Precious Paula Nicole is still on cloud nine after securing an unexpected victory at the inaugural CinePride Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.
The Drag Race Philippines Season 1 winner—whose real name is Rodolfo Hontiveros Gabriel II—bagged the Best Lead Performance award for her role in the short film, Lip Sync Assassin.
The film’s director, Jon Galvez, was also honored with the Best Director award at the premier LGBTQIA+ film festival.
Just a day after returning to the Philippines from the festival, Precious celebrated her win with members of the press, including PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), during the film's exclusive media preview held on September 24, 2025, in Makati City.
When asked to share her experience in Los Angeles—which was also her first visit to the city—Precious shared a lighthearted reflection.
"Nakakatuwa kasi siyempre, English yan doon, e," Precious quipped.
She further said, "Naubos yung baon ko [na English], dalawang maleta!"
Getting candid, Precious shared that the award was a huge surprise.
She revealed that after watching some of the entries, she realized how fierce the competition was, leading her to believe her chances were slim.
Precious told the press, "Siyempre yung ma-recognize ka—kaming dalawa—doon sa Best Director and Best Lead Performance, ano lang sya, e, bonus lang talaga siya.
"Kasi yung mapaligiran ka nung mga napakagaling na filmmakers... Napanood kasi na namin yung mga... Walo yung napanood ko na kasabay namin, e, 35 kami."
Putting any worries about the competition aside, Precious admitted she diverted her energy entirely to her performance as she was also scheduled to perform at the awards night.
She recalled, "Nung nag-a-awards night na, sabi ko kay 'Direk, gusto kong magpasikat...' Ano ako dito, doing the most ako dito. Magsho-show talaga ako.'
"Kaya kung napansin niyo, wala na akong wig, kasi nagperform ako—15 minutes na performance.
"Sabi ko, hindi ako uwi ng luhaan dito. Kailangan makita nila na nagpa-perform talaga ako, nagli-lip sync ako, parang nagpe-perform talaga ako sa Pilipinas."
It was right after this performance that Precious was called back onto the stage, this time not to perform, but to accept her Best Lead Performance award!
Recounting the exact moment, she said, "Biglang tinawag nga kami... tinawag ako after kong mag-perform.
"Kaya sabi ko, 'Jusko, ano yun? Ba't ganun?' Sabi ko kay Direk, 'Ano ito? Prank ba ito?"
"Kasi ang galing, kasi nakakatuwa na parang, hindi, di namin alam na may makukuha kami kasi ang gagaling talaga ng mga kasabay namin.
"Kaya I'm so grateful din kasi pinuntahan ko talaga siya, pinuntahan namin siya ni Direk.
"Buti na lang talaga na, naayaya niya ako kasi parang, parang sabi ko, 'Parang may iba ba tayo diyan, Direk?' Yung ganun ko pa siya.
"Pero, ayun. Hindi, hindi naman nasayang yung oras ko at ang saya-saya sa L.A. sobra. Iba yung energy."
Read: Precious Paula Nicole wins Best Lead Performance at CinePride
PRECIOUS PAULA NICOLE: POWER OF MANIFESTING
In the short film Lip Sync Assassin, Precious takes on the role of Sampaguita, a drag queen who moonlights as a hired assassin.
The Drag Race Philippines Season 1 winner revealed this role was exactly what she wished for, confessing she had been actively manifesting more dramatic acting projects.
Having previously done short films, Precious explained that acting has become a brand-new outlet for her creativity.
Prescious shared, "Kasi last year, nag-start din akong [gumawa] ng mga short films. So binigyan din tayo ng, na-offer-an din tayo sa CinePanalo, sa Manila Film Festival.
"Tapos ang naalala ko kasi nung sinu-shoot namin yung Sisenta for CinePanalo, kasama ko sa van yung mga, yung team ko.
"Sabi ko, 'Parang nae-enjoy ko na itong buhay na ganito. Yung kinakabahan ako ulit, baka may magkamali ako.'
"Kasi siyempre sa drag, ano na yun, iyon na yung playground ko, e... 15 years ko na siyang ginagawa.
"So parang, sabi ko lang... parang nagtsa-challenge ako ulit. Nagme-memorize ako ng mga script. Parang, ina-anxiety ka kasi parang, ang gagaling ng mga ka-eksena mo.
"Kaya sinabi ko sa kanilang doon, sabi ko, 'Mag-manifest pa tayo ng isa.'"
When the script for Lip Sync Assassin landed on her lap, she didn't hesitate to accept the project.
She explained, "Kasi siyempre hiniling ko siya, e, so bakit ko siya tatanggihan?
"Tsaka may nakapagsabi kasi sa akin na friend ko na kapag may in-offer sa iyo, huwag kang magno-no.
