San Francisco, CA- After much anticipation, the iconic Oasis entertainment venue became a wild jungle of joy and celebration on November 29th, as the much-anticipated Let’s Go Bananas pop-up event made its explosive debut in the Bay Area. With the inimitable Manila Luzon headlining the evening, the event proved to be a vibrant and electrifying celebration of Filipino pride, LGBTQ+ culture, and the city’s historic queer nightlife.
Manila did not disappoint. Stepping onto the stage with her signature blend of glamour, humor, and show-stopping charisma, she captivated the audience with a dazzling performance that celebrated individuality and pride. From her jaw-dropping costumes to her heartfelt shoutouts to the Filipino and LGBTQ+ communities, Manila made the night unforgettable for every single person in the room. Now reflecting on her visit, we had the spectacular opportunity to speak with Manila on her performance, its impacts on the queer and SF Bay Area Fil-Am community of past, present, and future.
Hello Manila! Thank you for speaking with us. Firstly, what does it mean for you to be in San Francisco, a city rich in Filipinx & LGBTQ history? Were you excited to be among the many local Filipinx drag queens here?
The San Francisco area serves forever as a landmark of LGBTQ history that intersects with Asian American communities. To me San Francisco is a reminder that our communities survive together and thrive together. I always appreciate that I am welcomed by the local Filipino queer artist, and I’m barely bothered that so many Pinay drag queens in SF are even more beautiful than me! Our community lost so many people to the AIDS epidemic and many of our stories are lost. But here we’ve proudly maintained as much of our history as possible. I love how our queer culture is celebrated in San Francisco.
What can you say about the SF Bay Area culture/community? Any favorite spots?
Recently there have been even more celebrations of Filipino culture in SF. Each time I visit I find new Filipino restaurants opening up. I recently was treated to a leche flan dessert that wasn’t even on the menu at Abacá.
What advice do you have for queer FilAms in overcoming family or societal stigmas?
I’m proud that recently the Filipino community is being recognized more and more especially in the media. I believe it’s because Filipinos are known to be some of the nicest and welcoming people. And although we can sometimes feel we are being held back from our own families or communities, it is good to remember that our families immigrated to the U.S. for a chance for a better life. We may need to remind ourselves that the journey is still ongoing and we can still go further to find even more happiness.
Lastly, what do you hope your audience is left with from your performance of Wicked’s “Defying Gravity,” and the Let’s Go Bananas event?
Performing “Defying Gravity” with my friend Esmeralda Vegara at Oasis was fantastic because so many people can interpret the meaning of the song in so many ways. It’s about empowerment, challenging norms, taking risks, friendship, and consequences. I really appreciate that the Let’s Go Bananas party let us entertain the crowd and I’m excited to return to San Francisco hopefully soon.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses, Manila, we hope you visit us again soon!
The event transcended beyond just a party as it uplifted a proud cultural unity of shared resilience and joy. It was a night where everyone, from the Filipino community to longtime and new fans of Manila Luzon felt a sense of belonging. Manila truly inspired a bold affirmation of love, acceptance, and unapologetic self-expression. We can’t wait to go bananas at Oasis again soon!
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
