The crowning moment of Filipino drag queen Maxie in season 3 of Drag Race Philippines was not hers alone — it was a family affair. 

Both Galang siblings, Maxie and Angel, made it all the way to the top 4 of the third season of the Philippines’ iteration of RuPaul’s Drag Race — a season that many fans of the franchise regard as one of the best with a strong cast and episodes that left viewers wanting more.

Angel left a strong impression on fans from when she first entered the Werk Room as an unapologetic, loud, and sexy queen who could not be undermined and underestimated. She was given a second chance in the competition then won the Snatch Game challenge with her now-famous Maria Clara impersonation.

Maxie, meanwhile, had a lot left to prove, following her exit from the Drag Race spin-off singing competition, Queen of the Universe, where she placed fifth. She proved to be a fierce competitor and immediate front-runner before her eventual win, winning three challenges. Maxie’s feats made her the first queen to win three maxi challenges in one season. 

Beyond their accomplishments, however, it was their bond that attracted viewers to their story. It’s also what made them stand out among the other queens.

This was apparent, for instance, in the final moments of the finale lip sync of Angeline Quinto and Regine Velasquez’s “Lipad ng Pangarap,” when Maxie brought her sibling Angel to crown her with a prop tiara, each of them holding the rainbow and transgender flag, respectively. While the prop crown was planned, the sibling drag duo said that the emotional moment was not part of Maxie’s plan in securing her spot as the Philippines’ next drag superstar.

Angel told Rappler that the prop crown was originally supposed to be left at the back of the main stage for Maxie to reveal in the last moments of the performance: “Then suddenly I forgot [about the plan]: ‘My God, the crown is with me.’ So I shouted at her: ‘The crown is with me’ and she took the crown. And then she went back [to me].”

Maxie said, “As a performer, parang marami naman na ako na-achieve and gusto ko rin ma-achieve ng sister ko ‘yung korona. That’s why ‘yung crown is parang representation ng journey namin sa Drag Race na hindi lang ako ‘yung nasa top 2 — pati ikaw ay makaka-experience ng top two. At kung hindi ka man manalo sa Drag Race, sa akin panalo ka.”  

(As a performer, I have already achieved a lot and I wanted my sister to also achieve getting the crown. That’s why the crown is a representation of our journey in Drag Race, that I’m not the only one in the top 2 — you also get to experience the top 2. And even if you do not win Drag Race, you are a winner to me.)

“‘Yung way namin (Our way) of enjoying the competition, to fight for the competition is hilahan kami pataas — not in a way na lagi kami nagtutulungan (we lift each other up — not in a way that we always help each other directly), but every single day, we motivated each other to fight,” Angel said. 

Growing up in San Andres

Maxie and Angel grew up in Barangay San Andres Bukid in Manila, raised by their father Angel Jr., mother Wilma, and four other siblings. San Andres is at the heart of an average neighborhood in Metro Manila, filled with residential homes and a vibrant and close community.

It was while growing up in the streets of San Andres when Angel and Maxie developed a strong drive to uplift themselves and their family. “The culture here in San Andres is you must fight to survive. You need to work every day to survive the day. A lot of the people here are resourceful so it motivates you to find a way to make money because they are hardworking and are fighters,” Maxie said.

“We’re a big family. We are six children and around 10 people in the family. And my father is getting older. If we don’t fight for our lives, nothing good will happen to us,” Angel added. 

Despite the need to fight every day to survive, Angel and Maxie already had a solid foundation as their parents, especially Angel Jr., were already accepting and supportive of who they are. 

“‘Yung papa ko, meron siyang kapatid na bakla. May transgender din siyang kapatid. Because of our tito, hindi na siya nahirapan tanggapin kami kasi at the same time, kasi anak niya kami. Whatever happens, hindi na mababago na nananalaytay ‘yung dugo niya na dumadaloy sa amin,” Angel said. 

(Our dad has a gay sibling. He also has a transgender sibling. Because of our uncle, he didn’t have a hard time accepting us because, at the same time, we are his children. Whatever happens, it can’t change the fact that we are bound by the same blood that flows through us.) 

The siblings also said that their father showed his support for them by buying them Barbie dolls and short shorts as gifts, even being by their side during their competitions.

In fact, fans saw how Maxie was loved by her father when she showcased, as a 13-year-old Jayvhot Galang in 2012, her soulful voice on national television during an episode of Wiltime Bigtime. 

“Masarap ang pakiramdam bilang isang ama na magkaroon ng anak na talented…. Kung ano siya, mahal ko ‘yan (It feels good as a father to have a talented child. Whoever he is, I love him),” Angel Jr. told the show’s host Willie Revillame back then. 

That 2012 moment recirculated as fans compared it with Maxie’s 2024 win in the makeover challenge with her father, calling it a “full-circle moment” in their relationship.

“Proud na proud ako na nakita ko ‘yung tatay ko saka ako, na nag-elevate na din. Hindi kasi kami tumigil mangarap…. ‘Yung lagi kong sinasabi, sobrang proud na proud ako, hindi lang sa sarili ko, kundi sa mga magulang ko kasi pinalaki ako na maayos, may takot sa Diyos, at, respetado,” Maxie said.

