Aga Muhlach reacts to daughter Atasha's 'Bongga Ka Day' critics: 'Let them hate'
Aga Muhlach has finally broken his silence regarding the online criticism facing his daughter, Atasha, for her performance in the new musical Bongga Ka 'Day: The Annie Batungbakal Musical.
"I know Atasha! Kay Andres ninenerbyos ako," Muhlach told PhilSTAR L!fe and The Philippine STAR during the opening night held on Friday, Sept. 18 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. "Alam niya 'to, she knows this. I know her so well."
"Kaya I’ve been quiet the whole time when she was being attacked 'nung una," he said.
When asked if he was hurt for his daughter, he admittedly said yes, but said he never read anything.
"Sinabi lang sa akin. And then I saw my daughter, I know what she went through sa house, sa bahay namin, and sabi ko, ‘Ganyan talaga, pag may malaking proyekto, kaiingitan ka, hindi nawawala sa industriya yan, hindi nawawala sa mundo yan, pag may magandang nangyayari sa isang tao.’ Hindi karamihan ah, konti lang to na hihilahin ka pababa."
He shared the advice he gave to his kids, Atasha and Andres, now that they have their own careers.
"Sabi ko, ‘may trabaho na kayo, mahalin niyo trabaho niyo. Mahalin niyo yung mga nagmamahal sa inyo. Yung mga haters niyo, nag babash a inyo, let them hate! Let them, you don’t need them in your life. Haters are gonna hate. Ok lang yun. Dasalan na lang natin sila. Mas maraming nagmamahal, mas maraming mabubuting tao kesa sa mga ganyan,'" he reminded them.
He said that he doesn't have anything else to say to his kids' bashers, except, "Patawarin kayo ng Panginoong Diyos, mahal parin namin kayo."
"It’s opening night, there will be lots of weekends, not to prove but to work and have fun," Muhlach said.
Atasha is starring in the title role of Bongga Ka 'Day!, which runs through October. Months before opening, social media users criticized the actress, claiming she hadn't auditioned for the lead position. However, members of the production team—including director Chris Millado—shared that she made a strong impression during her audition.
"She walked in like nobody. Gym pants. Plain tee. Bare face. Ponytail. No entourage. No arte. Then the music hit. She caught the choreography on the first eight-count and slid into the song's high notes like they were made for her. She matched the leading boys' swoony charm and swagger," Millado wrote in a Facebook post in June.
Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical transforms Hotdog’s iconic music into a full theatrical experience. Set in the colorful world of 1970s Manila, the production promises to capture the energy, humor, and heart that made Manila Sound resonate across generations.
Produced by Newport World Resorts in partnership with VIVA Communications and The Philippine STAR, the original musical opens in September 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.