A ‘bongga’ trip to the colorful, sequined world of 70s Manila
Friday, Sept. 25, was gala night for “Bongga Ka ‘Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical,” starring Atasha Muhlach — unica hija of Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales — in her first lead role in a major musical production.
“Bongga Ka ‘Day!” is a jukebox musical built around the hits of Hotdog, the iconic band of the 1970s that helped define the Manila Sound.
It was a star-studded evening, with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos among the guests, accompanied by the producers of the show: The Philippine STAR president Miguel Belmonte and his wife, Milette, Viva big boss Vic del Rosario with longtime partner Joanne Quintas, and Kevin Tan of Megaworld.
Other familiar faces in the audience included Kath Pimentel, special envoy of the President to the UAE; Franco and Ayen Laurel; Shirley Kuan; Girlie “GR” Rodis; Rica Maceda; Therese Coronel-Santos; and my schoolmate Esther Santos, president of Smart Foundation.
As I entered the lobby of the Newport Performing Arts Theater, I couldn’t help but notice guests dressed in retro-inspired outfits — flared pants, polyester tops and other fashion pieces reminiscent of the ‘70s. It immediately set the mood for an evening of nostalgia.
Before the show began, veteran theater director Chris Millado came onstage to welcome the guests and encouraged everyone to get on their feet, dance along and, quite simply, have a good time.
And that was exactly what “Bongga Ka ‘Day!” delivered.
The musical tells the story of Annie Batungbakal, a saleslady — or, in local parlance, a “dispatsadora” — from Frisco who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Her journey eventually takes her to Coco Banana, the “it” club of the 1970s.
When I first heard that “Bongga Ka ‘Day!” was being turned into a musical, I was curious to see how Atasha would approach the role made famous on the big screen by the late National Artist Nora Aunor in the 1979 film “Annie Batungbakal.”
After watching the show, however, I realized that while Atasha and Nora both played Annie B, the stage production tells a completely different story from the movie. Rather than being a direct adaptation, the musical draws inspiration from the iconic song’s lyrics and reimagines Annie B’s story through the music of Hotdog and the colorful, sequined world of ‘70s Manila.
Atasha was a breath of fresh air the moment she stepped onstage. She displayed the acting skills and comedic timing she inherited from her father, Aga, while her dancing showed the influence of her mother, Charlene. Aga is a talented dancer himself, but his ’80s Michael Jackson-esque moves might have been a decade ahead of their time for this ’70s show. Atasha’s singing voice, meanwhile, was developed through months of training under Sweet Plantado of The CompanY.
The result was a fun and engaging lead performance. Atasha appeared to be genuinely enjoying herself onstage, and she displayed an easy chemistry with both of her leading men.
Sam Concepcion, a veteran stage performer, plays Romer, a flirtatious, well-off flight attendant and photographer. KD Estrada plays Burn, a folk-rock singer whose natural musicality is showcased through his singing and guitar playing.
Adding to the fun were Jackie Lou Blanco, who plays Aurora Pasion, an old-school fashion designer and owner of the fashion house where Annie works, and comedian John Lapus, who takes on the dual roles of Tarurit, the owner of Coco Banana, and Tito Tambay, the Batungbakals’ neighbor. It was a delight to see both of them onstage.
One of my favorite production numbers was John Lapus’ performance of Badaf Forever with the ensemble. It was pure disco exuberance — high-energy, campy and infectious. John’s comic timing and larger-than-life presence had the audience clapping, cheering and singing along. It was one of those numbers where you simply couldn’t sit still.
Then came the much-anticipated finale, with the entire cast performing Bongga Ka ‘Day. The number was another adrenaline rush, combining powerful vocals with energetic choreography and bringing the evening to a fitting close.
There was never a dull moment. More than once, I caught myself singing along to the familiar Hotdog hits. For a couple of hours, I was transported back to the 1970s, when psychedelic colors, big hairstyles and unabashedly flamboyant fashion ruled the scene.
The producers clearly did not scrimp on the production. The revolving sets, colorful costumes and live musical band all contributed to the experience, creating a visual and musical feast that complemented the nostalgia of the story.
But perhaps what I enjoyed most was seeing a new generation embrace the music of an era that helped shape Filipino popular culture. Atasha, in particular, brings a youthful energy to a character and a musical world that many audiences first encountered decades ago.
It makes me happy to see the live theater scene thriving once again, with audiences trooping to the Newport Performing Arts Theater to catch productions like this. Hopefully, this renewed enthusiasm for live theater is a trend that is here to stay.
“Bongga Ka ‘Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical” runs until Oct. 24 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available through TicketWorld.
- Latest
- Trending
Exclusive