“We are very proud of you. I am personally very, very proud of you,” Vice said in return. “You are so beautiful and you are doing such an amazing job.”—Vice Ganda to Manila Luzon.

Vice Ganda expressed his elation upon meeting Filipino-American drag icon Manila Luzon on It’s Showtime last Thursday, February 1.

Manila, who opened the variety show with a lip-sync performance of the Chaka Khan hit “I’m Every Woman,” was showered with praises by the comedian-host, starting with her recent accolade—winning Best Entertainment Presenter at the Asian TV Awards.

“It is such an honor as a Filipino-American to come here to the Philippines and represent Filipino drag for all of the world and to go out to Asia and bring the trophy back here to the Philippines,” Manila told the It’s Showtime hosts.

“We are very proud of you. I am personally very, very proud of you,” Vice said in return. “You are so beautiful and you are doing such an amazing job.”

Vice, then, told viewers that it was his first time meeting Manila personally, although they have been exchanging messages on social media in the past.

Moreover, he praised Drag Den Philippines, the Filipino drag reality show Manila is presently hosting, because of how it showcases Filipino culture and the talents of the Filipino drag community.

“Nakaka-proud kasi talaga siya. Marami namang drag competitions na pero eto talaga, Pinoy na Pinoy. Ang puso ay Pinoy na Pinoy. Ginawa siya ng mga Pilipino para sa mga Pilipino sa buong mundo,” Vice said. “’Yong puso ng Pilipino mapapanood niyo doon sa Drag Den tapos ’yong buong production Pinoy na Pinoy. Very consistent. Nakakatuwa.”

“Nakaka-proud po talaga at maipagmamalaki natin ’yong mga talent ng Filipina drag artists,” he further said.

 

Last April 2021, in an exclusive interview with the media company Vice, Manila shared that she wishes to share the stage with Vice Ganda and various local drag queens.

Manila rose to fame when she joined the third season of American drag reality competition RuPaul’s Drag Race where she was named the runner-up. She would return to compete two more times in the show’s spin-off edition RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, specifically in its first and fourth seasons.

The second season of Drag Den Philippines streams every Thursday, 7PM on Prime Video.