The queens give the reading challenge a twist with Fliptop, or the Philippines’ version of street rap battling. For the main challenge, the queens have to create a shampoo commercial that showcases their brand. With extra-special (and beloved) guest judge Pangina Heals!
You couldn’t have said it better. Jesus the last two episodes really drained me emotionally, in a good way. The makeover challenge was probably the most wholesome challenge of the whole franchise, and this episode… God damn. For me it also has the plus of Miss Jade excelling, which I was really looking forward to. That last lipsync was very Lolita Banana vs Big Bertha. This top 6 is really iconic, and the fact the judges haven’t been able to eliminate a queen for two episodes in a row just goes to show your how amazingly talented they are.
It was also such a joy to see Pangina! And bitch of Pangina says Philippino drag is the shit it’s because Philippino drag is the shit.
Now I have some more Philippino culture questions. What’s up with the mini challenge rap? That wasn’t rap as I know it. Where they mocking something I missed it what? And why does Hanna Beshi (I’m probably spelling it wrong, sorry) always adds “with {insert random paperwork}”. Is that a joke about her name, or some pun?
If you look up “FlipTop battle Philippines,” you’ll see that it’s a local version of rap battling, but the queens had to adapt it to the reading challenge, so it was more like they read each other in “street rap” style. Katkat putting on the full male “street” attitude (“kalye” in Tagalog, which I’m sure is a familiar Spanish loanword to you) made her look and sound so ridiculous and it was my favorite
Now the thing with Hana Beshie is new, and my info comes from comments I’ve read. They say it’s a bit they do in another show Paolo is on, where they give out prizes like electronic appliances (Hanabishi is a popular Japanese brand in the Ph), and the prizes usually come with something else (Hanabishi fan with . . .). Sorry I can’t explain it well because one, I haven’t been to the Ph in a while, and two, when I’m there and my family watches these shows, I feel like gouging my eyes out. I hate them, hehe
And yes, Pangina is mother and we all love Drag Race Philippines!