Bongga Ka 'Day, The Annie Batungbakal Musical: Fun, Flawed and Saved by Disco

(SPOT.ph) Whether Atasha Muhlach delivers the goods in her big stage debut is the last thing people need to worry about going into Bongga Ka Day, The Annie Batungbakal Musical. Even if it was understudy Iya Villanueva that we saw on opening night, stepping into Annie B’s disco shoes last minute because Atasha reportedly sprained her ankle the previous evening at rehearsals, there was no doubt in our minds Aga’s unica hija can swing this one, perform better than everyone expected.

And the positive reviews that came after Atasha got to perform to live audiences just proved our calculation right. After all, the kid already sounded pretty good in her teaser number during the press launch, and danced like a pro, too. The days of vocal training and rehearsals that followed could only have made her better. And we know this showbiz royalty's unmistakable star quality could only add more “bongga” to an already splashy production.

Just in case you skip the theater bulletins, this Bongga Ka ‘Day is a jukebox musical using the songs of legendary ‘70s band Hotdog, founders of Manila Sound. So expect to hear “Panaginip,” “Pers Lab,” “Beh Buti Nga,” and of course “Bongga Ka ‘Day” and “Annie Batungbakal.” The less familiar songs also find their way into the book, like “Pandesal Sa Umaga” and “Kulang,” along with other gems that prove just how remarkably Rene and Dennis Garcia really captured the sentiments and sound of an era. The brothers were likely unaware, too, that their compositions will become classics decades later—and that their discography will provide a springboard for a 2026 stage musical.

But the challenge in jukebox musicals, as always, is to find a story that can make use of as many hits in a pop act’s discography. In the case of Bongga Ka ‘Day, The Annie Batingbakal Musical, that story is already kind of in the second Hotdpg song in the show's title— a young woman living a double life: “Sa umaga dispatsadora,” the lyrics go, “Pagsapit ng dilim nasa Coco Banana.” Sounds like weaving the rest of the story, creating the book for the musical, should be a breeze from there.

For the young folks reading this: A dispatsadora is a sales lady, and Coco Banana the legendary Malate disco often compared to New York’s Studio 54, where celebs and socialites used to party in wild abandon. The Annie in the Bongga Ka 'Day musical is a sales lady by day in a made-to-order fashion boutique going out of fashion. Meanwhile, she unleashes her aspiring designer persona at night, putting together a showstopper of an outfit so she can be admitted into the halls of Coco, which is infamous for turning down even the most extravagantly dressed if they didn’t pass the door bitch’s taste.

Here is where things get a little tricky: it turns out that very few of the Hotdog songs, or parts of Hotdog songs, fit snugly into many of the musical’s scenes. The songs are great as they are, beautiful and complete in and of themselves. But to expect them to fit into the story of Bongga Ka Day is a different ballgame altogether. You’d think a handful of songs about falling in love and a disco-obsessed girl would already cover a musical about a love triangle with a disco-obsessed girl at the center of it. Maybe if there wasn’t three other subplots to the story: there’s the one about Annie’s family life; the fashion boutique that refuses to move with the times; and a friendship between Annie and Toots that we swear we didn’t see coming until—wait, they’re fighting and breaking up? And it’s a major subplot?

They could have set that one up a little clearer. And they could have crafted a narrative that actually jived with Hotdog lyrics.

Even in the numbers where some of the original lyrics were altered, presumably to fit what’s going on onstage, the changes sound insufficient and a little uninspired.

Thank heavens for Coco Banana. The entire disco set piece is the most fun, most joyous, most transportive section of the musical. The size of the Newport Performing Arts Theater stage is just perfect for this kind of spectacle. For several campy, delicious minutes, we forget about cliche subplots and lyrics that don’t fit—this mirror ball world serves not only as a breather from the unfortunate shortcomings of the Bongga Ka Day book; it’s also a parallel universe, a glittery bubble where everything is all pabonggahan and paistaran, synchronized dance steps and fabulous outfits. Keber na, to use a phrase from that period, to the harsh realities of Philippine life circa 1979.

The whole disco scene in the play is pure indulgence. The set is fantastic. The choreography a creative evocation of 80s dancing, not just a jumble of throwback steps. The whole thing is like Xanadu on steroids. And this is where we imagine Miss Muhlach really shines. Atasha’s sweet smile and game-for-anything vibe should be able to keep both the energy and fun quotient high onstage. But why her character desires to belong to this glamorous universe is unclear. Anyway, this section is also a John Lapus moment. Sweet is a joy to watch playing Coco Banana's queen mother figure named Tarurit—after the official term of endearment for Ernest Santiago, the fashion designer and real life proprietor of Coco Banana who passed away in 2007.

We don’t know if Iya Villanueva got to step in Annie B’s dancing shoes again, or if she will still be able to in the coming weeks (remaining play dates for Bongga Ka Day are October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 and 30) but we’re glad to have caught her on opening night. She was a revelation as Maggie in TGA’s The Chorus Line early this year, and she proves she can do anything in Bongga Ka Day, taking great pleasure in every scene and every interaction, able to lend sweetness and brightness to the show’s longing ballads, and joy and solid vocals to the jumpier, more demanding tracks.

So yeah Atasha Muhlach isn’t really what you need to worry about if you’re planning to catch Bongga Ka 'Day in its last three weekends of performances. Nor do you have to worry about Sam Concepcion who is an undeniable presence onstage, or KD Estrada who, as the hippie balikbayan- folk singer heartthrob, manages to be dreamy in both looks and in how he sounds. Bongga Ka ‘Day The Annie Batungbakal Musical is fun and entertaining, the dancing is exhilarating and the performers give it their all. It’s not perfect but it’s bongga in its own ways.

Catch the last remaining shows of Bongga Ka 'Day The Annie Batungbakal Musical on these dates: October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 and 30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, with matinee and evening pertormances on Saturdays. Get your tickets here.