WHEN WE walked into the Newport Performing Arts Theater last weekend to watch Bagets: The Musical, we didn’t just walk into a theater—we felt like we walked into a time machine.
More than 40 years since the original film defined a generation, this powerhouse collaboration between Newport World Resorts, Viva Entertainment, PETA, and The Philippine Star has successfully breathed new life into the 1984 classic. As a proud member of the “Bagets Generation” (hello, fellow Gen Xers!), I found myself wearing a permanent grin from the opening number to the final bow.
The musical stays true to its roots, following the iconic quintet—Topee, Tonton, Adie, Gilbert, and Arnel—as they navigate the messy, neon-soaked transition into adulthood. Set against the backdrop of a mid-80s Philippines teetering on the edge of political and economic shifts, the story aptly captures the emotional tone of the era.
While the boys deal with the usual barkada drama and romantic high-wire acts, the musical adds a beautiful layer of depth by spotlighting their mothers: Ana, Delia, Virgie, Luz, and Ditas. Watching these women struggle with selfhood and survival while raising sons in a world where “macho” tropes were beginning to crumble gave the show an emotional weight the original film only hinted at.
What is Bagets without the music? A slew of reimagined ’80s anthems was cleverly turned into musical dialogues. The production expertly blends original hits from the movie soundtrack (Growing Up, So It’s You, Farewell, Telephone, Our House) with ’80s pop anthems (Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Buttercup, Take on Me, State of the Nation, Just Got Lucky), almost instantly triggering muscle memory (stop waving your right arm, boy!).
While nostalgia is a massive draw for us Gen Xers, Bagets: The Musical isn’t just a trip down memory lane; it is a bridge between generations. It contrasts a time when family bonding meant crowding around a single TV set with a rabbit antenna with today’s world of mobile gaming and instant downloads.
It reminds the younger audience—the Gen Zs and Alphas—that while technology changes (from having pen pals from the International Youth Service to getting followers on TikTok), the core of being a “Bagets” remains the same: the thrill of friendship, the sting of first love, and the realization that growing older doesn’t always mean growing up. It reminded us that when we’re young, we didn’t think about making memories; we just knew we were having fun.
The Verdict: Whether you lived through the ’80s or just want to understand the hype, this musical is a fun, melodramatic, heart-swelling, and sing-along worthy celebration of Filipino youth – props to the entire production, from the talented cast to the creative production team. Bagets: The Musical is just like the Big Boy or Bazooka Joe bubble gum you never want to stop chewing. You just want to keep on blowing and popping those damn sweet bubbles.
Bagets The Musical stars Nico Hendrix Chua/Andres Muhlach as Adie; Ethan David Santos/KD Estrada as Ariel; Tomas Rodriguez/Noel Comia, Jr. as Gilbert; Milo Cruz/Migo Valid as Tonton; and Sam Shoaf/Jeff Moses as Topee. The production is directed by Maribel Legarda with a script by playwright J-mee Katanyag.
