Ang Huling El Bimbo

(musical)

Ang Huling El Bimbo: a musical

featuring the songs of the most iconic
90's band,[1] popularly known as Ang
Huling El Bimbo, is a jukebox musical
written by Dingdong Novenario,
featuring the hit songs of the Filipino
band Eraserheads. It features the lyrics
and melodies of at least 40 of the
band's songs, including the titular
song.[2] Dexter Santos directed and
choreographed the musical, with Myke
Salomon serving as its musical
director.[1] The Manila Philharmonic
Orchestra, conducted by Rodel
Colmenar, provided the music,
accompanied by a live band.[3] The set
design is by Gino Gonzales, with lighting
by Monino Duque.[4]

The musical premiered on July 20, 2018

at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre
in Pasay.[5][6][4] A second production
was made in 2019 featuring new cast,
and ran from March 1 to April 6,[6][7] and
again from July 5
Ang Huling El
to August 18. A Bimbo
recorded 2019
a musical featuring
performance was
the songs of the
streamed for free most iconic 90's
online on the band
official YouTube Book Dingdong
channel and Novenario
Facebook page of
Premiere July 20,
ABS-CBN from 2018:
May 8 to 9, Newport
2020.[8] It was also Performin
streamed on TFC Arts

Online in Theatre,
Metro
September
Manila
2020,[9] and on
digital platform Productions 2018
KTX.PH from 2019
November 28 to
29, 2020.[10]

Background
Director Dexter Santos first watched the
band perform when he was a Theatre
Arts college student at the University of
the Philippines Baguio in the 1990s.[2]
Later, as a teacher at the University of
the Philippines Diliman, Santos requires
that his Theatre Arts students perform
an hour-long piece based on an
Eraserheads song.[2]
Plot
[11]

Act 1

The show opens with someone

dancing. As the light goes dim, a corpse
is shown. The next scene then shows
three men, Emman, Anthony, and
Hector, having problems with work.
(“Poor Man’s Grave”/“Slo
Mo”/“Walang Nagbago”). They are
then called to inform them that Joy
Manawari has died (“Waiting For The
Bus”/“Sino Sa Atin”).
Three young men named Emmanuel
“Emman” M. Azarcon, Anthony
“AJ” F. Cruz, Jr., and Hector Q.
Samala are being sent off to college by
their parents ("Toyang"/“Waiting For
The Bus”), who then become
roommates (“Minsan”/“Alapaap
(Only the chorus”/“Tindahan Ni Aling
Nena”).

Back in present day, the police officer

questions the connection of Joy to
three of them (“Ligaya”). A flashback
shows them being introduced to their
CAT commandant, Arturo Banlaoi, their
student leader, Andre Antonio, and a
fried banana seller, Joy Manawari. Joy
lives with her Tiya Dely and they run a
karinderya named Toyang’s
(“Lightyears”/“Pare
Ko”/“Ligaya”/“Shirley”/“Tikman
”).

Andre breaks up with Joy because of

Banlaoi (“Ligaya”/“Tama Ka”). The
trio tries to comfort her, and vice versa
(“Huwag Kang
Matakot”/“Sembreak”/“Hey
Jay”/”Wishing Wells”/“Fine
Time”). Back in present day, Banlaoi
makes the trio wait for Joy's daughter
(“Ligaya”) and her aunt (“Cha
Dely”)

Another flashback shows them ditching

their graduation rehearsals for a joyride
to Antipolo (“Alapaap”/“Fill Her”).
They are interrupted by drunk men who
then take the trio hostage while they
take advantage of Joy.

Act 2

In the midst of graduates, she tries to

find the three boys but they are evasive
(“With A Smile”). Joy has flashbacks
of that fateful night (“Spoliarium”).
Banlaoi forces Tiya Dely and Joy to sell
beer and girls at Toyang's so the
business won’t close
(“Tikman”/“Paru-parong
Ningning”). Tiya Dely confronts Joy
about her late nights. They plan to go
back to the province but Banlaoi makes
Joy stay behind so she can become his
drug mule (“Kilala”/“Balikbayan
Box”/“Alkohol”).

Joy is now older, and still works as a

drug mule for Banlaoi to provide for her
daughter Ligaya/“With A
Smile”/“Spoliarium”). Joy tries to
contact the trio to make them avengers
but they are busy: Hector with his TV
series (“Maskara”). Emman with his
work and wife (“Poor Man’s
Grave”/“Magasin”), and Anthony
about his sexuality
(“Kailan”/“Torpedo”/“Kaliwete”).
Several women confront Hector
(“Walang Nagbago”/“Huwag Mo
Nang Itanong”/“Maselang
Bahaghari”/“Umaaraw Umuulan”).
Joy goes back to the house and writes
a letter for Ligaya
(“Ligaya"/"Spoliarium”). The trio is
seen fighting (“Spoliarium”). Joy calls
them but no one answers, and is then
hit by a vehicle (“Wating”).
Tiya Dely and Ligaya enter the morgue
(“Fill Her”/“Ligaya”). Banlaoi tries
to give them money but they refuse.
Hector tells Tiya Dely that they would
shoulder the funeral costs. Ligaya talks
to the trio and they promise to take care
of her (“Ang Huling El Bimbo”).
Roles and principal cast
Principal Cast
Character 2018 2019 (Red Team) 2019 (Blue Team) 2023

