By Sean Clifford M. Malinao
Within Far Eastern University’s (FEU) gender-inclusive oasis, drag has found a growing platform through its student-led events and queer communities that champion self-expression. For Tamaraw drag artists, drag is more than an art of transformation — beyond these performances are students balancing academics, personal struggles, and the pursuit of authenticity, using drag not only as entertainment but also as a means of representation.
Through their artistry, these student queens challenge stereotypes, widen local understandings of gender and queerness, and create momentary sanctuaries where individuality thrives without apology.
Road to being 1conic!
1con performing ‘Break My Soul’ during the FEU Drag Battle Season 2: LoveLabanan.
A drag name is rarely a mere stage moniker; it functions as a personal manifesto, anchoring the fragments of a performer's personal struggles and aspirations.
For FEU incoming second-year fine arts student Rey Benedict Dela Peña, better known by his drag name ‘1con,’ the name serves as an active monument to the vulnerable child he was once forced to shield.
In an interview with FEU Advocate, the budding drag artist shared that before discovering drag in 2024, he spent much of his childhood suppressing parts of himself while navigating life as a closeted queer individual who experienced bullying.
“Simula pa lang nung bata ako [ay] closeted ako… ‘yung drag ko, gusto kong ma-reflect kung ano bang gusto kong maging nung bata ako kasi whenever I am looking back at my old self, nasu-suppress ‘yung gusto kong makita sa sarili ko. So, ‘yung pagda-drag ko ngayon is a celebration of who I [was] back then (Ever since I was a child, I have been closeted. Through my drag, I want to reflect the person I longed to become when I was younger, because whenever I am looking back at my old self, I am reminded of how hard I suppressed the image I wanted to see in myself. That is why my drag today serves as a celebration of who I was back then),” 1con reflected.
Part of 1con’s journey has been shaped by the support surrounding him — the encouragement of his drag sisters that extended beyond competition. That same sense of acceptance eventually reached home, where his family — especially his mother — embraced his identity as a drag artist.
“‘Yong pangyayaring iyon is very healing to me kasi hindi talaga ako malapit sa family ko… so ‘yung ganoong mga small acts is very empowering for me kasi slowly nahi-heal ko na kung ano ‘yung mga naging dagok ng kabataan ko (That experience was deeply healing for me because I have never been particularly close to my family. Those small acts of support are very empowering, as they slowly allow me to heal from the hardships and emotional wounds of my childhood),” he opened up, revealing how drag can become a bridge toward healing old distances at home.
Moving from the province to Manila, 1con found the freedom he once struggled to claim in FEU. Through student-led platforms such as FEU Drag Battle and Piyu Pride Fest, he was able to introduce his art to a wider audience, which eventually opened doors for opportunities beyond the University and into professional drag spaces.
“These events are a platform to really show ‘yung creativity ng students [and] dahil sa Drag Battle, marami akong natutunan from a lot of people… nasabi ko na rin na nagpe-perform na ako sa mga bars… kung hindi ako sumali sa Drag Battle, hindi ako madi-discover… I am very thankful na mayroon tayong safe spaces [and] organizations para tulungan ang ating mga student artists (These events are a platform to really show the creativity of students, and because of Drag Battle, I have learned a lot from a lot of people. I am also already performing in bars. If I had not joined Drag Battle, I would not have been discovered. I am very thankful that we have safe spaces and organizations to support our student artists),” he stated.
As global pride movements increasingly turn into commercialized celebrations, 1con remains fiercely anchored to the historical roots of the observance, viewing his presence on stage as an ongoing sociopolitical confrontation.
“Pride is a celebration of who we are… it is a celebration of equality. Ngayong Pride Month, hindi lang naman natin ipinapakita ang kabaklaan natin; it is a protest and every year we fight for our rights… Nakakatulong [ang Pride Month] para i-educate ang mga tao na hindi kasalanan ang pagiging bakla (Pride is a celebration of who we are; it is a celebration of equality. During Pride Month, we do not merely showcase our queerness — it is a protest, and every year we fight for our rights. Pride Month helps educate people that being gay is not a sin),” he insisted.
Looking ahead, 1con hopes to leave behind more than memorable performances. For him, the dream is simple: a drag community where no one has to navigate self-discovery alone — and a future that is, in every sense, completely 1conic.
Defying Grabe-TEH!
z3ta winning ‘People’s Choice Award’ during the FEU Drag Battle Season 2: LoveLabanan.
While certain drag archetypes lean comfortably into palatable definitions of beauty, alternative drag exists to disrupt comfort entirely.
When incoming fourth-year tourism management student Amber Verchez manifests her alternative persona, ‘z3ta,’ she bypasses standard pageantry glitz in favor of something haunting: a visceral motif dripping in simulated crimson.
“My very first performance was ‘Bloody Mary,’ and [in] that performance I was literally dripping in blood… It symbolizes me being in touch with my body because I have always hated my skin,” she recalled.
But rather than serving as a mask, z3ta remains inseparable from Amber herself. The persona mirrors her worldview — a belief that life is too unpredictable to control completely, and that surrendering to uncertainty can be its own form of peace.
“There are times where I would just let things be, iyon ang alam kong similarities ni z3ta at ni Amber (that is the similarity between z3ta and Amber that I know)… If it is beyond my control, why would I bother controlling it? Life is very wild and you cannot calculate what will happen,” she mused.
Yet some realities are impossible to simply leave to chance. As a transgender woman, z3ta's performances are inseparable from her advocacy — a response to the forms of exclusion and invisibility trans people continue to encounter both within and beyond queer spaces.
