Between her latest Versa win and string of drag gigs, Mz. Chronicles is booked and busy

Amid the spur of pandemic babies, Mz. Chronicles comes out with a face beat and cinched waist. In return to normalcy, the Laguna-born drag queen talks iconic Versa Live win, Sogie Bill, and shift from performing online to tightly-packed bars.

Mz. Chronicles is booked and busy

(Mz. Chronicles uses she/her pronouns; out of drag, Efy Santos identifies as non-binary and uses they/them.)

FACEBOOK | Versa Live

Despite her hate for emotionally taxing competitions, Mz. Chronicles recounts taking a risk and succumbing to the “right mindset” that posed her to be crowned as the ‘Ultimate Versa Live Winner of Season 3’ last April.

“Nasa isip ko yun, nag enjoy nalang din ako. ‘Yung time na ‘yun, tama pala yung gano’ng mindset. Ang purpose mo to have like have fun, expose yourself, ibenta mo ‘yung sarili mo kasi somehow baka may makakita d’yan na ‘I like this one, I want this for my bar.’
Mz. Chronicles on her experience competing in the pandemic-born drag competition Versa Live.

It’s a long shot knowing that some of her rivals have won in Nectar Nightclub’s Drag Cartel. But there was no time to slink away into doubts as it might affect her performance. Instead, she aligns her motivation to showcase her drag and to give a representation of South queens.

High-intensity splits coupled with Nicki Minaj’s greatest hits, “Turn Me On” and “Monster,” force the crowd to roar in chorus. Mz. Chronicles’ fiery performance places her first for the solo performance, besting eight queens.

While for the finale lipsync face-off, Mz. Chronicles gives a powerful performance of “This is Me” and ascends to the throne against Empy Radora. After all, Mz. Chronicles’ persona prides herself on being a great storyteller.

Her unexpected win also upended the long-simmering notion that a bigger budget in drag competitions secures a step closer to victory.

Aside from the crown, she receives 50,000 pesos worth of prizes, including a two-day paid gig in Hara, La Union. To hear her describe it, the gig sounds more like a coveted vacation. Accommodation, transportation, and allowance are covered, with a handsome pay of 17,000 pesos as a cherry on top.

“I think isa rin talaga sa nagbigay ng opportunities noong na hire ako sa La Union ay dumami reach ko at nagustuhan ‘yung performance ko, kaya siguro ako nabook sa Vanta.,” she says.

After her La Union stint, she later scores a show in Vanta, situated in Angeles, Pampanga.

What’s next for Mz. Chronicles?

For now, she continues to be booked and busy. Mz. Chronicles graces gigs in various cities this Pride Month and recently joins multiple drag contests. Last week, she clinched the second runner-up spot in “Ms. Dragdagulan,” a drag competition hosted by Sassa Gurl, and is now slated to enter “Obsessed: The Abyss” on July 1.

While for the long run, she intends to audition for Drag Race Philippines Season 3 and 4 and fill the earnest role of being a drag mother. House of Chronicles, fostering love and fierce drag, has a nice ring to it, right?

Pandemic-born Queen

Mz. Chronicles pegs her start to the drag world in 2020. She debuts in Drag Playhouse PH’s “Bakla, Run! Nights” and attends her first-ever ball, “Glory Hole, The Heavenly Bodies Ball,” via Zoom. Her video performance of “Personal Jesus” by Marilyn Manson sweeps the lip-sync category.

Like many drag queens, Mz. Chronicles was sequestered in her home and depended on virtual shows as a brief lifeline. But these online functions although entertaining, undeniably lack drag’s bread and butter — crowd interaction.

She stays online until her first live performance for a pride week event, “Bata, Bata, Bakit ka Bakla?” of Angat Kabataan – San Pedro, in Laguna in 2022. Far from her usual ‘werk-from-home’ set-up where only half of her body is exposed, the event finally allows her to perform with the whole ensemble – packed with paddings, thigh-high boots, a wig, and form-fitting body suit.

The resurgence of the drag scene to its former glory does not sweat Mz. Chronicles. For someone who loves to be under the spotlight as a child, working the crowd is her forte. To add, Mz. Chronicles reminisces her time leading the morning exercise at every flag ceremony, and following up with a spontaneous singing of Maria Rivera’s hit song “Sabay Sabay Tayo.”

