Growing Up Then and Now: The Enduring Lessons of Bagets the Musical

Forty-two years after Bagets first hit the big screen, the stories of Adie, Arnel, Topee, Gilbert, and Tonton continue to unfold—this time, not just in memory, but onstage

Every generation has its coming-of-age touchstone. For some, it was T.G.I.S., Gimik, or Tabing Ilog. For the ’80s kids who grew up navigating friendship, first love, and family tension, that story was Bagets. Released in 1984, the film about five teenage boys didn’t just capture a moment—it became part of Philippine pop culture.

From the bold fashion choices to the LSS-worthy soundtrack (cue Growing Up and Just Got Lucky), Bagets has endured for over four decades. Now reimagined as a musical, it introduces the story to a new generation, led by Andres Muhlach as Adie—a role that famously launched his father Aga Muhlach’s career.

Sharing the stage are Mico Hendrix Chua (alternating with Andres), KD Estrada, and Ethan David as Arnel; Sam Shoaf and Jeff Moses as Topee; Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez as Gilbert; and Milo Cruz and Miko Valid as Tonton.

But beyond the music and star power, what truly makes Bagets the Musical resonate today are its themes—family, friendship, identity, and the often messy journey of growing up.

Five Boys, Familiar Struggles

Adie, Arnel, Topee, Gilbert, and Tonton are inseparable. Like most tight-knit teenage groups, their loyalty to one another sometimes lands them in trouble. After transferring to a new high school for their senior year after being expelled, each boy begins to face personal challenges rooted not just in adolescence, but at home.

Adie, whose mother, Virgie, is a busy columnist, longs for attention and becomes infatuated with Ivy Christine, a married woman closer to his mother’s age than. Arnel, raised in a wealthy household, feels suffocated by his mother Ditas’s expectations and begins to question his sheltered worldview after meeting Janice, a confident girl from the middle class.

Gilbert, often treated as the “baby” of the group, is eager to prove that he’s no longer a child. Tonton, the carefree womanizer, has his life abruptly changed after an accident that forces him to grow up faster than expected. And Topee, quiet and introspective, wants time with his actress mother, Ana, who is almost always absent.

Each of them is navigating a familiar tension—wanting independence, romance, and respect, while still craving guidance and connection. It’s a situation many parents recognize as their children stand on the uneasy line between boyhood and adulthood.

Motherhood in the Spotlight

One of the musical’s refreshing updates is its focus on the mothers’ stories. While the original film centered heavily on the boys, the stage adaptation gives voice to the women raising them, highlighting that growing up isn’t just hard on kids but on parents, too.

Virgie struggles to balance her career, her new marriage, and her relationship with Adie, eventually realizing that her emotional distance has pushed her son toward confusion. Ditas, initially rigid and class-conscious, is forced to confront her own biases when Arnel begins making choices outside her control.

Delia, Tonton’s fiercely protective mother who runs a sari-sari store, is shaken after her son’s accident and must accept that she can’t shield him forever. Luz, Gilbert’s hardworking mother, juggling multiple side hustles, finally finds the courage—through her son’s support—to demand accountability from her husband. And Ana, Topee’s glamorous but absent mother, learns that love can’t be measured by grand gestures when her son admits he’s grown used to her being gone.

Different circumstances, same realization: sometimes what children need most is presence, understanding, and honest conversation.

First Love, First Heartbreaks

No coming-of-age story is complete without matters of the heart. Bagets doesn’t shy away from the awkwardness and pain of first love.

Adie’s infatuation with Ivy Christine ends in heartbreak. Arnel and Janice’s budding romance is tested by parental disapproval. Gilbert finally gathers the courage to express his feelings for Melissa, his longtime crush. Tonton’s careless approach to love changes after meeting Rose—and losing her. Topee, meanwhile, watches from the sidelines, focusing on self-discipline through martial arts.

Their experiences are a reminder that falling in love is part of growing up—not always neat, not always lasting, but always formative.

Timeless, Then and Now

Set in 1984, Bagets the Musical may be steeped in nostalgia, but its heart is firmly rooted in the present. The challenges faced by these boys and their mothers still mirror those in today’s households—busy parents, misunderstood teens, growing pains on both sides.

This is more than a throwback for those who grew up in the ’80s or ’90s. It’s a reminder for today’s families that growing up is universal, that conflict is part of connection, and that no one really figures things out alone.

In the end, Bagets endures because it tells the truth: every family has its struggles, every child wants to be seen, and every parent is learning as they go. And sometimes, all it takes is listening—to grow up, together finally.

Bagets the Musical runs until March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre.

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