UP Pride Is Bringing Drag, Music, and Queer Voices to Diliman for Free

LGBTQIA+ organization UP Babaylan has announced UP Pride, an event happening on Friday, October 23, at Quezon Hall at the University of the Philippines Diliman. UP Pride is free to attend, and the program will start at 6:00 p.m. The event is open to UP students and non-UP students alike.

UP Pride will featureFeatureA guest appearance by another artist on a song, usually credited as featuring or ft. in the title. Features introduce each performer to the other's fans, and they can sparkGo to Feature Glossary drag artists, musicians, and speakers from across the country. It will be headlined by drag artists M1ss Jade So, Popstar Bench, Zumba Ding, Pura Luka Vega, and Nokturna Ngina, along with musicians including R&B artist Illest Morena, rapper SHNTI, and Kumare Harvey, among others. 

Last June 2025, drag artist Pura Luka Vega spoke to Rolling Stone Philippines about the continued rise of drag culture in the mainstreamMainstreamThe ideas, styles, and works that reach the widest audience and dominate popular attention, such as radio hits and blockbuster films. The word is often set against indie or underground,Go to Mainstream Glossary beyond Pride Month. They said government support should include everyone, and that programs should genuinely involve queer individuals.

“Drag started in the undergroundUndergroundArtists, venues, and scenes that operate outside mainstream attention and commercial systems, often driven by passion rather than profit. The underground is where many new sounds begin, and its word-of-mouthGo to Underground Glossary scene. Not a lot of people knew about it. Now, it’s becoming more mainstream and it has already shifted into the digital space,” Vega said. “We can, first and foremost, change the thinking that Pride is just a month, because it’s not. It’s an everyday thing. If you just really listen to queer stories, that’s a step closer to being more inclusive.”

In January 2026, M1ss Jade So spoke to Rolling Stone Philippines about the single “Esoterica” and the advocacy behind it.

“Kailangan ng more spaces and more visibility for trans women,” Jade says. “‘Yung [‘Esoterica’] is about my life, and it’s an advocacy song for trans women and non-binary individuals. Gusto ko rin talagang dalhin ang mga trans women with me to be up there. Isa ‘yan sa mga mission ko, even noong Drag Race Philippines: doll domination.”

Elijah Pareño

Music Writer

Elijah Pareño is the Music Writer of Rolling Stone Philippines. He writes daily music news, features, reviews, and radar stories of the website.

In addition to music writing, Pareño has written about the behind-the-scenes writers and producers from the P-pop scene, interviewed hip-hop artists like Shanti Dope and Zae, and featured up-and-coming artists for the Music Forecast 2026. Aside from music, Pareño has written about the state of affairs that affects pop culture. He wrote a movie review for 'Mortal Kombat II' and reported and interviewed photojournalists at the September 21, 2025 protests in Luneta and Mendiola.

Prior to working in Rolling Stone Philippines, Pareño was a freelance writer for 3 years and independent live music promoter

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