The Lip Sync For Your Life, the elimination, and the surprise guest at the Bekenemen Viewing Party tugged heartstrings, leaving everyone in tears.
The Lip Sync For Your Life is a big piece of the Drag Race pie where emotions are high, the pressure is on, and sometimes, it makes for a defining moment in queer pop culture. Slow songs are rarely used because we prefer a high-energy performance to match the heightened excitement level for the show’s most crucial segment. There are precious gems like Latrice Royale’s master class in compelling park-and-bark with “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” And we can never forget the late Chi Chi DeVayne’s performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”
Ballads in our native tongue create two possible outcomes: they cradle us ever so softly into the warm arms of kilig or pierce through our hearts’ walls, causing us to shed red tears. Because it’s the ultimate gut-wrenching song, Morissette’s version of “Gusto Ko Nang Bumitaw” has become a phenomenal hit. The song carries a weight that presses to your chest and intensifies as it crescendos.
The layers that led to an overflow of emotions
Add these layers on top of Drag Race Philippines, which already strikes a chord with us heavily. There’s another layer of watching it live with the actual queens involved and equally spirited individuals who are friends and fans. The moment M1ss Jade So and Matilduh were in their lip sync positions, and the first notes of the previously mentioned song penetrated our ears, the Bekenemen viewing party that night started to become an oven of emotions. It was that kind of moment when you feel so engrossed you forget to breathe. That Lip Sync For Your Life is definitely one of the best ones across all franchises.
Sadly, it was time for Matilduh to sashay away. During her exit, she talked about her parents: “This is a dream come true. Sinugal ko siya kahit hindi ako nagpaalam sa parents ko na nag-audition ako for Drag Race Philippines kasi parang hindi pa ako ready sabihin sa kanila na ito ‘yung ginagawa ko for a living.” It then cut to her last confessional: “Hi, ma, pa! I’m gay and I do drag. Sana proud pa rin kayo sa’kin and I hope you’ll still love me the same.”
There was a crack in everyone’s hearts; like a broken dam, tears burst forth in a torrential rush. And then, as Matilduh was making her way out the main stage, Captivating Katkat screamed as her ski poles failed to keep her upright, shattering a deeply emotional moment as we exploded in laughter.
An unexpected encounter
During Matilduh’s interview after watching the episode, Myx Chanel of Bekenemen viewing party said, “Now, if I’m not mistaken, Matilduh, there are people in the audience here for you.” Confirming what Myx said, Baus Rufo immediately pinpointed who: “I think Mommy Matilduh is in the audience.” At that point, tears were back in our eyes.
Baus Rufo: “You saw your child’s incredible journey, and then when Matty had that special message, take us through how you’re feeling right now seeing your son just shine the brightest tonight.”
Mommy Matilduh: “As a mother naman kasi, kahit anong maging future ng anak mo, matatanggap mo maging sino man siya. I also watched the episodes pero secret lang. After ko mapanuod tinetext ko si Mat. Parang ‘yung sabi niya last time na second year siya inexpose ‘nung teacher niya, hindi ko naaalala ‘yun. Grade 4 pa lang sinusumbong na siya ng teacher niya pero hindi ko pinapansin. Parang loob-loob ko, ‘Eh, ano ngayon.’”
To witness such a tender but mighty thing was a moment we will never forget. We remembered our own stories with our parents. There was a shared humanity in that moment, a sense of sisterhood and familiarity.
We captured more highlights from Bekenemen Viewing Party for Drag Race Philippines Episode 5:
