All the Creatives Leading the Charge in Bringing the Story of ‘Annie Batungbakal’ to Life in ‘Bongga Ka ‘Day’

MANILA, Philippines — The hits of Hotdog that make up what is to be known to the world as Manila sound, iconic ’70s fashion, and pervading disco fever that characterized the era, are headed to the stage in “Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical“.

Set to open this September 18 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, the production is bringing this world to life, backed by a creative dream team whose combined credentials span some of the most celebrated, award-winning productions in Philippine theater.

We run down the illustrious pack of creative minds behind the upcoming all original Filipino musical below:

Chris Millado
Director

Chris Millado brings more than four decades of theater and cultural work to the director’s chair. He joined the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) in 1982 and later served as its artistic director. His directing credits include “Mabining Mandirigma”, “Anak Datu”, “EJ: Ang Pinagdaanang Buhay nina Evelio Javier at Edgar Jopson”, and “Balete”, with the latter earning him Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play at the 15th Gawad Buhay Awards. But among his laurels include breathing life to the extraordinary tale of comic book hero, Zsazsa Zaturnnah in “Zsa-zsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal.”

Millado also spent two decades at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), serving as Vice President and Artistic Director. As the creative lead, Millado sets the production’s core vision and ultimate definition of “bongga.”

Liza Magtoto
Playwright

Liza Magtoto is a master at building original, deeply human stories around iconic Filipino musical catalogs. She wrote PETA’s defining hit musical “Rak of Aegis”, along with celebrated plays and musicals such as “Care Divas”, “Rated PG”, “A Game of Trolls”, and “Ako Si Josephine”.

Her screenwriting credits include the films Sta. Niña and David F., as well as the iconic educational series Sineskwela. She is a recipient of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Francisco Balagtas, and multiple Gawad Buhay Awards. Most recently, Magtoto won Outstanding Original Script at the 16th Gawad Buhay Awards for “Nobody Is Home.”

Vince Lim
Musical Director and Arranger

Hotdog’s legendary catalog is in the capable hands of composer, arranger, and musical director Vince Lim. With a career involving composing the score for PETA’s “Walang Aray” while also handling its musical direction, sound design, and additional lyrics, this production earned Lim the Gawad Buhay Award for Outstanding Original Score.

His recent portfolio as musical director and arranger includes Full House Theater Company’s “Delia D.” and “Bagets The Musical”.

Stephen Viñas
Choreographer

The high-energy movement for this dance-heavy production is helmed by Stephen Viñas, an accomplished choreographer, director, and performer who studied Theater Arts at the University of the Philippines.

His extensive performance credits include “Ang Huling El Bimbo”, “Carousel”, “Mula sa Buwan”, “Newsies”, “Tabing Ilog The Musical”, and “A Chorus Line”. As a choreographer, his credits include “Delia D.”, and “Alice in Wonderland”.

Of his impressive body of work, he recently won Outstanding Choreography at the 16th Gawad Buhay Awards for Full House Theater Company’s “Shrek The Musical.”

Ohm David
Set Designer

Ohm David transforms the stage into 1970s Manila, crafting dynamic physical environments that transport audiences directly into the disco era. His extensive set design portfolio includes “Dekada ’70″, “Mula sa Buwan”, “One More Chance The Musical”, “Bar Boys: A New Musical”, “Bagets The Musical”, and Theater Group Asia’s “Into the Woods”.

Beyond the theater, David designed the Manila Clock Tower Museum and the TAWID Gallery, and has art-directed major live events, including SB19’s “Fan Zone”.

For this production, David, builds striking, contrasting environments—from the sleek corporate halls of the House of Pasion to the neon-lit paradise of the Coco Banana.

John Batalla
Lighting Designer

Recreating the glow of ’70s disco falls to lighting designer John Batalla. His career began at Dulaang UP, where he served as resident lighting designer and technical director, before working with Repertory Philippines, PETA, Tanghalang Pilipino, and Ballet Philippines.

A five-time Gawad Buhay recipient for Outstanding Lighting Design, Batalla brings experience in both intimate storytelling and large-scale spectacle. 

Hershee Tantiado
Costume Designer

In a musical centered on an aspiring designer wanting to enter ‘70s Manila’s most fashionable disco scene, the wardrobe takes center stage. Hershee Tantiado’s costume design credits include “Dekada ’70″, “Bar Boys: A New Musical”, and “Bagets The Musical”.

She also designed for Theater Group Asia’s “Into the Woods” and earned a Gawad Buhay nomination for Repertory Philippines’ “Alice in Wonderland.”

Johann Dela Fuente
Hair & Make-up Designer

Johann Dela Fuente completes the visual transformation of the cast in custom hair styling, period-accurate wigs, and dramatic makeup to flesh out each character’s individual identity.

A veteran theatrical hair and makeup designer, Dela Fuente’s extensive portfolio includes local hit productions such as “Waitress”, “Jersey Boys”, “Kinky Boots”, and “Delia D.”.

For “Bongga Ka, ‘Day!”, he crafts the definitive physical look of the era through massive blowouts, iconic retro hair trends, and disco glam.

Eric Dela Cruz
Dramaturg

Eric Dela Cruz is a senior PETA artist-teacher, performance maker and founder of TAXI Theater. He earned his master’s degree in Theatre at the University of the Philippines Diliman and previously taught and chaired Benilde’s Theater Arts Program.

In this production, Dela Cruz supports the development of the production’s narrative and historical context, helping align Magtoto’s book, Hotdog’s songs, and Annie Batungbakal’s journey through 1970s Manila.

With an award-winning creative team, “Bongga Ka, ’Day! The Annie Batungbakal Musical” is set to showcase a whole new perspective to one of the Philippines’ most iconic decades.

Newport World Resorts, in association with VIVA Communications and The Philippine STAR, reunites for an all-original Filipino-led and developed production featuring Hotdog’s timeless hits. The show, staged with PETA Plus, is slated to open in September 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Tickets are now available online and at all TicketWorld outlets and at the Newport World Resorts Box Office: PHP 4500 (SVIP), PHP 4000 (VIP), PHP 3,400 (GOLD), PHP 2,400 (SILVER), and PHP 1,300 (BRONZE).

Learn more about the artists and the production through Newport World Resorts (@newportworldresorts), VIVA Communications Inc. (@vivaartistsagency), and The Philippine STAR (@philippinestar) on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.