Muli: Love, loss, and second chances
What does “Muli” mean?
It literally means “again” when translated from Filipino to English. But so does “ulit.” Instead, muli evokes a yearning to repeat moments of joy, of dreams, of tenderness. It doesn’t belong in a threatening or angry sentence, or in a command like, “Again!” But muli blends expressions of yearning, of hope, of pleading.
When said in love, affection, or sincerity, muli evokes second chances.
Creators of Sa Wakas return with a new OPM musical Muli. More than a decade after changing the landscape of contemporary Philippine theater, the creative minds behind the critically acclaimed hit Sa Wakas are officially teaming up once again. Led by acclaimed executive producer and writer Charissa Pammit and stage director Andrei Pamintuan, Muli: An OPM Musical is a poignant new OPM (Original Pinoy Musical) about love, loss, and the haunting pull of “what-ifs.”
Muli takes viewers on a musical and visual journey through the ‘90s and early 2000s, anchoring its nostalgic vibe on the timeless themes of unfulfilled dreams and second chances.
“Sometimes, thinking of the what-ifs makes you realize that all the choices you have made in your life have put you exactly where you were meant to be,” says Pammit.
“As a writer who interviews so many people from different walks of life, it’s not rare for me to wonder what life would’ve been like if I chose a different path. Would I have made a good businessman? Politician? Artist? Doctor? A lot of these, of course, end up being no more than daydreams, since I am generally happy with my life,” says co-writer Jose Paolo Dela Cruz.
“I do always wonder, though, what life would’ve been like if my parents were still alive. I know that they’ll be happy to know that I’m doing the things that I love, but that’s all I can surmise since both passed away a little early,” he admits.
“One of my great joys, though, is knowing that I am living the what-ifs of my mom, who in her youth wanted to be a writer and journalist, but was dissuaded from it by her (well-meaning) relatives who suggested a more predictable career path. In the end, she became a full-time mom,” adds Dela Cruz, who would write in the evenings after work and events. He was, after all, living two dreams—his mom’s and his own.
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Leading the powerhouse cast is Gawad Urian Award-winning actress, singer, and host Kakki Teodoro. A shining star of Philippine theater, she has taken on standout roles in productions such as Isang Himala and Every Brilliant Thing, which also earned her a Philstage Gawad Buhay Award for “Female Lead Performance” in a Play. Rising OPM star and “OST Princess” Janine Teñoso also makes her stage debut in Muli, where she plays the daughter of Teodoro’s character. One of the most-streamed Filipino solo artists on Spotify with over three million monthly listeners, Teñoso’s biggest hits include Tingin, a collaboration with Cup of Joe, and Pelikula with Arthur Nery. The OPM musical also boasts an ensemble of top-billing actors such as Vien King (Passion), Marvin Ong (Man of La Mancha), Justine Peña (Sa Wakas), and Marynor Madamesila (Gregoria Lakambini), alongside social media creator and Dogshow Divas host Baus Rufo, in his first professional theater production.
The musical’s book and lyrics are co-written by Pammit and her close friend, PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Jose Paolo dela Cruz. Singer-songwriter Nica del Rosario, the artist behind hits such as Rosas and Tala; and violinist, musical director and composer Matthew Chang, both Gawad Buhay awardees for their first musical Gregoria, contributed to the musical by writing and producing a suite of original songs alongside FLIPMUSIC’s roster of talents. FLIPMUSIC is the group behind hits such as BINI’s Pantropiko, Salamin, Salamin, and Karera; and Sarah Geronimo’s Tala.
“I’d also like to add that the monologue near the end of the show is something I feel a lot of us want to convey to our parents—thanking them for all that they’ve done and wanting to give back the unconditional love that they gave us. That it’s our turn now to take care of them,” shares Pammit.
“I named Anita, our lead character, after my mom. While she’s not a teenage mom like our Anita, I wanted to pay homage to her for the sacrifices she has made.”
Muli: An OPM Musical will be staged on select dates from Sept. 11 to 27 at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater at the BGC Arts Center in Taguig City. For more information, visit www.mulimusical.com or @MuliMusical on Instagram.
