Iconic love team of John Lloyd and Bea Alonzo in a poster photo of the 2007 blockbuster ‘One More Chance’
For most film enthusiasts, the romantic comedy One More Chance is iconic and a modern classic.
When it was released in 2007 by Star Cinema, the most used social media was Friendster, and the emerging lovely monster that was Facebook had yet to be embraced by Filipinos.
According to an Associated Press report, Facebook had 50 million users worldwide in October 2007. One More Chance was released in November that year, and there was no way the social media platform could have influenced the creative team behind it, specifically director Cathy Garcia-Sampana and co-scriptwriters Vanessa Valdez and Carmi Raymundo.
But the absence of social media became a big factor in what One More Chance has become, even considering the Popoy and Basha-inspired memes it spawned over the years and until now.
The announcement of the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) musical adaptation of this Star Cinema’s megahit, featuring the songs of the nine-member indie pop group Ben&Ben, shook up the Philippine theater community. People began sharing the good news in social media.
Call it the Rak of Aegis–Care Divas–Walang Aray effect, which people came back to watch as many as 10 times, and those with financial resources became show buyers.
That’s not surprising. Fifteen years later, the enduring love team of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo that was propelled to fame in One More Chance is still trending. It has defined a generation, the one whose dopamine-endorphine-adrenaline shots came from “hugot” lines and real-life interactions, not “memes” or what’s trending on social media.
The confrontation scene in the garden where the immortal lines ‘She had me at my worst, you had me at my best’ were spoken. (Screenshot from the movie)
Members of the One More Chance generation, or at least those who were teenagers and in their early 20s when John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo were the ultimate love team, didn’t depend on Facebook, Instagram, or the former Twitter for approval, validation, and self-worth.
Popoy, the character who seemed to have stuck with Cruz to this day, makes calls or sends SMS on his cell phone, and as shown in the movie, never ever stalks Basha’s latest posts on Friendster.
Social media in 2007 was Friendster, and Popoy, an engineer supervising projects in the field, didn’t spend precious time writing testimonials on Basha’s Friendster wall when he could say it straight to her face.
Basha breaks up with Popoy, and they go their separate ways, but after a few weeks or months, reconnect for a family-related project. In the days before they reconnect, they don’t have to unfollow or block each other on Instagram.
When Popoy gets drunk, he oversleeps during the day as his friends try to get him out of bed and meet people again. As part of moving on, when Basha gets employed in another company and meets a new guy named Mark played by Derek Ramsay, she doesn’t have to change “engaged” to “single” in her Facebook profile.
In the days before they reconnect, Popoy and Basha don’t have to unfollow or block each other on Instagram
Imagine if the scene, where Popoy tries to pick a fight with Mark in the-now iconic Bellini’s Pizza Restaurant, happens today and the scene is captured on video, later morphing into “reels.”
Same scenario when Popoy meets the beautiful lounge singer named Trisha, played by Maja Salvador. If it were today, Popoy might have taken a video of Trisha and uploaded it on his FB and Instagram’s “My Story Day,” immediately reaching Basha.
Point is, the love story of Popoy and Basha reminds us of being in the moment. When a couple breaks up, it doesn’t become a feast day for several group chats for the “Mariteses” of this world. One More Chance could be the last of its kind.
The film is on Netflix, just in case you haven’t seen it.
How the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) will transform it into a musical using the songs of Ben & Ben is worth the wait. And PETA has been around for 57 years, creating magical moments on stage, masterpieces of Philippine contemporary theater.
Last February 2, PETA announced the artistic team. It will be directed by Maribel Legarda, one of PETA’s veteran artistic directors. She is the genius director behind PETA’s all-time hit musicals, Rak of Aegis and Care Divas.
Playwright is Michelle Ngu-Nario, who recently wrote the one-act play, Ang Parangal, in PETA’s year-opener, Control Shift: Changing Narratives. Much earlier, she wrote Babae ang Bukas, a virtual play about women’s experiences during the pandemic in a tie-up project of PETA with Oxfam Philippines.
Dramaturg is J-Mee Katanyag, the associate artistic director in the recent Changing Narratives festival of one-act plays. She wrote the children’s play, Tagu-Taguan Nasaan Ang Buwan, and PETA’s Documentary: Living Voices, streamed during the pandemic. She is also one of the head writers of the massively successful historical television series Maria Clara at Ibarra, initially shown on GMA Telebabad and now streaming on Netflix.
Musical director and sound designer is Myke Salomon, whose PETA credits include Rak of Aegis, 3 Stars and a Sun, Ako Si Josephine, among others. He was also musical director for Trumpets’ Joseph The Dreamer and Newport World Resorts Ang Huling El Bimbo the Musical.
Choreography is by Michael Barry Que, production design by Ohm David, costume design by Carlo Pagunaling, lighting design by David Esguerra, and production design by Bene Manaois.
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Popoy will be played by “triple threat” (can sing, dance, act) Sam Concepcion, known for playing the titular role in Trumpets’ most staged, now iconic original musical production, Joseph The Dreamer.
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In some performances, Popoy will be played by CJ Navato, former child star via the TV comedy show Goin’ Bulilit. The former Star Magic talent also appeared in PETA’s 2019 satirical play on Charter Change, Charot. On hindsight, this reminds us that back then, Cha-Cha veered into Federalism, whereas now the recent talk in changing the Constitution favors a parliamentary form of government.
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Basha will be essayed by multi-platform actress Anna Luna, who we remember for her role in Vincent de Jesus’ Palanca-winning musical play Changing Partners, which was later adapted into a film that won in the 2017 Cinema One Originals film festival. She’s also acted in previous plays staged by PETA. In Arbol de Fuego, the Filipino adaptation of Anton Chekov’s Cherry Orchard, she played the naïve daughter Carmen of the late, great Cherie Gil’s character.
