About Damn Time: ‘Delia D.’ Puts a Name to a Glittering Revolution

“Delia D.” is a loud, proud, and vibrant queer Filipino musical that blends the glamorous world of entertainment, made even interesting with a focus on a drag artist, with the infectious energy of the hit and original songs by loved songwriter and music producer Jonathan Manalo.

At its core is Palmos as the titular character Delia, a dazzling drag performer from Ozamiz, who works at a nightclub to support her family. Though she dreams to be much more than what she is now, Delia cannot find an opportunity to soar beyond, until by luck, a new televised singing competition Idols of the Galaxy has presented itself to her. Seizing this once in a lifetime opportunity, she joined the competition, but despite her infectious stage presence that complements that relentless ambition, Delia may be an able singer. Charming and magnetic. But not the best. 

This and many more challenges she faced as Delia rise through the competition: finding new friendships, hurdling conflicts, until eventually becoming the champion of the television competition, and still finding conflict in her triumph. This is in no small part, thanks to her perseverance, support from her family and friends, and of course the sacrifice she had to make along the way. One quick look and it is easy to see that the production is as much as a celebration of drag culture and songs, popularly known in the Philippines, as it is a reality check towards the inner workings of the entertainment industry.

Palmos’ career is a compelling journey rooted in the world of theater that steadily expanded to encompass television and film, a testament to his talents and versatility as an artist. His first notable foray into acting came in 2013 with Tanghalang Pilipino, where his experiences traveling all the way to Bicol, immersing himself in the backstage culture, ignited his love for theater even further. 

This is especially because all of the experiences Palmos gathered from then on, that it culminated into a breakthrough role in the original production of “Rak of Aegis” when his raw energy and vocal prowess as he sang “Sinta” garnered widespread acclaim, ultimately becoming one of the most loved and easily recognizable homegrown jukebox musicals in the Philippines, and later on opened the doors for bigger opportunities that proved his inimitable talent, presence, and charm. He would soon land the role of Fifi in the primetime series On the Wings of Love, Rosanna in the loved stage production of “Mula Sa Buwan”, Ada in the iconic restaging of “Zsazsa Zaturnnah The Musical: Yun Lang”, and Bok in Netflix’s Doll House.

All of these acting pursuits, and everything in between, make Palmos a beautiful tapestry of real- and reel-world experiences that fits his character of Delia, powering his energetic and electrifying performance on stage.

To breathe life to the musical, is to pore over the essence of Jonathan Manalo, and his songs that seeped right through the veins of what the musical turned out to be with such engaging and relatable hymns and lyricism that hooked the audiences from beginning to end.

From the humble beginnings of being part of a gospel music group to his breakthrough with the Himig Handog songwriting contest in 2001, Manalo’s rise to entertainment prominence continually pushed above and beyond, albeit celebrated behind the scenes, at the confines of the producer’s booth, writing iconic songs for equally iconic performers such as “Patuloy Ang Pangarap”, “Pagbigyang Muli”, “Gusto Ko Nang Bumitaw”, and so much more.

His work spans a vast catalog of loved Filipino new classics, from R&B, to rock, to modern pop and even novelty hits, all felt by a wide breadth of music-loving audiences, appreciated not just in touching the listeners’ souls but in so many levels, mirroring the zeitgeist of the people.

An artist with a two-decade body of work that breathed life to some career-defining hits of a string of musicians and performers, it is a fitting tribute to his quiet but significant imprint, and his oft-behind-the-scenes presence as songwriter and producer that his discography of original hits wove a beautiful, complex story that navigates the complexities of the human condition on love, aspirations, and life, all reflected in the narrative arcs of Delia and characters peopling her environs. From the most dynamic scenes to the more slower paced monologues or dramatic moments, his songs were all well incorporated and used to raise or lower tensions.

In a vibrant marriage of creative genius, Manalo and Palmos, as two key players involved in bringing the story of Delia D. to the fore, made sure each of their own responsibilities contributed and worked seamlessly to make the show a reality.