“Kapag online ‘yung performance, you can really like fake it eh, yung energy, like ma fe-fake mo siya through lights or something. Pero kasi when it comes to performing live, makikita mo talaga ‘yung genuine energy, paano siya professionally itama ‘yung mali niya,” she says.
Mz. Chronicles draws comparisons between live and virtual shows and how the latter can be deceiving.

Unlike a live show, if one goes Valentina – not knowing the words, a drag queen could be read to filth. Now, readily-available video editing software has become convenient and can fix drag queens a second or multiple takes.

It cost a fortune to dress the part

Nothing screams more pandemic than price surges, but Efy is no stranger to stretching every peso bill for their drag persona, Mz. Chronicles. Wigs, clothes, makeup, and heels can easily rack to thousands of pesos, but a rookie drag queen’s earnings are not particularly lucrative. To keep their drag afloat, the 24-year-old works as a sales specialist for a local cosmetic brand.

“Mag isa nalang ako sa apartment ngayon, so, I have my day job to support my daily life. Alam mo naman may inflation. My day job alone supported my normal life pero ngayon may drag gigs na, so, I think it can really support my drag na,” Efy shares.

For Efy, the next logical thing to cut costs is to buy off-the-rack clothes and customize them later to look elevated. To make it work, you only need rhinestones, hot glue, and a prayer.

Without a wig, a drag queen is essentially naked, although Sasha Velour, Ongina, and Joey Jay think otherwise. However, wigs may be pricey, so one needs to be creative. As opposed to paying full price, they scroll through the “Pinoy Drag Queens” Facebook page to score used lace front wigs which typically cost around 1,000 pesos each. Efy then alternates these inexpensive wigs with the 3500 pesos complimentary wig from Versa. It’s practical and ready for hairography.

Makeup artist before a drag queen

“To be honest ha, hindi rin talaga ako nag suffer sa drag face ko kasi nga diba since makeup artist ako bago ako nag drag,” says Efy, who learned to wield a makeup brush during her theater stint in 2018.

With their affinity for makeup, Santos initially uploads makeup-related videos on the “Efy’s Chronicles” Youtube channel. Not long after, Efy starts introducing Mz. Chronicles to the drag scene.

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Mz. Chronicles initially dons more of a gothic look: stick-straight arch eyebrows, heavy dark eye makeup, and black lip color. “Mahilig din kasi ako sa grunge or grunge movement or sa 80’s punk rock. So parang edgy, outcast, gano’n ang drag ni Mz. Chronicles before,” Santos says. Attesting to her VERSAtility and refusing to box her drag, Mz. Chronicles shifts to softer glam.

Aside from K-pop and pop culture influences, Efy cites late iconic fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and RuPaul Drag Race Season 9 winner Sasha Velour as fashion heroes.

An outspoken advocate of LGBTQIA+ rights

“By act of lip synching they are listening, nadedeliver natin yung song, why not use it to deliver your advocacy or your some political issues?” Mz. Chronicles, an outspoken advocate of LGBTQIA+ rights, says.

As a member of the youth-led volunteer organization Angat Kabataan San Pedro, Mz. Chronicles’ advocacy extends beyond championing LGBTQIA+ rights to current sociopolitical issues.

FACEBOOK | Efy Santos

When asked about Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva’s recent comments about the urgency of enacting the Sogie Bill, she points out the contradiction between the senator’s opposition and the bill’s ability to protect him and his loved ones.

“Even you have a SOGIE. Everyone has a sogie. Why would you hold, delay, or hinder SOGIE [bill] that can protect your child and family?” she adds.

Every little explanation counts. Efforts to explain the bill and debunk its misconception can go a long way. For Mz. Chronicles, until we pass the legislation, many members of the community will lose their life, and gender-based abuse will continue not to be valued by many.

What does Pride mean to you?

“It’s something inside us that wants to be seen; you’ve been hiding it for a long time; if you want to show your pride, you’ll show your best authentic self,”
Efy explains what pride means to them.

Efy tends to break into random songs and jokes throughout the interview, but they cannot help to be vulnerable when asked about their estranged family.

It’s been a year since Efy left their household, and it hurts to hear that even the youngest sibling refers to them as “bakla” rather than “kuya.” This is an awful tale that many members of the LGBTQIA+ community share. Instead, Efy praises their chosen family for love and support.

Interestingly, Efy came out as non-binary through Village Pipol’s 2020 pride campaign online.

“So I don’t think that Mz. Chronicles teaches Efy a thing or vice versa, because my drag is very personal to me. I’m non-binary, so I don’t really think of myself as female or woman. But with Mz. Chronicles, I get to celebrate femininity,” Efy shares.