I haven’t exactly been gentle with the production of Drag Race Philippines. I’ve always thought the queens were incredible, but the production had yet to deserve them. This season, however, I must give credit where it’s due: the people behind #DragRacePH just created the best season yet, and arguably the best Drag Race this year.

The challenges are great. The casting and even the guest judges are amazing. And the storytelling? Compelling as hell! (But the lighting during Tita Baby vs Zymba Ding’s lip sync was unforgivable and the sound mixing all season is still subpar, sorry!)

But before we crown one of Maxie, Khianna, Angel, and Tita Baby as our new Drag Superstar on Wednesday, here’s a rundown of the most iconic moments from Drag Race Philippines’s best season yet. 

8. Yudipota quits

Dubbed the Queen of Comprehension, Yudipota’s cool demeanor and suave manner of speaking paired with her fashion made her not just an immediate fan favorite, but a bet to make it to the final four.

But after receiving negative critiques for the hosting challenge and her runway (apparently a lot of her package didn’t make it on set), she landed in the bottom with J Quinn, whom fans were so ready to say goodbye to. But in the middle of the lip sync, Yudipota suddenly stopped and walked out of the runway, forfeiting her place in the competition.

7. Versex. Period.

As she would say, “Some people do the most for the least when they could do the least for the most.” And for this season’s first out, Versex truly accomplished the most she could by doing the least amount of episodes. The amount of memes and reaction videos she spawned? The quotable quotes she has gifted us? A generational talent! Thank you, Versex, thank you.

6. John Fedellaga eliminated

She wasn’t really everyone’s favorite at first, but John’s rise to the top and constantly being a runner-up every week got people rooting for her to finally win a Ru badge… but she got eliminated instead. And it was heartbreaking.

It felt unfair and undeserved. And yes, sure, the judging on the episode she left was probably the most divisive all season, but what John’s elimination really highlighted was this: the cast of this season is so strong that we’d likely suffer a similar heartbreak whoever got eliminated at that point. 

5. Khianna’s runways

I’ll say it. Best runway package in the herstory of #DragRacePH thus far. And has she ever repeated a silhouette?

I don’t think so! Every Manileño who dares to look down on queens from the provinces should be humbled not just by Khianna’s looks but her astounding talent.

4. Angel vs J Quinn

Angel is reality TV gold. Her humor, heart, and her unabashed frankness made us fall in love with her quickly. Meanwhile, J Quinn on the show wasn’t exactly as charming, to put it mildly. The audience had immediate beef with her and Versex from the get-go, but whereas Versex sorta redeemed herself quickly, we never really got there with J Quinn.

So when Angel confronted and humbled her for the whole Werkroom to witness, not only did it provide some juicy drama, but it also felt like Angel acted as the audience’s hero, settling our beef for us, and it was damn satisfying to watch. (Sorry, J Quinn! We know you’re more than your time on the show, though!)

3. Maxie and the Drag Council

While Angel was more upfront, in-your-face, and didn’t shy away from confrontations, her Kuya Maxie all season was all about the work and steered clear from drama, even when her sister was involved. But when the eliminated queens returned and Versex (who else!) asked who Maxie liked the least among the cast, Maxie showed that she, too, could deliver the drama if she must.

She called out J Quinn for how she talked behind Angel’s back, and Myx for her arrogance, and boy, it was her Kumander Nene and Beatrice Saw moment! She has the best track record among the Top 4, but outside the challenges, this moment probably just won Maxie the show.

2. Slay Accla

It has been very obvious since last season that the show’s trying hard to replicate the success of “Pop Off, Ate” but to no avail. That is until the last episode’s “Slay Accla”.

I’m sorry Season 1 cast, you were great, but there simply was not a single bad verse or performance here. Zymba Ding’s performance would’ve won or at least placed top if this were any other season of a different franchise, but she got eliminated! 

We shall be streaming the song, thank you!

1. The best Snatch Game ever

Hands down the wildest, most chaotic, and, dare I say, funniest Snatch Game in #DragRacePH herstory. So many iconic moments from the nuances of John’s Angel Locsin, Angel’s risqué MC, Tita Baby’s death jokes, the girls’ banters. Such a fun ep! pic.twitter.com/zXgvKPa1KM

— CJ (@christianfreo) September 4, 2024

Every Drag Race fan knows that it’s been getting harder to be happy with Snatch Game episodes. Not every season gets a Bendelacreme and Jinkx Monsoon, and after last season’s, I wasn’t really all that excited about this one. Boy, I was wrong, though. Season 3’s  Snatch Game is the funniest Snatch Game since Drag Race All-Stars All-Winners thanks to this cast’s talent, humor, and rapport (and Kyle Echarri’s nipple, honestly). And yes, Angel as Maria Clara was a riot and deserved that win, but John, Tita Baby, Khianna and Maxie were so good here that I would’ve been fine, too, if any of them won instead! 

Drag Race Philippines Season 3’s finale airs this Wednesday, on HBO Go and WOW Presents.