As Delia, Palmos states, “In the process of becoming Delia D., from the time I was called to play it, the pressure was already there. Because, first of all, I’ve been doing theater for more than a decade.”

But despite his years in acting for the stage, he admits that Delia D. came as a tall order. Palmos shares, “[This] is the first time I was given a lead role. I’m given roles that are big in itself. But they’re usually big supporting roles. But it’s the first time I was given a character and a part as big as this. So, definitely there’s pressure. But I always say that the transformation into Delia D will not happen if it’s not for the help of the artistic team.”

He then voices his thanks for the support from his team in getting to play the part of the main character. “I can’t be the only one to transform because everyone really helped me to be able to transform into Delia D. It is a difficult process. Blood, sweat, and tears.”

This process is heavily fueled by the inspiration to embody a role that talks about the desire to dream big. “I read a comment from someone who saw the show and she wrote that she was taught to dream again. And it really rings true to us, as people. Sometimes, we really forget our dreams. We forget our dreams unknowingly or knowingly. [I’m] just so happy that Delia was able to, you know, awaken those dreams in people. And I think that’s what we really want. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t dream and you don’t hope that those dreams will come true, even if it’s impossible, why are we still alive?”

Palmos does not only see dreams as inspirations, he sees them as a way to improve, too.

“When we dream, it’s really to improve ourselves, improve our lives, improve the lives of other people in the process, improve [who] and how we are as a person. So, dreams are always good for me. Especially when it’s coming from a place of love and compassion and understanding,” he shares.

In navigating this fabric of the human experience, this narrative on dreams, love, and family is expertly and poignantly told through the lens of a queer character, Delia.

Palmos continues, “It just so happened that Delia is queer, that Delia is part of the LGBTQIA plus community. It just so happens that she’s gender non-conforming, but everything that she’s been through in the entire duration of the show, we’ve all been through, right? We have a lot of support from our family, our parents, our friends, our community, wherever they are. And there are so many of us who really just want to achieve our dreams by helping our families. But sometimes we forget ourselves because of that help. And that is such a Filipino value and that’s such a very Pinoy story, storyline. So, she’s just gay, but her story is our story. And that is such a powerful message to bring to the audience.”

Much like Palmos landing a role of a lifetime, Manalo finding an entirely new platform to reimagine his body of work feels like a long time coming, but one that is perfectly timed, nonetheless. He says, “I’m finally realizing a full-blown stage musical that features all of the songs that I’ve written in the last 20 years,” he notes. “It’s 40 plus songs, a combination of the hits and originals that I’ve specifically written for this musical.”

He continues, “I cannot explain it, but it’s just so gratifying to see my songs being interpreted in a different way. In a different context, but at the same time still very relatable to the audience because they will see a lot of mirroring in their own experiences in life. So, all the feelings you will feel when you go see and watch ‘Delia D’. In the same way that when you listen to the songs that I’ve written, the ones that inspire you, the ones that make you feel heartbroken in love, those same kind of feelings you will feel when you go see Delia, but in a different context.”

In the world built by Newport World Resorts, through its theater production arm, NWR Musicals, “Delia D.” could’ve just been another jukebox musical—churned out with a familiar narrative and plopped with songs that have long been popularized to make for a surefire hit. But in fusing elements of music and acting prowess to bring what is a spectacle and a crowd-pleaser of  a production, characteristic of the production house’s growing identity forged through the years, what with the help of director Dexter Santos at the helm, its the key message, both loud and underlying, that Palmos, Manalo, and the whole of “Delia D.” want to deliver to its audiences.

More than championing artistic genius, amplified by Palmos’ , the musical, aptly named after its lead character, gives what was once a non-existent marquee character in entertainment, a well-dignified shape, form, heart, and soul. While strides have long been made to put fully-realized narratives of the community front and center of any creative pursuit, for NWR Musicals’ “Delia D.”, name is anything but a side note, but a ringing declaration and a step to a glittering revolution.