Watch Manila Luzon’s emotional eulogy to Jiggly Caliente at the Drag Race icon’s funeral

On April 27th, the RuPaul’s Drag Race community and beyond were immensely saddened to learn that Bianca Castro, known professionally as Jiggly Caliente, had passed away aged 44. After a short illness and infection that resulted in her leg getting amputated, the news came that Jiggly Caliente had passed away just a few days later – and the outpouring of love for Jiggly and her legacy was very moving across the globe. Bianca Castro first found fame as Jiggly Caliente on RuPaul’s Drag Race season four before returning for All Stars and then eventually going on to be a judge on Drag Race Philippines. Her funeral took place over the weekend, and legendary Drag Race alumni Manila Luzon paid tribute to Jiggly Caliente at the ceremony and the video of her moving and touchingly hilarious speech is essential viewing for those mourning the loss of an icon.

‘I’m so sad we can’t keep dreaming bigger together’

Watch the full eulogy below.

JUST IN: Manila Luzon’s eulogy at Bianca Castro’s funeral.#DragRace pic.twitter.com/9gbZgmZLEt

— Drag Fans Philippines (@DragFansPH) May 16, 2025

Manila Luzon and Jiggly Caliente had been friends for years before Drag Race, and then as she says at the funeral the two of them embarked on a life changing journey on the show in two consecutive years – with Manila being runner up on season three before Jiggly was cast on season four.

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Speaking at her funeral, Manila said “It’s kind of crazy because all of the world pouring their love out for Jiggly, I really just wanted to get her opinion on what she thought because I know it would be awful. Jiggly Caliente and I got to do this drag queen life for 20 years. We supported each other, we helped each other along, we read each other constantly and we annoyingly dreamed big together.

“It all started back at The Web, the gay Asian club here just down the street. And Jiggly was giving up Miss Gay Asia America and she wanted to give the crown to me. It was my first pageant. The judges had other plans, I got runner up, not the first time. Because we all loved pageants, but Jiggly LOVED pageants. The girl would get in full glam just to watch Miss Universe on TV.

“I helped her because I created her winning talent mix and even her updo for evening gown when she won Miss Universe Latina. The pageant. She wasn’t even technically Latina, but, she won. But she’s Filipino so there might be some Spanish in there, and her last name is Caliente so it counts.

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A post shared by Manila Luzon (@manilaluzon)

“After I was on Drag Race season three, it was Jiggly’s turn. I helped her film her audition tape. Late one night after a gig at The Web, we walked over to the brand new Apple Store on 59th street which is open 24 hours and has this glass elevator that takes you down. So we filmed her in that. It was like full Beyoncé production level, even if it was giving a glamorous Augustus Gloop going up the chocolate tube in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. But it got her cast!

“We made music together, we made music videos together – we got to go on tour around the world together. She even convinced me and the whole cast to put little rhinestones on the tip of our nose. Like some Swarovski pit bull. And then a few years ago we got to do our biggest dream together, which was to go to the Philippines and do our drag at the highest level that we could at the time. I was filming Drag Den and she was filming Drag Race Philippines. We were supporting the new generations of drag.

“Jiggly came over to our condo in the Philippines and cooked us Filipino spaghetti – the best Filipino spaghetti I’ve ever had. It was in this moment when we could look back and reflect on how far we’d came together. I never knew that we’d get to do all this Jiggly. I’m so sad that we can’t keep doing and dreaming bigger and bigger together.”

Manila Luzon continued paying tribute to Drag Race icon Jiggly Caliente at her funeral with her touching eulogy, saying “I’m so proud of everything you accomplished. I’m so proud of the reputation you gave for the Filipino and trans communities. I’m so proud of the woman you became. And I’m so proud of our friendship that we had together.”

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