Magnificence. Comedy. Camp. Political.
In her quick stint in Drag Den: Retribution, Cebuana Drag Queen Maria Lava confirmed the Philippines her true model with two targets: to make a press release and signify Cebu’s drag scene.
Being the primary Cebuana to be given the platform to carry out on the Drag Den stage, she knew she had an obligation to uplift the native drag neighborhood, and she or he swore by it even months after filming the season.
We all know Maria Lava because the drag queen from that actuality present, a drag mom to Cebu’s Haus of Lava, and one of many queens who joined the initiative to partake within the talked-about drag studying session with children in Mandaue.
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However Maria Lava has a narrative, a drag journey, and a motivation to carry out.
As such, in celebration of Delight Month, Maria Lava shares with CDN Digital her drag journey, from taking up the position of her drag persona to her future plans for herself and the drag scene in Cebu.
Meet Jap Sabtal, out of drag
Earlier than creating the persona of Maria Lava, he was Jap Sabtal, born and raised in Zamboanga earlier than he uprooted his life and transferred to Cebu in 2017.
Sabtal described himself as a closeted queer again when he was in Mindanao, despite the fact that he got here out of the closet longer earlier than he introduced his life to Cebu. Upon arriving within the extra liberated world of Cebu, his life shifted.
Jap Sabtal, Maria Lava out of drag | Contributed Photograph
He labored his method as much as turning into an HR Supervisor in a BPO firm. A fateful occasion in that firm catalyzed him to find part of himself he didn’t know existed.
His office wanted somebody to impersonate a singer for an organization occasion. Pushed by his curiosity in RuPaul’s Drag Race, his workmates supported and inspired him to volunteer, and so he did. He impersonated Beyonce and lipsynced to her music “Love on Prime.”
From that second, he fell in love with drag and all the pieces related to it. He has at all times outlined himself as a fan of artwork, nevertheless it was by drag that he might categorical his personal model of artwork to a degree of proficiency.
Changing into Maria Lava, a Cebuana drag artist
When he began performing as his drag alter ego, he initially referred to as the persona Jaja Rivera––a reputation he now deemed “messy” as he settled on a robust identify that matches the model, Maria Lava.
He stated Maria was only a typical female identify he wished to make use of. In the meantime, the identify “Lava” was impressed by the enduring lava robe of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Grey.
(Proper) Catriona Grey profitable Miss Universe 2018 and (Left) Maria Lava in a purple robe. | Photograph: AP Photograph & Maria Lava
Why Catriona? Sabtal resonated along with her laborious work and dedication. Each single accent has a which means for Catriona simply so she will fulfill her objective of profitable the crown, which embodies how he sees Maria Lava.
Maria Lava is all out. She is admittedly further. Maria Lava may be very bold. She needs the complete universe to have a look at her and admire her.
Centering her model on camp, magnificence, and comedy, Maria Lava performs with a particular alternative of songs to raise her model. Even so, it was disclosed that she plans to evolve her model and discover performing historically masculine songs.
In an interview with Sabtal, he stated that Maria Lava is way completely different from Jap Sabtal. Whereas the drag persona is the epitome of out-and-loud, Jap is extra on the mellow aspect, describing himself as a “nonchalant” one that is targeted on his work.
“One factor they’ve in widespread is that Jap and Maria Lava are by no means afraid to talk up for social points. Let’s simply say that,” Sabtal stated within the interview.
Maria Lava: ‘Drag is Political’
One factor we should always find out about Maria Lava is that she just isn’t afraid to talk her thoughts. This has even been mirrored in her performances all through the years.
Maria Lava holding out a satisfaction flag with a political message. | Contributed Photograph
Most popularly, she took her stand by performing without spending a dime at a political rally previous to the 2022 presidential elections. She used her performances as a platform to amplify what she needed to say.
When requested why political themes are a staple in Maria Lava’s performances, he eloquently defined the connection between drag and politics.
While you do drag, you create a press release. You signify a gaggle of neighborhood. It’s political since you are doing stuff nga dili siya social norm. What we try to do is to normalize it. You’re telling different folks that you simply exist, and this needs to be revered and seen.
Nonetheless, he has repeatedly stated he doesn’t wish to be branded as a political drag queen. He believes what her drag persona is doing shouldn’t be distinctive to Maria Lava. It needs to be a norm for drag performers to talk their minds.
Maria Lava embodied this precept even exterior of her performances. Extra lately, she volunteered to take part within the drag studying session with preschool youngsters in Mandaue.
