'Bagets The Musical' keeps the barkada spirit alive
In the 1984 classic film Bagets, a group of five teenage boys showed a whole generation of Filipinos the beauty and pain of growing up. On Jan. 23, 2026, a fresh crop of Gen Z actors will bring the film back to life in Bagets The Musical.
It will be an exuberant testament to how the Pinoy barkada, and everything that goes with being in one, has remained the same even 42 years after the film first celebrated it.
"I would call all of you my brothers," KD Estrada, who plays the polished Arnel, told his castmates at the musical's cast launch. "Ang ganda talaga ng samahan namin. It doesn't feel like work."
Estrada's Arnel was originally portrayed by Raymond Lauchengco.
"It's just about building the bond we have," said Andres Muhlach, whose role as the charming Adie was originated by his father, Aga, in the film. "Above all, the chemistry we share as a group is really important and we want to replicate that as much as possible on the stage."
"Kahit yung mga generation ngayon, makaka-relate sa tropahan namin ngayon. Ganoon talaga 'yung kulitan ng mga Pinoy," said Migo Valid, who plays the reckless Tonton, originated by William Martinez.
"Bagets is the story of all of us because we all went through the challenges of growing up," said Sam Shoaf, who plays martial arts kid Topee, originated by JC Bonin. "We are all doing the best we can with what we have."
The friendship among the cast helps them perform better. Ethan David, who is part of the P-pop boy group GAT, attests to this. He alternates with Estrada as Arnel.
"This is my first time doing theater, and it's nerve-racking to be in this cast. GAT is my comfort zone, and theater is a different world," said David. "Kaya gusto kong ka-partner si KD sa workshops kasi we have the same trajectory sa character ni Arnel."
For '80s kids, though, there were some nuances that today's friends don't have to deal with.
"'Yung barkada, 'andoon pa rin. Pero iba rin nang konti," said Noel Comia, Jr., who plays class clown Gilbert, originated by Herbert Bautista.
Today's youth have far more options to communicate with each other; not so for the '80s kids. "Ngayon, may [Facebook] Messenger na at video calls. Dati, kailangan pa mag-partyline," Comia added.
It would be particularly exciting to find out if PETA Plus' creative team, along with the fresh-faced cast, will be including elements that are integral to today's youth, such as social media and the ubiquitous cellphones.
Theater boot camp
The PETA Plus creative crew—Maribel Legarda as director, Jmee Katanyag as writer, and Vince Lim as musical director—intentionally runs the actors' workshops to further strengthen the boys' friendship with each other. They are hoping the bond shows in the actual performances.
"'Yung bond namin as a barkada, makikita mo onstage," said Jeff Moses, who alternates with Shoaf for Topee. "'Yun din 'yung iniinstill sa'min sa workshops—kung paano namin ili-lift up 'yung isa't isa sa scenes, and in the song and dance numbers."
In addition to finding a tight group of friends, the Bagets The Musical cast is also gaining fresh perspectives as performers.
Milo Cruz, who alternates with Valid as Tonton, said, "The biggest lesson I've learned is the beauty of mistakes. They teach us to improve, learn, and strive [to be] better. Improvement is a choice. Nasa atin lang kung aangat ba tayo o magse-stay ba tayo kung nasaan tayo."
Muhlach, fresh from his first film Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna, realized how different the worlds of film and theater are.
"The requirement is a lot different now on the stage. Even the whole process of preparing for the show, all the workshops we’re doing are different," Muhlach said.
Mico Chua, who alternates as Adie, knows that he has big shoes to fill.
"Sa Newport [Performing Arts Theater], ang laki ng stage... We're training to condition ourselves [physically], at the same time, 'yung mindset namin," said Chua. "Kung susuntok, kailangan OA."
With this new barkada bringing back memories for the film's Gen X fans and forming new ones for the musical's Gen Z peers, there is much to look forward to. It would be particularly exciting to find out if PETA Plus' creative team, along with the fresh-faced cast, will be including elements that are integral to today's youth, such as social media and the ubiquitous cellphones.
Bagets The Musical is jointly presented by The Philippine STAR and VIVA Communications Inc. It is scheduled to run from Jan. 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
General ticket selling starts on Oct. 17.