Popoy will be played by triple threat Sam Concepcion
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Luna will have an alternate, pop musical artist Nicole Omillo, a former member of the all-female sing-and-dance group Sugar ‘N Spice.
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Mark will be played by musical theater heartthrob Jef Flores. He recently played lead character Jon in Nine Works Theatricals post-pandemic comeback hit musical, Tick Tick…Boom!
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On other days, Mark will be played by multi-platform actor Jay Gonzaga. Theater fanatics would remember his memorable roles in the annual Virgin Labfest. One was playing a superhero with finely chiseled abs in VLF 13’s comedy, Hindi Ako Si Darna, written by U.Z. Eliserio and Maynard Manansala. Another is the recovering drug-dependent in VLF 14’s revisited play tackling extra-judicial killings and impunity titled Mga Eksena Sa Buhay ng Kontrabida, written by the enigmatic Dustin Celestino.
Tricia will be played by one of Star Magic’s newest jewels, Kiara Takahashi. She played Eds in PETA and Teatro Kapamilya’s 2020 initial version of Tabing Ilog the Musical before the production was halted by the pandemic. Eds was played by Kaye Abad in the original ABS-CBN youth-oriented series. For the 2023 iteration, Takahashi played the role of George, the character portrayed by Jodi Sta. Maria in the TV version.
Poppert Bernadas and Paji Arceo will alternate in the role of Kenneth, the blind friend of Popoy and Basha originally portrayed by James Blanco in the movie.
There is the genius comedian, PETA actor-teacher Johnnie Moran (remember him as the sex maniac priest Padre Alfaro in Walang Aray?) who will play Chinno, the best friend of Popoy who gets dumped by his girlfriend and contemplates ending his life. His character, played by Janus del Prado in the movie, is still being remembered for one of the hugot-laden memorable scenes.
While confined in the hospital, attached to tubes and needles, Chinno asks Popoy: “Bakit nga ba tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal natin? (Why do people we love leave us?)”
To which the teary-eyed Popoy replies: “Baka tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal natin kasi baka meron bagong darating na mas OK. Na mas mamahalin tayo, ‘yung hindi tayo sasaktan at paasahin. ‘Yung nag-iisang taong magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin (Perhaps to give way to someone who will truly love us, will not hurt us, the one and only person who will right the wrong in our life).”
Other cast members playing the group of friends in Popoy and Basha’s circle are Jon Abella sa JP, Ada Tayao and Rica Laguardia alternating as Krizzy, Floyd Tena and Raul Montesa alternately playing daddy roles named Bert and Willie, JC Galano as Francis and Mr. Tan, Coleen Paz and Chez Cuenca alternating as Helen/Guia/Roselle.
There are also Neomi Gonzales and Carla Guevara Laforteza doing the mommy roles Rose and Edith. Lastly, there’s the consistently excellent Hazel Maranan (remember Mabining Mandirigma?) doing the roles of Elvie and Mrs. Abellera.
For those who want to buy tickets this early, PETA has announced that exclusive pre-sale tickets are offered to Metrobank Credit Cardholder on February 6–8, 2024, via TicketWorld.com.ph.
In an earlier statement, PETA executive director Beng Cabangon said after they made the announcement last year, they’ve been bombarded with calls asking how to get tickets. Thus, the partnership with Metrobank. “Together, we hope we can help build and expand the growing theater audience,” she said.
PETA executive director Beng Cabangon said after they made the announcement last year, they’ve been bombarded with calls asking how to get tickets
In another statement, Gail Male, SVP and head of credit cards, personal loans and digital channels group at Metrobank, said, “Our collaboration with PETA for One More Chance, The Musical is one of the many ways we want to show our support for the local art and theater scene.”
To join the pre-sale, Metrobank credit cardholders must enter the first six digits of their card as the passcode. Each cardholder can enjoy a maximum of four tickets per transaction.
PETA also revealed the ticket prices at the PETA-Phinma Theater, which offers up-close seating of 400 seats per show.
Tickets prices are P3,000 for VIP, P2,500 for orchestra and balcony center, P2,200 for orchestra side, and P1,500 for balcony side seats.
PETA earlier announced the musical would include some of Ben&Ben’s hits like Kathang Isip, Araw-Araw, Leaves, and Paninidigan Kita.
Still, fans of the iconic film wonder how Ben&Ben will integrate the songs that have been identified with One More Chance like I’ll Never Go, originally performed by Nexxus and Nanghihinayang by the Jeremiah band.
Will these songs be included at all in the stage adaptation? Other questions for overthinkers: Will John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo grace the opening gala or closing show? The whole barkada in the movie? What if John Lloyd and Bea actually make guest appearances in the musical, like how PETA got audience members to drink baha juice in Rak of Aegis?
As of press time, what is certain, besides the cast members, is that the musical will run from April 12 to June 16 at the PETA-Phinma Theater in New Manila, Quezon City with a total of 50 shows.
A member of the artistic team, who prefers not to be named, exclusively told TheDiarist.ph the story is “updated in a way, and set in the present day.”
Seating arrangement plan for early ticket buyers
Come summer, the heat will be on not only in Saigon (Miss Saigon), but also on No. 5 Eymard Drive, Barangay Kristong Hari, New Manila in Quezon City (PETA Theater).
For more information, follow PETA’s social media accounts at @petatheater (Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok). For corporate partnerships, contact PETA’s Marketing and Public Relations Office at 0917-5765400 or petatheater@gmail.com.
