Atasha breathes life to what bongga is all about
Unapologetically fabulous—that’s the definition of bongga provided by Michael Rolluque in the Bongga-bulary (a glossary of terms to better understand the musical) in the playbill of Bongga Ka ‘Day: The Annie Batungbakal Musical.
Atasha Muhlach, the main star of the musical as Annie Batungbakal, is bongga in many ways. One, the young star can sing. Two, she can dance and dance well at that. Three, she can act—her emotions are raw, real and resonate with the audience. Four, no matter how much criticism she heard and took from the critics even before Bongga Ka ‘Day was shown in September, Atasha remained calm and focused, not necessarily unaffected.
She’s human and the critics’ unfavorable words have perhaps made her more attuned to performing the titular role in the musical that is based on the songs of the ‘70s Hotdog band.
The Hotdog band gave prominence to original songs like Manila, Annie Batungbakal and Bongga Ka ‘Day, which are a time capsule of a glorious generation.
Many songs have been rearranged for the musical. Some lyrics of the songs—like Pan De Sal sa Umaga, Panaginip and Mr. Midnight were changed to justify characters and fit the scenes.
If bongga would one day take another meaning, say, “fabulously humble,” Atasha would still fit the definition of the term. Asked to react about her bashers, she said, “(I just) focus on the good. (I focus) always on positivity. I keep my head down. I work hard. And the rest will follow.”
Atasha owns her character—even with her twang slipping from time to time. For that, she’s this generation’s Annie Batungbakal, the way the late National Artist Nora Aunor breathed life to the same character in 1979.
Bongga Ka ‘Day: The Annie Batungbakal Musical is a proud, gay and happy production of Newport World Resort, Viva and The Philippine STAR.
It is set in Manila in 1979, the time when disco is at a fever pitch and the happening place is Coco Banana.
Annie, a sales clerk at a fashion house, dreams of conquering Coco Banana and dressing up its habitues if only to prove that her dreams of becoming a fashion designer will materialize. Her quirky designs outline her ambition. In the process of dreaming, she meets people who will make and break her.
The joys and pains of Annie are evident in Atasha in her every dealing with the musical’s characters.
Atasha is one of the boys when she’s with Burn, played with moving sincerity—in expression and vocal quality—by Rapah Manalo. (This is the role played also by KD Estrada.)
She swoons like a damsel when she’s with Romer, played with panache and silent and believable machismo by Anthony Rosaldo, a role also played by Sam Concepcion.
She’s a repentant girl in front of her friend Toots, played with riotous verve by Gerhard Krysstopher, whom she once inadvertently threw under the bus in her desire to fulfill her dreams.
She’s a child field with dreams before her mother Suzy Batungbakal and sister Iste Batungbakal, played respectively well by Air Paz-Pablico and Andrea Babiera.
She’s a wide-eyed wanderer who many times comes to work late at House of Pasion because of the previous night’s partying at Coco Banana. Her scenes with Jackie Lou Blanco, as intimidating Aurora Pasion, are refreshing, even if at times their lapel mics go kaput.
She’s a force to reckon with before the presence of Tarurit, played with aplomb and wit by Dindo Divinagracia, the owner of Coco Banana.
She’s her most vulnerable self in magic realism scenes with Amor, her teddy bear that transforms into a fairy-like character in moments when Annie Batungbakal is unsure, insecure, desolate. Defeated.
Making sure Atasha is in touch with her character is the Bonagga Ka ‘Day’s director Chris Millado, former artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Chris brings almost half a century of theater and cultural work experiences to the musical.
Philippine Educational Theater Association’s Liza Magtoto and Vince Lim are respectively the playwright and musical director, arranger and sound designer of the musical. (I like it that martial law and the caprices of that regime in the ‘70s were discussed subliminally in three scenes in the production.)
Other creative souls who breathed bonggang-bonggang life to the production include choreographer Stephen Vinas, with his clean and clear syncopated rhythm and theatrical storytelling dance moves for the leads and the ensemble; set designer Ohm David, whose stage is already a multiverse of emotions; lights designer John Batalla, with his artistic blueprint of colorful and somber lights that move along the musical score and shape the mood of every scene; and costume designer Hershee Tantiado, who helps tell the story, time and setting of Bongga Ka ‘Day with authority and authenticity in clothing and accessories.
Bongga Ka ‘Day is a huge production—larger than life, out of this world—that the handiwork of the following creatives deserves a shout out because they, too, are exemplary: Johann dela Fuente (hair and makeup designer), Bene Manaois (video projection designer), Eric dela Cruz (dramaturg), Johnnie Moran (assistant director), Tep Logmao (assistant choreographer), James Lanante (associate sound designer), Tofie Falcon (assistant video projection designer), Ceejay Laudato (sound engineer), Rodel Comenar (musical director), Abi Sulit-Racho (vocal coach) and Mickey Jacinto (conductor).
Providing a solid backbone to the orchestration of the production is the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra.
Annie Batungbakal believes in her own possibilities, in the fruition of her dreams. She recognizes her limitations yet her eyes are set on the big stage—to become a fashion designer. In her pursuit of her goal, she gets sidetracked, sidelined but never does her spirit wane from believing that she will have her own spot under the sun one day. Her perseverance is a story that is more than resilience. It’s a trait that’s spawned by disapprovals. And from that territory, she rises to become the bonggang Annie Batungbakal.
Those descriptions also were alive in Atasha’s life when she took on the role amid premature judgment from the lot. In the end, she rises to the occasion by proving that she can own the role in acting and singing on stage.
Bongga Ka ‘Day: The Annie Batungbakal Musical is playing at The TPerforming Arts Theater of Newport World Resort until Oct. 31. Tickets are available at TicketWorld.
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