The "babaeng bakla" is the way she is because of several things. She knows how to lobby the "taray" like a weapon of mass distraction, and she does it with wicked attitude and much aplomb—“even if, ehem, "hindi naman kagandahan." (Some of them, anyway.) But she is able to cultivate a certain queer persona that verges on the ironic. Of course, there is always her capacity to make us laugh, a role that is usually ascribed by our society to swishy gay men. In the end, it is her penchant for low camp and self-deprecation that endears her to us. In films, she isn't usually the star at all; she is most often the sidekick, and so the macho leading man don't usually fall in love with her.

And there lies the root of our shared rainbow connection—“and fascination.

In this list, we've tried to go beyond the obvious—“yes, we know about Rufa Mae Quinto and Eugene Domingo and Kris Aquino and Ai-Ai de las Alas and Toni Gonzaga and Rosanna Roces. But this is our list. Wanna pull hair over it? (Meow.)

Rita Gomez played a down-on-her-luck bomba star in 1971's Pagdating sa Dulo.

1. RITA GOMEZ

Sassy trademarks: The Reyna Bandida and the Mahadera of the silver screen is famous for the Greta Garbo look—“complete with the perfectly arched eyebrows and the exotically lined eyes. But unlike the reclusive Hollywood star, Rita Gomez was sassier even in speech. How does she want her coffee? "Brewed, never instant, que horror."

Best remembered for: Upon her return to the movies during the bomba craze that gripped Philippine cinema in the 1980s, she became the first Filipino actor to be billed with the title of "Ms." before her name. Talk about a high sense of entitlement. She was the original Diva.

Why gays love her: Her devastating wit. She was a judge for Bb. Pilipinas in 1982, and she asked Maria Isabel Lopez this question: "Hija, are you still a virgin?" To which the winning beauty aspirant replied: "If I say yes, will I win?"—“but then quickly added something more before Ms. Gomez could answer: "Ikaw po, ma'am. Are you still a virgin?" Ms. Gomez did not bat an eyelash in her quick reply: "Hija, I've had five children from five different fathers. What would you call that, Immaculate Conception?"

Actress Marian Rivera should be glad that Celia Rodriguez is on her side.

2. CELIA RODRIGUEZ

Sassy trademarks: Only Celia Rodriguez can wear the turban—“and own it. She was the fashion maverick of the 1970s, antedating the crazy frills and ruffles of Cher by so many years.

Best remembered for: There is a treasure trove of anecdotes. What about the Time magazine cover of Asian actresses that prominently declared her a "starlet"? What about when she won an acting prize, and Charito Solis was presenting and didn't want to hand the trophy to her onstage because she thought Lolita Rodriguez should've won? And Celia kept begging her, "Sige na, Ate, ibigay mo na sa akin 'yan."

Why gays love her: She was Rita Gomez's greatest rival, and between them can be collected the most fabulous barbs ever, reminiscent of Bette Davis and Joanne Crawford. Once on a set, Ms. Rita Gomez called out to her, "O, kumusta ka na?" to which Ms. Rodriguez allegedly replied: "Eto, bakla pa din."