s who had immigrated to America for a better life.
In a random, small-town interview with Matt Shearer, a reporter from the WBZ Radio in Boston, who is also known as ReporterMatt, Richard becomes a viral sensation overnight. His translation of the Filipino phrase “joke lang” to “joke only”, combined with a sweet voice made American audiences swoon and invested to learn more about his story. In this video, we uncover his career as a drag queen in the Philippines in the 80s and 90s.
In this episode, we go beyond the viral video to uncover the full story of Richard Luna’s life and career. We revisit the Philippine drag scene of the ’80s and ’90s—a world filled with improvisational glamour, underground pageants, and performers who mastered their craft long before drag became mainstream entertainment.
Richard’s early years were defined by both joy and struggle: the exhilaration of performing in Manila’s nightclubs and the ever-present fear of being discovered by family or authorities in a time when drag was far from embraced.
As we follow Richard’s story into the present, we delve into the complicated relationship he has with his family. For years, he hid his drag persona, because he was afraid of familial rejection, judgment, and due to his parents believing that drag was not a respectable act or art form. When his viral moment brought his identity back into the spotlight, Richard faced the emotional conversation of opening up to his extended family.
Through his reflections, we explore a universal theme within the drag community: the long, uneven road to acceptance. Richard’s story helps highlight how many drag performers navigate cultural expectations, religious pressures, and generational divides before finally finding the courage to claim their truth.
The episode also features Ms. Eliza, a performer from the Rampa Drag Club, known for being the stage of today’s Metro Manila drag scene, especially after performances from well known drag queens like Marina Summers and Tiny Deluxe, even Filipino theatre veterans like Phi Palmos.
Ms. Eliza offers insight into the modern landscape that performances of golden drag queens like Richard Luna helped pave the way for. We explore her rise as a drag artist, the evolution of the craft, the pressures that she faces, and why respect for drag as an art form remains essential. Through Ms. Eliza, we witness the creativity, discipline, and resilience that define Filipino drag today.
With this video series, we hope to encourage viewers to keep in mind that respect and that talking about their experiences and their journey at home and on the stage. By sharing their stories and perspectives, drag artists contribute to a broader conversation about identity, gender, and how it intersects with LGBTQ+ rights in the Philippines. Together, these stories remind us that drag is history, culture, and identity and THE STAGE CALLS video series is here to amplify every voice that continues to shape it.
Words by Jannah RicafortFilmed by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba Edited by Jannah Ricafort and Benjamin Torralba
PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
