For the first time, gender-nonconforming dancers are allowed to wear women's costumes in the Sinulog Grand Parade, following a call from Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival for a more inclusive celebration. This marks a step toward embracing queer expression in the Philippines' largest Catholic festival. Drag artists like Maria Lava and Piayuuuh showcased their talents at the 'Dragdagulan Na Sa Sinulog' event on January 10, 2026.
Cebu's Sinulog 2026 festival is opening doors for queer voices amid its traditional Catholic roots. On January 10, 2026, a day after the official opening, the 'Dragdagulan Na Sa Sinulog' drag event featured performers like Jap Sabtal, known as Maria Lava, who delivered a soulful rendition of Beyoncé's 'Best Thing I Never Had' in a wedding dress. Pia Labra, performing as Piayuuuh, danced to the Cebuano anthem 'I Love Cebu' wearing a patadyong and salakot, noting, 'It’s my first time doing a dance number.'
Partnered with Angat Cebu BPO, a volunteer network of BPO workers, the event directed proceeds to animal welfare. Ryan Calda, the group's president, explained, 'Sinulog is a celebration of art, music, dance, and fashion… What’s a better way to celebrate it than through drag shows?' Organizers took care to respect religious elements, avoiding religious artifacts in promotions, stage design, or performances.
For the first time, gender-nonconforming dancers are permitted to wear women's costumes in the Sinulog Grand Parade on January 18, 2026, where 37 contingents from neighboring areas perform ritual dances to the Child Jesus, or Senior Santo Niño. However, this change is temporary and applies only to this year. Piayuuuh reflected, 'This is only step one out of 101 million,' highlighting ongoing challenges like stigma, HIV issues, and the stalled SOGIE Equality Bill in Congress for two decades.
Drag artists credit mall invitations for initial visibility in the festival, but face persistent hurdles including financial instability for performers and backlash from incidents like drag queen Pura Luka Vega's controversial performance, which led to her being declared persona non grata in Cebu and other areas. Ultimately, Calda clarified, 'We aren’t replacing tradition; we are expanding it. We are expanding its heart.'
