Bading Thing Is Sydney’s First Filipinx Beauty Pageant & It’s Bound To Be C*nty AF

Rebekah Manibog

Feb. 14, 2025, 4:32 a.m.

Are you feeling maganda, ma arte and super BADING ahead of this Madi Gras Festival season? Well, look no further than Sydney’s first-ever Filipinx beauty pageant and party, Bading Thing!

Inspired by Miss Gay Philippines — a queer beauty pageant founded in 1979 that ultimately paved the way for expressions and embodiments of queer identity in the Philippines and the Fillipinx diaspora — Bading Thing is not only a straight-up beauty pageant but a celebration of Sydney’s Filipinx community and culture.

Miss Gay Universe 1995. (Image source: Supplied)

For those chismosas who need to brush up on their Tagalog, Bading is the Filipinx colloquial term for Bakla, which means gay, homosexual and/or queer. Recently, the word has become synonymous with cunty and cheerful.

What exactly is Bading Thing?

So, to keep it short and sweet (just like me, PEDESTRIAN.TV’s resident Filipina bisexual baddie), Bading Thing is a three-category pageant stacked with live performances, DJs and of course, Filipino food.

While it is a fierce competition, it’s also an opportunity for the community to reframe and reclaim traditional Filipino pageantry through a queer, diasporic lens.

The one-of-a-kind beauty pageant will be taking place on Saturday, February 15 at Sydney’s Red Rattler Theatre, located in Marrickville.

Miss Gay Bulacan 1992. L-R: Marjorie (1st runner up), Jontie (Title), Glydel (2nd runner-up). (Image source: Instagram / @bading.thing)

Reflecting on the inception of Bading Thing, co-founder Jullian Lataquin (AKA DJ Friedporkchop) said he’s “always wanted to throw a queer Filipinx party”.

“Worship Queer Collective, Kerfew and Radar Sounds, but nothing that represents Filipinx excellence… and we have so many talented people who identify as LGBTQI Filipinx here,” Lataquin told PEDESTRIAN.TV

“As a result, Bading Thing was born through a collaboration of my closest queer Filipinx mates, Diana Kalkoun, Darren Lesaguis and Genesis Mansilongan, and now we’re showcasing our province happenings, to Sydney. We refer to Filipinx as we do not assume gender (Filipino/Filipina).”

Co-founder and Filipinx stylist Genesis Mansilongan made a call back to their younger self, recalling how the Filipinx community has come so far that it has manifested into the cultural celebration that is Bading Thing.

“I’ve always wanted to tell five-year-old Genesis that that flat sheet gown is worthy of a pageant! That their stride would become their strut. That hearing Bakla and Bading would no longer hurt but become a war cry. A piece of armour,” they began.

“That you would look to those badings in the province as elders and not the butt of a joke. That those badings in the province and in Manila would pass on their ways of survival. That one day you would carry on that responsibility and that one day that responsibility would look like Bading Thing.”

DJ friedporkchop (left), Diana Kalkoul (middle) and Genesis Mansilongan (right) on FBi Radio. (Image source: supplied)

What are the categories?

The first category is talent, where competitors will be judged on stage presence and charisma, skill and execution, originality and impact.

Secondly, competitors will be put to the test with a Q&A. Folks will be judged on clarity and engagement, content and relevance of the answer.

The third and final category of the night is evening look! I’m talking face, body, garments, accessories, makeup and all that jazz.

Punters in this category will be judged on the jaw-drop factor, creativity and innovation, culture and personal expression, and fit and execution!

That being said, BRING OUT YOUR BEST LAVA WALKS!

Lava Walk Catriona Gray GIFfrom Lava Walk GIFs

What are the prizes?

The winner — dubbed Sydney’s first-ever Ms/Mx Bading — will receive a grand prize of $500 and a sash.

Sashes and secret prizes are also up for grabs for the queens who clock Runner Up and Ms/MX Chismosa (AKA Ms/Mx Congeniality).

All prizes have been donated by the community.

Who is judging Bading Thing?

Bading Thing has a ripper of a lineup when it comes to both judges and performances.

But kicking with who will be handing out scores on the night, Bading Thing’s judging panel will consist of drag diva and Stonewall host Cassandra the Queen, pageant legacy, former Philippines figure skater, model and community organiser EJ, music maestro and style icon DJ Charlie Villas, and local artist, rapper and area legend BVT!

(Image source: Instagram / @bading.thing)

Who will be performing at Bading Thing?

Bading Thing is stacked to the gods with queer Filipinx artists and DJs, who will be bumping tunes all night!

Live performances will be provided by BVT, Chela and Avery Wild. As for the tunes, they will be brought to you by DJ Charlie Villas, DJ Friedporkchop and DJ Mama De Leche.

As VST & Company once belted, “AHHHHHHH, Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko“, which basically means you sing, I’ll dance.

How do I attend Bading Thing?

Game kan na ba?

Well, if you’re ready to experience and be graced by Filipinx culture, you can attend Bading Thing by purchasing tickets right here. For Mob, entrance is free, so please DM @bading.thing on Instagram for any enquiries.

Doors will open at 7pm, with the pageant officially kicking off at 8pm.

And please, before people start throwing the “Filipinx time” accusations, events will start at 8pm SHARP.

To keep up with the fiesta, be sure to follow the BARAN-GAY on Instagram!

Feature Image: Genesis Mansilongan.

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