Meet Bomba Ding, the Drag Artist Co-Starring in Anne Curtis' Preview Cover
The "Malakas" to Anne's "Maganda," Bomba is a 26-year-old drag artist and theater performer.
by Em Enriquez
Published on Sep 11, 2025
Preview’s 30th anniversary issue paid homage to Filipino style and culture, both in the historical and fictional realms. Fronting the cover—and to be immortalized through a special print edition of Preview Volume 1—was Anne Curtis as the delicate yet disarming Maganda. Garbed in a bespoke creation by Best Filipino Fashion Designer 2025 awardee Antonina, the multi-media darling gazed into BJ Pascual’s lens as the homegrown title rang in a new decade.
That said, true to the tale, the actress was not alone as she emerged from the bamboo stalk. Playing her counterpart was Bomba Ding, a 26-year-old drag artist and performer who flaunted his well-built physique as Malakas himself. Fun fact: In between snaps during the cover shoot, Bomba playfully quipped to Anne how they're both qualified to be Maganda—and we don't disagree. LOL!
Prior to his Preview cover debut, Bomba had been twirling around the country’s drag and theater scene as an all-around performer. With a foundation in dance, he certainly had no problem hitting different poses, finding his best angles, and even doing a tinikling routine on the spot. Ahead, we get to know more about Bomba and the bevy of tricks he has up his sleeve.
Who Is Drag Artist and Performer Bomba Ding?
“I was gagged,” the drag artist recalls feeling when he got booked to be Anne’s co-star. Getting tapped to pose with the it girl was quite a big deal for sure, especially given how he’s always adored her work. “The gay kid in me was super obsessed with her teleserye Dyosa,” he shares. “I was one of those kids who used blankets and curtains to mimic her transformations.”
His admiration grew through the years as Anne continued being a well-loved figure in show business. “She exudes this confidence and beauty that transcends TV screens and magazine pages. I aspire to have those traits as well,” Bomba muses. “She really inspires me, not just as an artist, but as a person also.”
The nine-hour shoot day was an immersion for Bomba. Seeing the teamwork that went into a large-scale production—from the photographer and creative director's back-and-forth, to the stylist and glam team members' alignment—was a live “masterclass” for him. “It just proves that it takes a village to create beautiful and meaningful content and art,” he reflects.
Bomba was also pretty excited to work with BJ. In front of the camera, he fantasized that he was already doing a photoshoot challenge a la Drag Race Philippines, of which BJ is a rotating judge and frequent guest photographer. “BJ really knows what he is doing. The way he directed Miss Anne and [me] said a lot about his creativity and his vision,” Bomba gushes. Getting to rub shoulders with these creative powerhouses is something he views as a “huge flex.”
In retrospect, portraying Malakas was a meaningful invitation for Bomba, who acknowledged the responsibility that came with the narrative. “Being Malakas highlights queer representation in mass media. I think that it’s very important that we echo the idea that Malakas can also be Maganda,” Bomba says.
As an out and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Bomba underscores that for him, the photoshoot wasn’t merely about producing great-looking images. With Anne parallel to him as a symbol of beauty, he aimed to be a symbol of strength, one that knows no gendered boundaries. As he states:
“Embodying Malakas in this shoot was a testament that we can also associate strength with queer entities. Malakas can also be maganda if he wanted to, in the same way that Maganda can also be malakas if she wanted to,” he declares.
That very idea is present in the persona Bomba has cultivated through his career. His name comes from the word “bombarding,” which speaks to his high-octane personality and performance style. “Bomba Ding has a bombshell body and performs explosively on stage,” he puts it. Another key reference of his are “bomba” films of the 1960s to the 1980s, which are known for their sexually suggestive and erotic depictions. This translates to the body and sex positivity Bomba highlights through his work.
“What I want to project is the power of self expression and the confidence [instilled in me by] my drag persona,” he adds. The “Ding” serves as his surname, as he comes from the lineage of Drag Race Philippines’ alumna Brigiding. (Vocalize his name a few times and you'll hear the "bading" repeatedly!)
Aside from drag and modeling gigs, Bomba is also a theater performer, having participated in productions such as the Phi Palmos-starring Delia D. and the presently-running Walang Aray. By profession, Bomba is a trained dancer, having literally dipped his toes into folk, jazz, and contemporary genres.
He gained experience as a member of the University of the Philippines’ Filipiniana Dance Group, which came in handy for the tinikling tribute during the cover shoot. He’s also learned how to vogue and waack through participating in Manila’s emerging ballroom scene. With his expanding expertise, Bomba professes that “dancing is and will forever be my ‘core’ and first love.”
Stay updated on Bomba Ding's upcoming drag shows and theater performances by following him on his Instagram account: @bomba.ding.
Preview Volume 1, published by Summit Books, will be available in print this September 2025.
Em is queer and probably daydreaming somewhere. They're Preview's associate entertainment editor who's often spotted in cowboy boots and lemon-tinted sunnies.