.png){kind=logo}
4 days ago
9
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
January 31, 2026 | 4:05pm
LAGUNA, Philippines — "Bagets the Musical" stirred some happy memories in the stars of the original 1984 film the production is based on.
Raymond Lauchengco, Herbert Bautista, Eula Valdez, Yayo Aguila and Cheska Iñigo all attended the show's gala night last January 29 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
Speaking to members of the media, including Philstar.com, Raymond said the production's music and characters allowed nostalgia to flow.
"It's so much to fun to watch! I think it might be even funnier than the movie," Raymond smiled. The actor originated the role of Arnel, now played onstage by KD Estrada and Ethan David.
He admitted feeling a little embarrassed that people were seeing the antics his generation got up to, quipping how fortunate it was that social media didn't exist yet then.
"Kung may Facebook, Instagram, patay kami 'nun. Watching it now, it feels like we're doing it all over again," Raymond also said, adding he still related to the young boys and not the parents.
Eula, who originated Janice now played by Sam Marasigan, confessed that flashbacks had her shedding tears.
She did give her stamp of approval for the new iteration, where her character was given an activist's background, as it aided in the contrast with her romantic partner Arnel.
Yayo expressed happiness at being able to see the production with some of her co-stars, even though they were incomplete, and seeing all their reactions.
"Si Herbert ang daming tanong! Kalabit ng kalabit," she exclaimed. Yayo previously portrayed Rose (now played by Yani Lopez) while Herbert played Gilbert, now alternated between Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez.
If there was one thing the musical reminded Yayo of way back when, it was the friendship the cast formed that lasted through the decades, adding that Herbert also mentioned it was nostalgic.
Cheska appeared in the "Bagets" sequel that came out months after the first, and she shared that seeing the original film in Greenhills Theater prompted her to tell her cousins she'd be in the next one.
"I was so overwhelmed by how it spoke not just to me but the generation," she continued. "And I'm so happy that the kids today get to see what it was like for us before cellphones, Instagram, Facebook, when we could get away with so much and nobody knew."
Other members of the original film were Aga Muhlach as Adie, William Martinez as Tonton, J.C. Bonnin as Topee, Jobell Salvador as Melissa, and Chanda Romero as Christine.
The musical adaptation sees Mico Chua and Aga's son, Andrea, alternating Adie, Milo Cruz and Migo Valid alternating Tonton, Jeff Moses and Sam Shoaf alternating as Topee, Brigitta Marilla as Melissa and Ava Santos as Ivy.
RELATED: Familiar tunes, names draw crowd to ‘Bagets The Musical’
