The barkada of Bagets The Musical wouldn’t be complete without Tonton, the resident troublemaker and unlikely hero first made famous by William Martinez. Rising stars Milo Cruz and Migo Valid take on the role to bring his charm to a new generation of theatergoers.
With his P-pop debut with Xerenade set to take off, Cruz is already expanding his artistic reach as Tonton in Bagets The Musical. The young performer said he sees more to the character than his mischievous reputation.
“Tonton is a repeater, yes,” Cruz said. “But if we move past that, past his kalokohan, we see that he’s really just a normal kid who has to learn life the hard way.”
He shared that the role captures the carefree joys of youth while underscoring how growing up often means facing hard truths.
“Masaya maging high school. ‘Yung tipong pwede kang mag-procrastinate ng assignments tapos tambay lang pagkatapos,” he said. “Pero kailangan nating maintindihan na hindi tayo pwedeng maging bata lang habambuhay.”
Cruz admitted he feels both nervous and excited for the show’s run, saying he plans to draw from his years of singing and dancing experience while venturing into acting.
For Migo, on the other hand, the stage adaptation of the 1984 film marks his theater debut. Known for his performances in Hold Me Close, A Glimpse of Forever, and Penduko, he said he never expected to land the part.
“First time ko mag-audition sa PETA,” Valid recalled. “Sabi ko, ‘I just want to make the panel smile.’ I wasn’t expecting anything then, so being cast as Tonton is such a blessing.”
He described Tonton as the group’s risk-taker, reckless but caring. “I’m very much like him,” Valid said with a laugh. “Back in high school, I had my wild moments, too. But those experiences helped me grow.”
The 23-year-old admitted he related deeply to Tonton’s sense of uncertainty. “Minsan napapatanong ako kung tama pa ba ‘yung mga ginagawa ko,” he said, reflecting on his late start in showbiz. “But like Tonton, keep moving forward ang mentality.”
Both Cruz and Valid are members of the P-pop group Xerenade. Their shared energy and love for performing promise to bring Tonton’s charm and depth to life on stage.
Bagets The Musical runs from January to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. The production also features Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez as Gilbert. A collaboration between VIVA Communications Inc., The Philippine STAR, and Newport World Resorts, the musical is staged in partnership with PETA Plus under the direction of Maribel Legarda, with playwright J-mee Katanyag and musical director Vince Lim.
