MANILA, Philippines — When Valuable Paula Nicole received Drag Race Philippines Season 1, she captured the hearts of many together with her story of perseverance, amidst the struggles she confronted as a queer, an artist, and a household caretaker.
Three years later, it’s this similar journey of reaching her goals that she appears to be like again to as she takes on the lead function within the brief movie Lip Sync Murderer as Sampaguita, a drag performer who hustles on the sidelines as a employed murderer to supply for her daughter, her ailing mom, and her drag youngsters.
Directed by Jan Galvez, the brief movie was featured on the first CinePride Pageant, held in Los Angeles, California, from September 11 to 14. The occasion is a premier celebration of LGBTQIA+ tales, highlighting queer artists and filmmakers on a worldwide stage.
Lip Sync Murderer is the only entry from the Philippines, together with greater than 30 movies from all over the world.
The movie has additionally earned main recognitions, with Galvez successful Finest Director and Valuable hailed with Finest Efficiency in a Main Function on the LA movie pageant.
However greater than the accolades, what does this feat truly imply for Filipinos? For each Galvez and Valuable, past the awards lies recognition for each Filipino artist who wears many footwear for on a regular basis survival, whereas additionally being chained to a crooked system that continues to deprive folks of their wants.
A story of wig and gun
In the course of the unique preview of the brief movie this month, Galvez revealed that Sampaguita’s story is closely impressed by the collective struggles of household breadwinners, together with his personal.
In shaping the story’s depth, he emphasised how corruption in society worsens the situations of households and livelihoods, usually forcing folks to tackle harsher paths.
“Kailangan natin kumayod, alam mo naman, dahil napaka-corrupt ng lipunan. Nakakalungkot lang na might mga tao katulad ko na kailangan pang lumipad ng ibang bansa para masuportahan ‘yung household,” he stated.
(We have to hustle, you realize, as a result of society is so corrupt. It’s simply unhappy that folks like me nonetheless need to fly to a different nation to assist our household.)
Galvez additionally shared that he needed to make clear entertainers and comedians, whose abilities in bringing pleasure and pleasure usually masks their very own private struggles.
From these two concepts got here Sampaguita, whom Galvez described as a “biktima ng kurapsyon (sufferer of corruption).” Her character stands on two opposing natures: an expressive and kind-hearted supplier, and a chilly, cruel killer.
The function turns into an imaginative portrayal of how individuals are pushed to riskier and extra violent means to make ends meet in a defective system formed by greed, all advised by way of the attitude of a drag queen.
“Kaya ‘yun ‘yung kwento ni Sampaguita, however in fact, it is rather fictionalized. Gusto ko lang din ipakita at ma-represent yung drag excellence and drag artistry in a really inventive manner,” Galvez defined.
(That’s the story of Sampaguita however in fact, it’s very fictionalized. I additionally needed to point out and to have the drag excellence and drag artistry represented in a really inventive manner.)
A becoming function
Sampaguita’s character carries each weight and complexity. From the very starting, Galvez already knew who would carry her to life.
“After I was writing it, Valuable was already on my thoughts. Initially, the title is Lip Sync Murderer and who else is without doubt one of the finest, if not the perfect, drag artists right here within the Philippines and in addition on this planet,” he stated in a mixture of English and Filipino.
The director identified that past Valuable’ flawless abilities as a drag artist, it’s her plain kindness, passionate dedication to her craft, and deep fondness for her household that made her the right match for the function.
“’Yun pa lang, that will assist justify the character sa Sampaguita na all coronary heart din ‘yung binibigay para sa pamilya. So, ‘yun, kaya ako I actually consider na, ‘yun nga, nanalo pa ng lead efficiency and properly deserved,” Galvez expounded.
(That alone would assist justify Sampaguita’s character, who additionally offers her entire coronary heart to her household. So, that’s why I actually consider that, properly, she received Finest Lead Efficiency and it’s well-deserved.)
In the meantime, for Valuable, Sampaguita’s life carefully resembles her personal, permitting her to empathize deeply with the character’s struggles and convincing her that she might ship justice to the function.
“My mother, earlier than she handed, was sick. So in a manner, every little thing about her checked out with me. I stated, I can carry this and ship it. Simply put me on display screen,” the artist shared in Filipino.
Regardless of the numerous ranges of familiarity between Valuable’ life and Sampaguita’s narrative, the drag famous person nonetheless discovered herself realizing the deeper that means behind the function and the way it mirrors the underlying societal challenges that proceed to floor.
Nonetheless, because of the restricted nature of the brief movie, many facets of her character are left unexplored — tales which might have essentially made viewers perceive her motives higher and see her as extra human and relatable.
“Na kailangan mas maintindihan nila kung bakit kailangan gawin ni Sampaguita ‘yung mga ginagawa niya. Dahil might mga kailangan tayong ipakita sa display screen na hindi alam ng mga tao at dapat maging conscious sila,” she stated.
(They actually need to know why Sampaguita needed to do the issues she did. As a result of there are issues we have to present on display screen that folks don’t find out about, and they need to be made conscious of them.)
A win for Filipino artistry
Valuable’ function as Sampaguita could also be temporary within the movie, however her acclaimed embodiment of the character has made historical past as the primary Filipino drag queen to be acknowledged by a global movie collective.
Not solely did she symbolize the struggles of breadwinners, she additionally proudly showcased Filipino drag excellence past borders and throughout mediums. For Valuable, her publicity in Hollywood stands as proof of the ability of manifestation and unwavering ardour to achieve new heights.
“Patunay lang ito na nothing is unimaginable…kung magmamanifest, galingan, gandahan, at lakihan na dahil walang imposible, ibibigay talaga ‘yan kung deserve, pagtatrabahuhan mo at galing sa puso,” she shared.
(This simply proves that nothing is unimaginable…if you happen to manifest it, give your finest, put magnificence and energy into it, and go all out, as a result of nothing is unimaginable. It should actually be given to you if you happen to deserve it, work arduous for it, and it comes from the center.)
Greater than her personal goals, her achievement continues to be part of her mission to encourage many younger artists within the nation and increase the artwork of drag into totally different fields.
“Like ito, ‘yung ako pa isang drag artist, malay ba natin na makakakuha tayo ng award sa ibang bansa. Nagiging inspirasyon na ako ngayon sa mga drag queens na meron pa pala tayong kayang gawin bukod sa pag-show natin sa mga bar,” she mused.
(Like in my case, being a drag artist — who would’ve thought that we might win an award overseas? Now I’ve turn out to be an inspiration to pull queens, displaying that we will nonetheless do extra past simply performing in bars.)
As their movie wrapped up its run at CinePride 2025, the artist had nothing however gratitude to everybody who paved the way in which for her to be ready to not solely inform a narrative but in addition be half of a bigger illustration and a name for change.
Valuable once more thanked Galvez for giving her an opportunity, saying she felt nothing however pure pleasure to have the ability to symbolize Filipino drag in Hollywood.
The award-winning brief movie Lip Sync Murderer is a part of the Sinag Maynila Movie Pageant operating from September 24 to 30, with screenings at Gateway, Trinoma, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, SM Fairview, and Market! Market!. – Rappler.com
