MANILA -- Two rising members of P-pop group Xerenade are stepping off the concert stage and into the spotlight of musical theater.
Milo Cruz and Migo Valid are both making their stage debuts as Tonton — the charming daredevil of "Bagets The Musical" — bringing fresh energy to the character first played by William Martinez in the 1984 film classic.
Mile Cruz as Tonton in Bagets The Musical. HandoutWith his P-pop debut with Xerenade on the horizon, Cruz is already expanding his craft and bringing new depth to the character.
“Tonton is a repeater, yes,” he explained. “But if we move past that — past his kalokohans — we see that he’s really just a normal kid who has to learn life the hard way.”
For him, it is through challenging moments that one can truly grow and mature.
"Masaya maging high school. ‘Yung tipong pwede kang mag-procrastinate ng assignments tapos tambay lang pagkatapos,” said Cruz. “Pero kailangan nating maintindihan na hindi tayo pwedeng maging bata lang habambuhay.”
Such lessons are what the audience can look forward to in "Bagets The Musical" — scenes that show life before the internet and how raw and simple those times were.
Cruz admits feeling both nervous and excited for the show, as he promised to give his best, drawing on his years of singing and dancing, and now adding acting to his repertoire.
Migo Valid as Tonton in Bagets The Musical. Handout
The stage adaptation of the 1984 classic also marks Valid’s theater debut. With films like "Hold Me Close," "A Glimpse of Forever" and "Penduko" to his credit, he admits he never expected to land the role.
“First time ko mag-audition sa PETA,” said Valid. “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.”
The beloved character is the barkada’s risk-taker — charming, reckless, yet caring.
“I’m very much like him,” he said. “Back in high school, I had my wild moments, too. But those experiences helped me grow.”
Taking a moment to reflect, he said what struck him most was the feeling of being left behind — an emotion he shares with the character.
“Minsan napapatanong ako kung tama pa ba ‘yung mga ginagawa ko,” the 23-year-old shared, noting his late start in showbiz. “But like Tonton, keep moving forward ang mentality.”
Such a mindset has helped him land a major part in the musical, opening doors to a new chapter in his career.
"Bagets The Musical" is scheduled to run from January 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
Joining Cruz and Valid in the lead cast are Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez as Gilbert. More cast members will be revealed soon.
Alamat’s Tomas Rodriguez makes theater debut in ‘Bagets The Musical’