Bar Boys Rises Again: The Third Run as a Call for a Better Philippines
"Ito 'yung pinipili naming paraan ng paglaban," Bar Boys: The Musical choreographer Jomelle Era tells Esquire Philippines. This frames the third run of the hit musical not just as a performance, but as a renewed act of defiance against social and political injustices.
Bar Boys: The Musical—notice 'New' being dropped in the title—is set to open on October 24 with an all-new staging at Areté's Hyundai Hall, Ateneo de Manila University, in Quezon City. It is created by Pat Valera (book and lyrics) and Myke Salomon (music and lyrics) and is based on the 2017 film by Kip F. Oebanda. The musical follows the journey of four friends—Erik (Benedix Ramos), Chris (Alex Diaz), Torran (Jerom Canlas), and Josh (Omar Uddin)—who hope to become lawyers and fight for a better Philippines. But the realities of life pose a challenge to their dreams.
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Omar Uddin as Josh Zuniga, Benedix Ramos as Erik Vicencio, Jerom Canlas as Torran, and Alex Diaz as Chris
The Unfinished Struggle
"Ito 'yung voice ng actors at ng creators para magkuwento. Dito kami gumagawa ng boses para makagawa ng brighter tomorrow, better future. Ito 'yung means namin to fight and means namin na magawa lahat ng pangarap natin na mas magandang Pilipinas," Era continues.
Having seen the anti-corruption protests over the weekend and the almost exasperated demand for good governance not only in the last decade but throughout our lifetime, using theater as a means to protest feels more urgent and necessary than ever. It provides a unique space to distill complex political issues without falling into didacticism, but allows the audience to connect with a shared sense of struggle.
"Relevant pa rin siya kahit hanggang ngayon because of our justice system. At kung paano natin na-a-uphold 'yung katarungan dito sa bansa natin. Paano nagiging accountable 'yung mga tao sa mga atraso nila. Ang class struggle ay labas na labas pa rin sa lipunan natin. 'Yun ang pinaka-target ng production na ito: na ilagay ang conversation, i-forefront 'yung class struggle na 'yon, when it comes to the justice system," Myke Salomon, who's also the musical director, adds about the third iteration of the production.
Director Mikko Angeles, likewise, acknowledges the painful reality: "Dahil din sa mga issues na kinakaharap ng bayan ngayon, hindi matatapos or kahit kailan, hindi magiging hindi relevant 'yung show. Dahil isang mahaba, masakit man pakinggan, pero isang mahabang proseso 'yung hinahanap na pagbabago doon sa justice system."
Juliene Mendoza returns as Paping
The Target Market
While initially appealing to law students ("Sila talaga 'yung target market kasi kuwento nila 'to, eh," Angeles admits), the issues tackled by Bar Boys: The Musical connect to every Filipino.
"Other than the four leads, lalo na dito sa staging na 'to, mas na-explore at na-expound namin 'yung kuwento ng iba-ibang tao sa representation ng iba-ibang mga characters sa play. Kahit na isang linya o isang moment o isang nuance, maliit na bahagi man ng isang napakalaking eksena or production number, it matters, e. At lahat ng 'yon, meron silang representation sa community. And I think, pati na rin 'yung mga parents ng Bar Boys, mga kaibigan ng Bar Boys, maging teacher ng Bar Boys, lahat 'yan, imposibleng walang iisang audience ang makaka-relate," the director adds, with a promise of interweaving narratives in the musical.
"Kasi minsan nakaka-alienate, e. Nakaka-alienate for a casual theatergoer, na, ‘Ah, 'di man ako nag-law school so bakit 'di ako makaka-relate diyan?’ Or, ‘Di naman ako nag-take ng board or kung ano mang exam, di ko makaka-relate diyan.’ Pero I think napatunayan ng dalawang successful runs in the past na di mo kailangang maging estudyante ng law or ng nursing or kung ano mang board exam para maka-relate dito. Mula sa pinakabata hanggang sa pinakamatandang member ng audience, talagang mapupukaw ang atensyon at puso dito sa show."
Sheila Francisco as Justice Hernandez
And if there's anything we've (hopefully) learned in the multiple cases of corruption in our country, it's that we're always affected by everything in one way or another.
"Basically, kung Pilipino ka sa Pilipinas, baka kulang pa 'yung napapanood mo sa Senate. Kung wala kang pakialam, kung nonchalant ka na Pinoy, 'yung, 'Ah, di naman ako affected, e. Distant ako diyan. Di ako nadadaanan ng problema. Di ako nauulanan. Di ako binabaha.' Sinisigurado namin na pag nanonood ka ng Bar Boys: The Musical, 'yung wala mong pakialam, baka ito na 'yung tawag. 'Yung kanta, 'yung sayaw, 'yung staging, baka 'yun 'yung umuga sa pagkatao mo para magkaroon ka ng pakialam," Era echoes.
And with the Filipinos', especially the current generation's intense involvement in digital media, Angeles' North Star is the focus on algorithm—now known as the system in which our social media feed is curated, but technically defined as a process or set of rules followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations.
"'Yun 'yung binrief ko sa creative team, sa actors, even sa production, sa stage management, sa lahat talaga—na 'yon ang gusto kong maging magnet ng buong show. Only because I believe na 'yung algorithm, being the video game part ng original film at nung previous two runs, 'yun din 'yung system of codes natin na mini-mirror niya 'yung system of laws na binubuo ng ating justice system. And sobrang exciting at the same time challenging kung paano namin papagtagpiin, paano namin ma-equate 'yung parehong magkaibang mundo na 'yon," the director explains.
