Maria Lava hopes to make Cebu proud in ‘Drag Den’ Season 2
Maria Lava initially hesitated to turn in an application for Season 2 of the hit Prime Video reality series “Drag Den” for two reasons: it will be costly to create looks for the show’s challenges, and the 28-year-old from Cebu has a full-time job as HR manager. “I am required to have full commitment to my work because I have to set a good example. But lately, drag has been affecting my work,” Lava told The FREEMAN in a sit-down interview.
Noticing that fellow drag queens were not participating in the series, this led Lava to think – if no one from Cebu is stepping up, who will?
Lava is one of 10 contestants in season 2 of “Drag Den” subtitled “Retribution”, hosted by Fil-Am drag performer Manila Luzon. It premieres 7 pm tomorrow, January 18, on the Amazon streamer.
“I feel like ‘Drag Den’ connects to what my drag does. I don’t want to be branded as a political queen because drag in itself is already political,” said the performer from Manduae City. “What
‘Drag Den’ has been doing speaks to me. It captures my heart and I can relate to whatever challenges they have been doing because it’s political, and it fits my brand.”
- A woman, and a man -
Before becoming Lava, Jap Sabtal had a Muslim upbringing in Zamboanga City.
“I came out in college in 2015 when I was a third year student,” shared Lava. “All the gay stuff started in Cebu because I was a closet in Zamboanga. But everything flourished for me when I went to Cebu and I started working here, met people, and discovered drag.”
Sabtal created the Lava persona in 2017, inspired by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s red lava dress. That time, Lava only did drag at company parties.
Things shifted in 2022 when Lava performed as a representative of Angat Sugbo BPO at the Mandaue City presidential campaign rally of former Vice President Leni Robredo. That year was also when the first seasons of “Drag Race Philippines” and “Drag Den” premiered, resulting to an overnight increase of drag queen representation in Philippine mainstream media.
“When I watched ‘Drag Race Philippines’, I found a space for me, a television show where I can see myself,” said Lava.
Lava originally considered transitioning, until the realization that doing drag as Lava was a way to keep the masculinity, while embracing the femininity when on stage.
“I wanted to be a woman, but I don’t feel like I am a woman. I just want the physical appearance. To me, being a woman, it has to be felt. When drag was introduced to me, it all shifted to a different perspective,” explained Lava, whose appeal is strong stage presence and being able to connect with the audience.
- #LetThemEatLechon -
Since the official announcement of Lava’s inclusion in “Drag Den” last December, followers have rallied for online support with the motto “Let Them Eat Lechon” – which is also the title of the drag queen’s debut single released last January 14.
“I wrote it while shooting the show and finished it when I went back home. It’s inspired by my journey in ‘Drag Den’ as well as Sinulog and me being in Cebu,” said Lava. “You will later find out why I made the song. Why is it lechon? Yes, Cebu is about lechon but there’s a deeper meaning about it in the show.”
Lava hopes to make Cebuanos proud via “Drag Den.”
“I am just grateful to the show for allowing me to be there. It’s important for me to represent Cebuana drag queens because we have been craving more attention,” said Lava.
Post-“Drag Den”, Lava will continue to release new music, start a podcast, and will be seen in the Cebuano indie movie “Yellow Hotel”, directed by Andy Denson.