Even with criticisms from some Cebuano netizens, she stayed true to her model of talking her thoughts. She determined to teach folks about social points, particularly these surrounding the controversy of the drag studying occasion.
Constructing the Haus of Lava
Apart from being a thriving drag artist, Maria Lava can also be a drag mom of her native drag home, the Haus of Lava. Of their neighborhood, a drag home is a collective of artists and performers headed by a mentor they name their “mom.”
The group was fashioned when Maria Lava began sourcing backup dancers for her political rally performances. Since then, the creative endeavors of these backup dancers have grown till a few of them determined to pursue drag as a passion.
Maria Lava with the Haus of Lava | Contributed Photograph
It was when the home was formally based that Maria Lava supplied to mentor her drag daughters towards turning into totally grown drag queens. She even talked about having drag daughters from Davao and different components of the nation.
When requested about her drag daughters, Maria Lava proudly talked about their expertise and particularly shared how far they’ve come. Considered one of her drag daughters who discovered success underneath her mentorship is Gravana Lava, who has secured a number of awards over the previous few years.
At present, the Haus of Lava includes Maria Lava, three backup dancers, and three drag queens.
Representing Cebu: Drag Den Retribution
Maria Lava wished to nurture younger abilities. Above all, she at all times wished to signify Cebu. For many Cebuana drag artists, Drag Race Philippines was the objective, nevertheless it was a objective already secured by Cebuana queens Nicole Pardaux and Verushka Ranges.
When one other drag actuality present, Drag Den, opened its doorways for provincial drag queens in its second installment, Cebuana queens confirmed a little bit of hesitation since they had been nonetheless eyeing to hitch the previous actuality present.
What pushed Maria Lava to audition was the present’s unapologetic political voice that matches her drag model, so she auditioned. In the long run, she grew to become a part of the ultimate forged for the present’s second season, and she or he was there to signify Cebu.
Maria Lava in her well-liked appears from Drag Den Retribution | Photograph: Maria Lava / IG
Maria Lava introduced along with her commissioned outfits from quite a few designers from Cebu and Zamboanga, together with a robe sponsored by Mandaue Metropolis Treasurer Atty. Regal Oliva. It was on the expectation that every one robes are to be featured on the supposedly non-elimination present.
In an unlucky flip of occasions, the present shocked the forged by telling them {that a} drag queen can be eradicated per episode. Sadly, Maria Lava was the primary to go, bringing dwelling along with her all of the robes she was presupposed to put on.
At the moment, I [was] fairly assured that I’ll make all of it the best way. I didn’t know what occurred. I by no means had any regrets when it comes to my efficiency and no matter it’s that I’ve proven there as a result of that was me. I believe ‘di lang siguro siya nag-translate sa kanila.
Even so, Sabtal stated he fulfilled his objective of becoming a member of the competitors as Maria Lava, which is to raise Cebu drag by establishing its existence even with the dearth of drag-centered bars in Cebu.
As such, he even created connections with different drag queens and establishments from all around the nation that can quickly assist him in the direction of his subsequent plan for Cebu drag.
Drag Scene in Cebu
The drag scene in Cebu is now booming, in accordance with Jap Sabtal in an interview. He attributed it to the mainstream recognition of Drag Race Philippines, which impressed extra native drag queens to carry out.
With Maria Lava’s platform and alternatives, he believes it’s now Maria Lava’s duty to assist promote native drag, most particularly serving to younger drag artists pave their careers.
I wish to assist the newborn drag queen carry out. As a child homosexual boy who wished to do drag and carry out, I wished to expertise that. I don’t need the following era to expertise the wrestle that I felt. That’s why we’re working very laborious proper now to present them reveals.
At present, Cebuanos can watch drag performances at completely different occasions and bars relying on the event. Most significantly, Sabtal is working carefully with Cave Bar Cebu to assist him notice the objective of serving to rising drag queens carry out.
Rising in the direction of the height of Maria Lava’s profession, Jap Sabtal sees no decline in his inspiration to proceed performing as his drag persona.
So long as I’m alive, I’ll do drag. I really feel like I’ve been doing completely different sorts of artwork prior to pull. When I discovered drag, I felt prefer it was for me. The truth that I’m capable of encourage folks, then I’m nonetheless gonna proceed. The objective now could be to assist others do drag and categorical their voice.
Even with Jap Sabtal’s work as an HR supervisor, he’ll be certain to not let go of Maria Lava. It’s his artwork and his platform to specific. He’ll pursue his longstanding objective with Maria Lava’s platform to talk up, signify, and promote.
Cebu will eternally be honored to have Maria Lava on the forefront of its drag scene.