Menchu
Menchu Menchu Lauchengco -
Joy Carla Guevara -
Lauchengco - Lauchengco - Yulo
Manawari Laforteza
Yulo Yulo
Katrine Sunga

Hector
Gian Magdangal David Ezra Gian Magdangal
Samala

OJ Mariano
Emman
OJ Mariano Myke Salomon OJ Mariano
Azarcon Bullet Dumas

Anthony/AJ Rafa Siguion-

Jon Santos Jon Santos Nino Alejandro
Cruz Reyna

Young Joy Tanya Manalang Gab Pangilinan

Reb Atadero
Young
Reb Atadero Bibo Reyes Anthony Rosaldo
Hector Bibo Reyes

Nicco Manalo
Young
Boo Gabunada Boo Gabunada Paw Castillo
Emman Vic Robinson

Young AJ Topper Fabregas Lance Reblando Phi Palmos Topper Fabregas

Tiya Dely Shiela Francisco

Paulo
Arturo Banlao Jamie Wilson O'Hara/Tad Jamie Wilson
Tadioan

[11]
Principal characters

Joy Manawari - A young woman who

helps her aunt run a small eatery
inside a college campus. To augment
their earnings, she also sells
afternoon snacks to the students
Hector Samala - A rich film student
looking to learn more about directing
and filming in a local college before
flying out to attend a film school in
New York.
Emman Azarcon - A provincial
student aspiring to become a lawyer.
 He is the first person in their family to
attend college in the city.
AJ Cruz - A Business Management
student abused by his military father
for being gay.
Tiya Dely - Joy Manawari's aunt. She
runs a small eatery called Toyang's
that serves affordable meals for
college students.
Arturo Banlaoi - A CAT college
commandant-turned-councilor who
runs an illicit drug trade.

References
1. " 'Ang Huling El Bimbo'—why it's using
 Eheads songs, but can't be called an
Eheads musical" (https://lifestyle.inquir
er.net/294041/ang-huling-el-bimbo-us
ing-eheads-songs-cant-called-ehead
s-musical/) . Inquirer Lifestyle. May 11,
2018. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
2. Jesus, Totel V. de (July 19, 2018). "From
'Kundiman' to 'El Bimbo': Dexter Santos
fulfills a dream with Eraserheads
musical" (https://news.abs-cbn.com/lif
e/07/20/18/from-kundiman-to-el-bimb
o-dexter-santos-fulfills-a-dream-with
-eraserheads-musical) . ABS-CBN
News. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
3. "A JOYRIDE OF FEELS" (https://mb.co
m.ph/2018/07/29/a-joyride-of-feels/) .
Manila Bulletin. July 28, 2018. Retrieved
November 1, 2020.
4. Vijandre, Chito; Toledo, Ricky. " 'Ang
Huling El Bimbo': A stirring dance
through life" (https://www.philstar.com/
lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2018/08/06/1
839888/lifestyle) . Philstar.com.
Retrieved November 1, 2020.
5. " 'Ang Huling El Bimbo'—why it's using
Eheads songs, but can't be called an
Eheads musical" (https://lifestyle.inquir
er.net/294041/ang-huling-el-bimbo-us
ing-eheads-songs-cant-called-ehead
s-musical/) . Inquirer Lifestyle. May 11,
2018. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
6. " 'Ang Huling El Bimbo' Announces 2019
Rerun" (http://theaterfansmanila.com/a
ng-huling-el-bimbo-announces-2019-
rerun/) . TheaterFansManila.com.
September 3, 2018. Retrieved
November 1, 2020.
7. "WATCH: "Ang Huling El Bimbo"
Returns with New Cast Members" (htt
p://theaterfansmanila.com/watch-ang-
huling-el-bimbo-returns-with-new-ca
st-members/) .
TheaterFansManila.com. February 1,
2019. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
8. " 'Ang Huling El Bimbo the Musical' to
stream online for free" (https://www.ra
ppler.com/life-and-style/arts-and-cult
ure/theater/259748-ang-huling-el-bim
bo-to-stream-online-for-free) .
Rappler. June 29, 2020. Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20200629051
227/https://www.rappler.com/life-and-
style/arts-and-culture/theater/259748-
ang-huling-el-bimbo-to-stream-online
-for-free) from the original on June
29, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
9. " 'Ang Huling El Bimbo' coming to TFC
Online in September" (https://news.abs
-cbn.com/life/08/20/20/ang-huling-el-
bimbo-coming-to-tfc-online-in-septe
mber) . ABS-CBN News. August 20,
2020. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
10. "KTX.PH streams Nina,Erik Santos
concerts, 'Ang Huling El Bimbo:The
Musical' this November | ABS-CBN
Corporate" (https://www.abs-cbn.com/
newsroom/news-releases/2020/10/29/
ktxph-streams-ninaerik-santos-concer
ts-ang-hul?lang=en) . ABS-CBN.
October 29, 2020. Retrieved May 20,
2021.
 11. "A JOYRIDE OF FEELS" (https://mb.co
m.ph/2018/07/29/a-joyride-of-feels/) .
Manila Bulletin. July 28, 2018. Retrieved
November 1, 2020.

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