(I am very proud that I saw me and my dad at a better place. It’s because we didn’t stop dreaming. I always say that I am very proud not only of myself, but also of my parents because I was raised well, fearful of the Lord, and respected.)

Dreaming in drag

Maxie and Angel said that while they started doing drag performances to earn money and provide for their family, it was also a way for them to realize their own dreams and aspirations.

“Fan talaga ako ng diva, ‘yung mga Beyoncé. Fantasy talaga namin noong mga bagets kami. ‘Yung drag nag-open sa amin na your dream is possible here,” Maxie said. (I am really a fan of divas such as Beyoncé. That was really our fantasy when we were young. Drag made us see that your dream is possible here.)

“I am more worth it, I am capable. I am a superhero. When I’m in drag, I am a fantasy, I am a superhero, I am a superstar, I am everything,” Angel added. 

Maxie emphasized that the sibling duo cannot separate drag from family: “Drag is our dream, ang pangarap namin na bumubuhay sa pamilya namin at ang pamilya namin na bumubuhay sa pangarap namin. So connected siya, iisa siya, and hindi sila puwedeng mapaghiwalay kasi combo ‘yun.” 

(Drag is our dream, the dream that keeps our family alive and our family that makes our dreams alive. So they are connected, they are one, and they cannot be separated because it’s a combo.) 

With competition as intense as Drag Race Philippines, the sibling duo said that the one thing they learned the most from the show is to be patient and to need not be constantly competitive. 

“You don’t need to push yourself, there are always boundaries. You need to enjoy, calm yourself down. You don’t need to push yourself if your mind can’t take it. You don’t need to pressure yourself if you really shouldn’t do so. At the same time, us 11 queens, I could say that we helped each other inside the competition and that’s what I want to share,” Angel said. 

Using their newfound platform

Being crowned the latest winner of Drag Race Philippines has yet to sink in for Maxie. While she is thankful for the opportunity, she said she still needs to take care of her mental health. 

“Malaking tulong na nandito si Angel sa akin, sa tabi ko lagi, and ‘yung parents ko, kasi hindi nga ganun kadali i-process. Without guidance, parang malilito ka at maliligaw ka ng landas…. Parang sobrang overwhelming, parang sunod-sunod ‘yung ganap after winning.”

(It’s a big help that Angel is with me, always by my side, and my parents, because it’s not that easy to process that. Without guidance, you will be confused and you will lose your way…. It’s extremely overwhelming, with commitments piling up one after another after winning.) 

Maxie also said that she hopes to use her newly-won crown “for the good” as she could easily access the things she needs, to be able to inspire and lend her voice to those who need it. One of those causes — dear to both sisters — is having sex education taught early. 

“Kung mas bata ka, mas maaga kang makakaalam ng ganito-ganitong bagay, siguro maging mas open. Mas magiging matalino ka sa mga desisyon mo sa buhay,” she said. (When you’re younger and you’re able to know this and that, you’ll perhaps will be more open. You will be smarter with your decisions in life.)

The Drag Race Philippines winner has been advocating for HIV awareness for a long time. 

One of her more notable stints was when a 14-year-old Jayvhot was featured in a series of “Bekitaktakan” videos by a non-profit organization to talk about issues surrounding LGBTQ+ issues, including HIV. 

“Sobrang importante siya hindi lang sa mga bata, kundi [pati] sa mga matatanda na hindi pa alam ‘yung ganitong bagay. Sobra kong na-appreciate ‘yung paggawa ko nung video na ‘yun at na-i-tre-treasure ko siya,” she said.

(It’s important not only for the youth, but also for older people who may not know about these things. I greatly appreciate having done that video and I would treasure it.)

As the Galang sisters are about to take on the world together as a shining promise of Philippine drag, they emphasized that LGBTQ+ children will get to shine if their parents and family provide them a positive and solid foundation. 

“You just need to remove the negativity inside the house whether you’re up or down. Because after all, you will be the ones helping each other. That’s what I learned from my family, that aside from accepting us unconditionally, they removed the negativity in our home,” Angel said. 

“Kami, sa community namin, lagi kong sinasabi na sa labas ng bahay namin, marami na kaming pinaglalaban. And paano namin mapaglalaban ‘yung karapatan namin kung sa loob ng bahay pa lang pinagtatabuyan na kami…. Kayo ang gabay, kayo ang bunga…at pundasyon ng mga anak ‘nyo. Kaya sana mabigyan ‘nyo sila ng pagkakataon na tanggapin ‘nyo sila,” Maxie added. 

(In our community, I always say that outside our home, we are already fighting for a lot of things. And how could we fight for our rights if even at home we are already being rejected? You are the guide, you are the cause and foundation of your children. So I hope you give them the opportunity to be accepted.) – Rappler.com

Note: Some quotes in Filipino have been translated into English for brevity.