Nor Domingo as Atty. Maurice Carlson
From Traverse Stage to a Proscenium
Apart from a stronger and louder narrative, a huge change in this iteration is its staging in a proscenium instead of the previous traverse stage. This change not only in the size of the physical space but also of the perspective inevitably requires a different set design, the doubling in number of members of the ensemble, and choreography.
Angeles' blanket rule as now the sole director (previously co-director with Pat Valera) is "presence of the absence." "Lahat ng absent sa previous two runs, ibibigay natin sa run na ito. Kung ano 'yung hindi niyo nakita dati in terms of set design, ibibigay natin dito. So 'yun, kung ano 'yung blangko, kung ano 'yung negative space, 'yun 'yung pinupunan namin ngayon. At lahat ng departamento, isu-supply 'yun," he says.
"'Yung challenge, siyempre, is to start from scratch because there are a lot of things that will not work anymore from the traverse staging. Plus, ang dami din ng ensemble namin, so may mga bagong cast. Basically, bagong lahat ang ipi-present. So, bagong pagtingin din, bagong perspective din doon sa material," Era adds.
For Salomon, it is an exciting return to Hyundai Hall, where he and the rest of the Mula sa Buwan production made first use of the venue in 2018. "Kami 'yung suminghot ng lahat ng semento doon. Very nostalgic for me kasi 'yun 'yung pagbabalik namin do'n." He added that there are a few edits in the arrangement, "Nothing major, pero malaking tulong siya sa narrative."
Angeles emphasized this kind of collaboration to continuously push the story. "Lahat ng changes, 'yun ang sinisigurado namin, lahat ng changes especially na sa music, lalo na sa set, lalo na sa costumes, ilaw at galaw, lahat ng 'yan is para mas mapabuti ang storytelling. 'Yon naman palagi. Hindi dahil laging kailangan ng paandar, kailangan dahil para masabi na bago lang. Pero paano siya mas didikit sa katawan ng manonood? Paano siya mas maging essential 'yung panonood? At paano mas maitutulak 'yung narrative forward?"
All the changes contribute to a more impactful and immersive experience, as if symbolically breaking down the old to build something new. It’s a deliberate choice to ensure that the form of the musical mirrors its function as a critique of systemic issues.
Bar Boys for the Third Time
Bar Boys: The Musical is returning not just to entertain, but to provoke thought, stir emotion, and inspire action. It is a powerful reminder that art can indeed be a form of protest, a means to articulate dissatisfaction, and a beacon of hope for a brighter future.
As Era poignantly puts it: "Sa akin, regalo 'to ni Barefoot sa mamamayang Pilipino. Pinaghandaan, pinagpawisan, pinagpaguran, gagalingan at gagalingan."
"Para sa mga nakapanood na ng Bar Boys: A New Musical, babasagin ng Bar Boys: The Musical 2025 'yung expectations niyo kasi this is... 'Yung pangako na 'all-new staging, we made sure na hindi siya pangako at hindi siya marketing stunt. It really is an all-new staging. Completely different flavor, completely different set, completely different choreography, entirely different set of costumes, and of course, pati 'yung lights magbabago 'yun," Angeles invites. And if you never saw the previous runs, the director encourages you to "Fulfill your curiosity."
Benedix Ramos, Alex Diaz, Jerom Canlas, Omar Uddin, and Sheila Francisco will reprise their roles as Erik Vicencio, Chris Abueva, Torran Garcia, Josh Zuniga, and Justice Hernandez, respectively. Also returning are Juliene Mendoza and Lorenz Martinez alternating as Paping, Nor Domingo as Atty. Maurice Carlson, Gimbey dela Cruz as Boss Mama, and Carlon Matobato as Male Professor & others.
Ade Valenzona and Mijon Cortez return as part of the ensemble. Rounding up the returning cast members are Ian Pangilinan as the cover for Chris Abueva, Shaun Ocrisma as the cover for Atty. Victor Cruz and Male Professor & others, and Naths Everett as the cover for Justice Hernandez, Boss Mama, Female Professor & others.
Joining the cast this year are Gio Gahol as Atty. Victor Cruz, Natasha Cabrera as Female Professor & others, James Lanante as the cover for Erik Vicencio and Torran Garcia, Raul Montesa as the cover for Paping and Atty. Maurice Carlson, Ace Polias as the male swing, and Aecy Abne as the female swing.
New ensemble members are Sheena Belarmino, Dippy Arceo, Pappel, Denize Castillo, Keith Sumbi, Ammin Acha-ur, Gelo Lantaco, Daniel Wesley, Elian Dominguez, Curp Adriano, Robe Zamora Dagcuta, Rico Santos, and Leo Lapitan.
Other members of the creative team are Ohm David as Stage Designer, Meliton Roxas Jr. and Jethro Nibaten as Lighting Designers, Joyce Garcia as Video Designer, Julio Garcia as Property Designer, and D Cortezano as Technical Director. Its new members are Yvonne Russell as Assistant Director, Aron Roca as Sound Designer, and Hershee Tantiado as Costume Designer.
Bar Boys: The Musical runs from October 24 to November 23 at Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Tickets are available through Ticket2Me.
