02/10/2026
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
As part of the opening of 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗩: 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, the Jose T. Joya Gallery warmly welcomes special guests and performance whose artistry and presence brings the exhibition's ideas to life. Through drag, movement, and performance, the Ballroom Culture of Cebu, along with Sheng Mai, bring q***r expression into full motion, carrying gestures and experiences through the body, lying beyond visual archives.
Representing the heart of Cebu’s ballroom scene, 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 embodies a community built on self-expression, identity, and chosen family. In ballroom, every walk, pose, and performance carries its own story, preserving memories and feelings through movement. Ballroom Culture of Cebu brings this living archive of q***r expression into the gallery, where the body itself becomes a vessel for what is remembered and felt.
Joining them is 𝐌𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐢, a queen whose work moves between drag, dance, athleticism, and political expression. Beyond commanding the stage, Sheng Mai uses movement and performance to engage with identity, resistance, and visibility, showing how drag can hold both celebration and statement. With every beat and gesture, she turns performance into a space where artistry and conviction meet.
Join us tonight, October 2, 2026 at 6:00PM for the opening reception of Descendants V at the Jose T. Joya Gallery, University of the Philippines Cebu.