The shy but mischievous Gilbert gets a fresh spin with Bagets The Musical, reviving the 1980s coming-of-age classic for a new generation.
Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez of P-pop boy group Alamat will alternate in playing the geeky barkada member made famous by Herbert Bautista in the 1984 hit.
Comia, a stage actor with credits in Fun Home with Lea Salonga and The Secret Garden, said he was drawn to Gilbert’s awkward charm.
“We all have that experience of liking someone but not being able to share how we feel,” Comia said. “Gilbert is awkward, self-conscious, and still figuring himself out.”
Rodriguez, who first appeared in Pinoy Big Brother before joining Alamat and starring in films like Expensive Candy and The Ship Show, said he relates more to Gilbert’s playful side.
“Every barkada has a Gilbert, quiet but always game for mischief,” he said with a laugh. “That’s the part I connect with most.”
The musical will run from Jan. 23 to March 2026 at Newport Performing Arts Theater. It is a joint production of VIVA Communications Inc., The Philippine STAR and NEXT by Philstar Media Group, and Newport World Resorts, with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Plus guiding the creative team led by director Maribel Legarda, playwright J-mee Katanyag, and musical director Vince Lim.