"Dapat laging yes, kasi hindi naman daw ibibigay sa iyo kung di mo kaya. Kung iyan, pag nandiyan ka na, kapag di mo kaya, di, bahala ka na.
"So ganun lang. Sugod na ako ng sugod."
Knowing that the director specifically created the concept and script with her in mind only made Precious even more eager to take on the role.
"In-accept ko kasi alam ko na wala siyang ibang gustong mag-play ng character kung di ako.
"Kaya sabi ko, 'Sige, go! Kahit ano pa. May bed scene ba?' Sabi ko. Tapos sinabi nila [wala], sabi ko, 'E, parang ayaw ko na.'"
But she ended up taking on the role, "Yun, nag-yes lang talaga po dahil alam kong na binigay siya ng universe sa akin."
PRECIOUS PAULA NICOLE: ACTING SHIFT
For Precious, this shift into acting couldn't have come at a better time.
She candidly admitted that she initially felt a bit "left out," especially since her Drag Race Philippines Season 1 sisters, Viñas Deluxe and Brigiding, are back in the spotlight for reality show's special edition, Slaysian Royale.
Fortunately, the short film projects she accepted served as her perfect avenue to showcase a different side of her artistry and keep her in the limelight.
Precious told the press, "To be honest po, nung nailabas na itong Slaysian Royal ng mga kapatid ko, ng mga Divine Divas, parang naka-feel ako na parang, baka mamaya left out ako, alam mo yun?
"Parang, baka makalimutan na po ng mga tao kasi may panibagong ng show na inaabangan.
"So noong nag-episode one na, nafi-feel ko talaga siya na parang, 'Ay, hindi na ako yung ano, priority ng mga fans kasi siyempre wala naman ako dun sa show.'
"Pero siyempre, hindi ko naman siya tini-take as negative.
"Kumbaga, parang sabi ko nga, tapos na siguro yung time ko to show my talent sa drag kasi parang, ayun na, naipanalo ko na siya.
"So sabi ko is panibagong ano naman to, panibagong page na ng life ko."
Precious further noted that accepting these short films has reignited her childhood dream of becoming an artista.
She said: "Before pa kasi ako nag drag queen, before ako naging dancer, gusto ko na talaga maging artista.
"Gusto kong umarte kasi yung mama ko po mahilig magpapalabas sa bahay ng mga horror, mga love stories... sila Roderick Paulate, yun ang inaabangan ko dati, bata pa lang ako.
"So noong nangangarap na ko, sabi ko, 'Ay parang keri ko siya, keri ko maging artista.' Kaya lang di ako nabibigyan talaga ng chance."
Precious recalled that she even tried the reality show route in the past.
"Nag-audition ako dati sa Pinoy Dream Academy, di rin ako nabibigyan ng chance. Ganito yung boses, tatanggapin ba dun? Siyempre hindi. Pero nag-try lang naman po ako.
"Tapos siyempre, pangarap ko din dati mag-PBB, hindi rin ako nakakaabot kasi ang haba ng pila. So tinatamad na ako pumila nung time na yun.
"So ngayon, nang binigay po talaga siya sa akin, sabi ko, 'Ay, reminder siya na yung pag-arte pala, isa pala siya sa mga ginugusto ko rin dating mangyari.'
"And binigay siya sa right time, at dyusko, sa U.S. pa siya na-recognize.
"Kaya wala po akong ibang naramdaman ko talagang sobrang grateful lang talaga ako."
Precious humbly admits she still has a lot to learn in the craft of acting.
However, she's proud to share that her talent is coming out naturally, especially considering she hasn't taken any extensive acting workshops—only a single session specifically for the Lip Sync Assassin project.
"Hindi ko nag-a-acting workshop ever. Pero nung ishu-shoot na po tong Lip Synch Assassin, buti na lang po bigyan ako ng isang araw ni Direk na mag-acting workshop.
"Yun po, isang acting workshop lang po yung na experience na ko."
When asked for an advice to share with aspiring queer actors, she shared: "Yes lang nang yes. I mean, mahirap ang mundo natin. Mahirap maging bakla.
"Mahirap maging mahirap, mahirap paging bakla.
"Pero wag mo bibitawan yung pangarap mo kasi hindi mo alam kung kailan siya ibibigay.
"Pero dapat lagi kang handa kasi maraming puwedeng umagaw sa iyo, maraming puwedeng mapunta yan sa iba. So dapat lagi kang ready.
"Hindi ka dapat nadi-distract, alam mo yun, dapat alam mo kung ano yung gusto mo.
"Dahil mahirap, mahirap siya talaga. Ako po after 20 years, 20 years siya na nangyari sa akin yung pag-arte, pero hindi ko po binitawan.
"Kaya ganun po, kung mangangarap po kayo, dream big. Bigger and bigger kasi kapag tinupad din ng universe maloloka ka kasi iba rin siyang tumupad."
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