Although her actual birthday is in December, last night we attended the birthday show for Eva Papaya, original O Diva and living legend in the local drag scene. I think most drag queens active in Metro Manila in the past 20 years have at least one story related to Eva, given she has been one of he hardest working drag artists for years. Not only has she performed in countless venues, she has also done makeup for many different people, including a lot of different productions, she has raised many drag queens as her children, and helped them get started in their careers, and she has also helped many other performers get jobs in different bars, performance spaces, and whatnot because he's quite the networker. When drag clubs weren't an established part of the local entertainment scene, drag artists had to jump from bar to bar across Metro Manila to perform in gigs, and it paid to be friends with Eva because she'd be quick to refer you to a job, provided you were ready at the drop of a hat.
Until today, we're still hearing different people's stories of how they got started in the industry, and sooner or later, Eva's name comes up. So many people owe her so much.
I once conducted a blog interview with Eva, and her words just cement the fact that she has always been a true Mother in the local drag scene, and the only thing she expects is respect. Her confidence in drag can be quite intimidating, and she has commanded many an audience with just a fierce look. She has never been one for flashy tricks and dance moves - instead, she's all about presence. power and wit. She has some of the smartest drag routines I've ever seen, with a unique flair for humor. Every hand gesture can have meaning, and each step she takes is very deliberate and impactful. A few people have suggested to me that she should join shows like Drag Race Philippines or something, but I don't think she even needs to. If anything, they should invite her as a judge or something because she has more than proven herself as a drag artist and a true force of nature in the local drag scene.
When Tobie and I were first going out 16 years ago, Eva was one of the first drag queens that I actually got to meet and become friends with. This was surprising to me since I was coming from my experience at other bars where you barely knew the names of the staff and just focused on your own entertainment. Through Tobie, I learned that one of the things that has always made O Bar different is that it's an actual family, and meeting Eva was an important part of that. We could always trust Eva with our feedback about the shows or particular queens, and she'd take action to make things better or bring something entirely new to the O Bar stage. I've talked about how she helped bring Bob Fosse numbers from the likes of Sweet Charity and even Pippin to O Bar, and I'm forever grateful for her influence on what the O Divas have become today. And as confident as she is, she has always remained humble and appreciative of the blessings she has received.
The O Divas, and O Bar as a whole, would not be who and what they are today without Eva Papaya. She has changed so many lives, and for that, we are all so grateful. I am honored to consider her more than a friend, but true family, and we will always wish her all the best and all the success and acclaim she deserves.
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