And just like that, August is ending. So you can say that this month was well-lived and not just another sipped-away bottle of wine, we’ve collected things you can do for this final stretch. No need to thank us, just tag us when you’ve done your “August in pictures” post.
Catch a play
One of the things I missed most from pre-pandemic life was live theater. Shows are slowly returning now, though, with “Mula sa Buwan” finally coming back this Aug. 26 and running until Sept. 11. First staged in 2016, it’s a well-loved musical that takes Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac” to 1940s wartime Manila.
Watch “Drag Race PH” (and attend viewing parties!)
“Drag Race PH,” the long-awaited local installment of the popular drag competition show, finally arrived on Aug. 17, with new episodes up every Wednesday. Each episode is just another excuse to show off favorite local queens bringing their A-game and proving that Filipino queens are on a whole ’nother level.
My favorite way to consume “Drag Race” content though is through viewing parties. At a viewing party, you get to watch the episode and get an actual drag show as well. And now that our local queens are on the show, you get to see performances (and maybe get commentary) from the contestants themselves.
Some of the viewing parties you can check out are Bekenemen’s viewing parties on Wednesdays and Butterboy’s Saturday drag brunches and meriendrags.
Listen to a video game symphonic
Here’s something nerdy. The Manila Symphony Orchestra will be doing another run of their Video Games Symphonic on Aug. 25 at Ayala Museum. As you can tell by the name, it’ll feature music from the OSTs of video games. This is for the kind of person who’s willingly listened to the “Undertale” fifth anniversary concert a million times over.
Attend a queer gig
If symphonies aren’t your thing, then maybe you’d be interested in Mow’s queer night instead. Wrath, the Xo_fr0ntOf$h0p_oX gig on Aug. 26, features an all-queer lineup including acts Catpuke, Half/Figurd, Memoryville, Séance and the Kleptokids, Final Girls, HAUTE COUTURE, Four Limbs Six Hands, and Baby Ikea.
Learn to vogue
Strike a pose. Ahead of their Encunto Ball this October, the ballroom house Kiki House of Anansi are holding ballroom workshops this month. While some of them have already passed, they have one more workshop lined up for Aug. 27: their fem fatale workshop, which teaches participants choreo in heels.
If you’re not wholly convinced, check out this TikTok we made after going to last June’s Rainbow Ball.
@preenph the rainbow ball participants showing us how #pride is done #atinangkulayaan #voguingph ♬ original sound – Preen.ph
Photo screengrabbed from the episode one teaser
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