Get swept away by a TON of charm

The fun-loving barkada of Bagets The Musical is not complete without the one who leads the group into trouble and somehow saves the day. VIVA Communications Inc., The Philippine STAR, and Newport World Resorts shine the spotlight on Tonton, who is set to charm thousands of theatergoers.

Meet Milo Cruz and Migo Valid as they embody Tonton, Bagets’ resident daredevil, first made iconic by William Martinez.

Milo Cruz reimagines Tonton

With his P-pop debut with Xerenade on the horizon, Milo Cruz is already expanding his craft as Tonton in Bagets The Musical. The rising artist brings new depth to the character.

“Tonton is a repeater, yes,” he explains. “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,” says 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 shares that he’s feeling both nervous and excited for the show. He promises to give his best, drawing on his years of singing and dancing, now adding acting to his repertoire.

Migo Valid on why his character feels familiar

The stage adaptation of the 1984 classic marks Migo 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,” says 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 laughs. “Back in high school, I had my wild moments, too. But those experiences helped me grow.”

Taking a moment to reflect, he says what struck him most was the feeling of being left behind — an emotion he shares with the persona.

“Minsan napapatanong ako kung tama pa ba ‘yung mga ginagawa ko,” the 23-year-old shares, thinking about his late start in showbiz. “But like Tonton, keep moving forward ang mentality.”

Such a mindset has helped him land a major part in Bagets The Musical, opening doors to a new chapter in his career.

Both artists are part of the P-pop group Xerenade. With their shared love for performing, they’re set to take audiences on a ride and make everyone fall for Tonton’s charm and complexity.

Bagets The Musical is scheduled to run from January 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, with more cast members to be revealed soon. Joining Cruz and Valid in the lead cast are Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez as Gilbert. The musical is a joint production of VIVA Communications Inc., The Philippine STAR, and Newport World Resorts, guided by the creative vision of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Plus, with director Maribel Legarda, playwright J-mee Katanyag, and musical director Vince Lim.