Bongga Ka, ’Day! First Look: Atasha Muhlach
I never checked the time during Bongga Ka, ’Day!, and that was one of the first things I told friends after its open technical dress rehearsal at Newport Performing Arts Theater. Between the Hotdog songs, the energy of Coco Banana, and stage pictures that kept changing without slowing the show down, the evening held my attention.
These are impressions of a rehearsal rather than a verdict on the finished public run. A few lapel microphone problems surfaced, but most of the technical work already felt well put together.
Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical builds a story around Hotdog’s music and Annie, a House of Pasion sales clerk who dreams of becoming a fashion designer and entering the glamorous world of Coco Banana. Directed by Chris Millado, with a book by Liza Magtoto, the musical gives that familiar soundtrack a new set of people to follow.
Atasha Muhlach stays committed to Annie
Atasha Muhlach was one of my biggest points of curiosity going in. She carries the title role alongside performers with considerably more theater experience, but her commitment to Annie never faltered for me.
Whether she was speaking, singing, or moving through the choreography, she stayed present in the character. You could see her working, but you could also see her enjoying herself. Her stage confidence can still grow, and I left interested in how she might settle further into Annie over the run.
Vince Lim’s musical direction and arrangements gave Atasha room to communicate the role without making vocal difficulty the main event. I appreciated that Annie remained central without every song needing to become a demonstration of how high or how powerfully the lead could sing. Atasha held my interest in the character, which mattered more to me.
Language, movement, and Coco Banana
Throughout the musical, the way people speak and carry themselves helps establish class, familiarity, aspiration, and belonging. Language matters across Annie’s home, House of Pasion, and Coco Banana, not just inside the club. How someone addresses another person can be as revealing as what they are wearing.
Stephen Viñas’ choreography felt very Hotdog. The looseness, confidence, and playfulness belonged with the music, and the ensemble made Coco Banana feel alive. The different plot points unfolding there also gave each return to the club something to follow beyond the dancing.
Mica Fajardo, who is also part of the ensemble, was given the minor role of Romer’s ex during “Beh, Buti Nga.” She was so fun to watch, committing to the character’s attitude and making that brief appearance count.
Amor and Toots make an impression
Akie Cedilla’s Amor was one of the characters I enjoyed most. Alongside the humor is a hint of something magical, perhaps even supernatural. I liked having that suggestion to wonder about rather than needing the show to explain it all.
Gerhard Krysstopher gives Toots, Annie’s trusted officemate, significance beyond the usual sidekick. His performance has a wonderful consistency, and the character registers without needing to be pushed into the foreground. That steadiness was something I appreciated whenever Toots appeared.
KD Estrada, Anthony Rosaldo, and the company around Annie
I have enjoyed following KD Estrada’s theater work since Walang Aray, so I was glad to see him in another musical. Watching him as Burn meant bringing that earlier memory into a different character and musical world.
Burn has ambitions of his own, giving KD more to pursue than being one of Annie’s possible romantic interests. KD has an openness onstage that I enjoy, and I am interested in where his theater work goes next.
Anthony Rosaldo was the Romer Pasion I watched, and his comfort onstage was one of the things I mentioned to friends afterward. His assurance suits Romer, who moves through a world Annie is still trying to enter. With Burn and Romer almost becoming rival romantic possibilities, the contrast between KD and Anthony gives Annie two distinct personalities to respond to.
I also caught Ring Antonio as Aurora Pasion, Andrea Babierra as Iste Batungbakal, and Dindo Divinagracia as Tarurit. Ring brought authority to House of Pasion, Andrea helped ground Annie’s family world, and Dindo gave Coco Banana’s gatekeeper the theatrical presence the role calls for.
The experience of performers like Ring and Dindo gives the production much of its confidence. They can make their presence count while leaving room for the people sharing the scene, which matters when a newer theater performer is carrying the lead.
Lighting, sets, and transformations
John Batalla’s lighting was one of my favorite technical elements. It gave scenes texture and, when needed, tension, while making it clear where my attention should go.
Ohm David’s set design gave the stage a satisfying fullness without making it feel cluttered. I especially liked the transitions, which kept one stage picture moving into the next. The LED screens helped frame the action rather than overwhelming the performers.
Hershee Tantiado’s costumes and Johann dela Fuente’s hair and makeup design deserve to be considered together. Appearance matters in a story about fashion and belonging, and their work completes how the characters present themselves in those different spaces.
I am not a costume-construction expert, but I appreciated the planning behind the quick changes. The transformations fit into the flow of the performance instead of making the evening feel as though it had stopped to wait for them.
The view from G42 at Newport Performing Arts Theater
My seat at G42 was literally perfect for me that evening: right smack in the middle and at eye level with the stage. I could watch faces while still taking in the complete stage pictures. That centered view made the transitions especially satisfying because I could see how one arrangement became the next.
A company willing to share the stage
I went home hopeful about Atasha and appreciative of the company around her. The experienced performers brought their own personalities and confidence without making Annie feel lost among them. Theater veterans can share their shine so that a newer artist can shine brighter, and that was the thought I kept returning to afterward.
Bongga Ka, ’Day! also gave me an enjoyable evening beyond that interest in its lead. The music, movement, and thoughtful transitions kept me involved, and I left with several performers and moments I wanted to talk about.
For performance dates and ticket information, visit Newport World Resorts’ official Bongga Ka, ’Day! listing. You can also browse more theater reviews on Unsaulicited.