Despite FEU's strong reputation as a gender-inclusive campus, she argued that the institution should not be exempted from introspection. Beyond visible support, inclusivity demands that institutions address policies and practices that continue to produce microaggressions and reduce queer representation to a symbol rather than a commitment.
“Hindi dahil in-approve mo ‘yung isang LGBTQ-driven na program o event ay matatawag na ingklusibo ang institusyon. Kung hindi mo isinasapuso at isinasabuhay ‘yung mga adbokasiya na inilalabas ng mga taong ito, hindi ka ingklusibo. Kasi hindi naman natatapos sa for the show ang mga bagay na ito (Approving an LGBTQ-driven program or event does not automatically make an institution inclusive. If it does not truly internalize and live out the advocacies expressed by these people, then it cannot be called inclusive. These matters do not end with being merely for show),” z3ta countered.
For her, this critique extends to the treatment of student artists themselves. While she appreciates organizations that provide platforms for drag performers, z3ta believes that support must go beyond optics and instead translate into genuine care and respect for artistic labor.
Uncompromising and razor-sharp, z3ta’s narrative refuses to sanitize difficult institutional truths, opting to drag them into the spotlight instead. Much like her first performance, z3ta's story refuses to look away from difficult truths — defying gravity with a bang.
The show must drag on
Letisha Jasmine crowned FEU Drag Battle Superstar 2026.
Many drag artists find themselves through transformation and reinvention, but others arrive at drag as if it were always waiting in the wings, ready for its cue.
Long before she entered the drag scene in 2023, incoming fourth-year communication student Cane-Jharelle Villalobos, also known as the reigning FEU Drag Battle Superstar Letisha Jasmine, had already fallen in love with the stage. Her love for performing, initially a remedy for childhood stage fright, eventually nurtured a lifelong passion for storytelling — one that naturally evolved into drag.
“Being involved in theater inspired me even more to pursue drag, as it allowed me to express my creativity and passion on stage. The passion for performing burns strongly within me, and drag has become one of the most meaningful ways for me to share that passion with others,” she articulated.
Yet, behind every polished mug and carefully styled wig lies an unglamorous reality. Drag, after all, is expensive, and for a student artist juggling theater rehearsals, academics, and everyday responsibilities, sustaining multiple passions often feels like an intricate balancing act.
“As a student, medyo mahirap i-budget ang mga gastos na ito dahil wala pa akong stable source of income… Bilang student artist na involved din sa theater, minsan mahirap i-balance ang acads, theater, drag, at personal life. Despite these challenges, kinakaya ko pa rin because of my passion for performing and my love for the art of drag (As a student, it is quite difficult to budget these expenses because I do not yet have a stable source of income. As a student artist involved in theater, it is sometimes hard to balance academics, theater, drag, and personal life. Despite these challenges, I continue to manage because of my passion for performing and my love for the art of drag),” she explained.
Whenever exhaustion threatens to overshadow her craft, Letisha Jasmine returns to the lesson she learned inside the FEU Theater Guild — always coming back to one's core, remembering why she began to allow the passion to outlast the pressure.
“Kapag naiisip ko kung bakit ako nagsimula at kung gaano ko kamahal ang drag, parang bumabalik ulit 'yung passion at motivation ko. It reminds me that I do this not just for opportunities or recognition, but because this art form genuinely makes me happy (When I think about why I started and how much I love drag, my passion and motivation come back. It reminds me that I do this not just for opportunities or recognition, but because this art form genuinely makes me happy),” she shared.
Surrounded by friends, family, and fellow artists, Letisha gradually realized that drag was never simply about applause. Through their support, she came to see the stage as a platform for visibility and advocacy — one capable of amplifying voices beyond her own.
“They remind me that drag is more than just performing on stage; it is also a platform for self-expression, visibility, and advocacy. Dahil sa kanila, mas na-inspire akong gamitin ang platform na ito to speak up for my community and help promote acceptance, equality, and representation for everyone (Because of them, I have become more inspired to use this platform to speak up for my community and help promote acceptance, equality, and representation for everyone),” she stated.
To Letisha, Pride is also an inheritance — a celebration built upon generations of LGBTQIA+ people who fought for the freedom many enjoy today. Through her performances, she hopes to honor that legacy while encouraging aspiring artists to embrace uncertainty and pursue their passions without fear.
“Gusto kong ipakita na okay lang matakot at magkamali (I want to show that it is okay to be afraid and to make mistakes), but you should never let that fear stop you from chasing your passion. If you truly love what you do, keep going, trust the process, and allow yourself to grow along the way,” she urged.
Looking ahead, Letisha dreams of a university where queer artistry is woven naturally into campus life, with every LGBTQIA+ student being given the freedom to take center stage and become themselves unapologetically.
For someone who first stepped onto the stage to conquer fear, perhaps that is the greatest encore she can hope for — a brighter spotlight that awaits to shine for those who will follow.
Across three distinct journeys, drag emerges as something more than a performance — for 1con, it is the reclamation of a childhood constrained by fear. For z3ta, it is the confrontation of a world that refuses to listen. And for Letisha Jasmine, it is the continuity of a dream she continues to chase.
The growing drag scene within the green-and-gold halls serve as a reminder that a true safe space is not defined merely by the absence of overt hostility or annual festivities; it lies with the continuous evaluation of policies and the genuine protection of its most vulnerable constituents. And until the world outside catches up, these Tamaraw queens will keep their heels high and their truths completely untucked.
(Layout by Runoel Julius Barde/FEU Advocate)