Dannyka Manangan

Noel Comia is excited to be part of Bagets The Musical happening in 2026

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Currently seen on primetime playing the role of the younger Matmat (the adult version played by Carlo Aquino), in the series <em>It’s Okay To Not Be Okay</em>, Noel Comia Jr. has been busy, not just with doing various projects on and off camera, but also as an active third year college student at the De La Salle University in Taft, Manila. </p><p>Last year, he starred in the barkada film <em>Fruitcake</em>, as well as took part of major stage productions like <em>Buruguduystunstugudunstuy: Ang Parokya ni Edgar Musical</em>, <em>Pinocchio</em> and <em>The Secret Garden</em> with Repertory Philippines, and <em>Fun Home</em> with Miss Lea Salonga. In this exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, he talks about being officially announced as part of the cast of the 2026 musical <em>Bagets</em>, which is the stage adaptation of the hit 1984 coming-of-age comedy film by director Maryo J. Delos Reyes. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOvIvACE_50/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A38305.90000000037%2C%22ls%22%3A20209.299999999814%2C%22le%22%3A20658.700000000186%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="879" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>“Auditioning for anything is always one of the hardest parts for me. Even though the process was fun, the anxiety that comes with it makes it difficult, which made landing the part all the more satisfying for me. I was so happy as soon as I got the news. I prayed and thanked God, and I told my family over lunch—which was also equally as gratifying,” he told PUSH ABS-CBN. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOx1D7oE6Wk/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A38574.5%2C%22ls%22%3A20209.299999999814%2C%22le%22%3A20658.700000000186%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>In <em>Bagets The Musical</em>, Noel will be one of the actors reprising the role of geeky barkada member Gilbert, which was originally portrayed by Herbert Bautista. “I plan to keep some core elements of how Mr. Herbert Bautista portrayed Gilbert in the original films—him being ‘torpe’ yet caring,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><p>Noel will be alternating for the role with P-pop boy group Alamat member Tomas Rodriguez.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOswsxeE1wr/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A259410.59999999998%2C%22ls%22%3A24139.699999999997%2C%22le%22%3A24666.90000000001%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Even though he was not yet born when the original film came out, Noel admitted that he was already familiar with some of the songs from the movie. “I heard of <em>Bagets</em> when I had to sing its theme song ‘Growing Up’ for the Team Lea sing-offs round of <em>The Voice Kids Season 3 </em>back in 2016.  I think that this is really exciting and that this will bring about a barkada musical that people should watch!” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOky0_nk_CU/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A354644.0999999996%2C%22ls%22%3A156384.40000000037%2C%22le%22%3A159726.09999999963%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DEppnQOvXbD/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A466122.0999999996%2C%22ls%22%3A156384.40000000037%2C%22le%22%3A159726.09999999963%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="722" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2021/7/23/fresh-scoops/noel-comia-is-super-excited-about-his-new-film-194824"><strong>READ: Noel Comia is ‘super excited’ about his new film ‘Tenement 66’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Having been lucky enough to do both TV, film, and theater, Noel reflected on the difference in acting on different platforms. “Theatre has really been my passion since I started performing when I was seven years old. Acting on stage and on film are different in the sense that there are no cuts or edits when we perform on stage, and there is a longer preparation, which really helps with characterization and mastery. The challenge with film is that every minute detail is seen, and once it has been published or shown, you cannot do anything to change or improve your performance anymore,” he explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-181" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DO3J0KLEsCR/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A181%2C%22os%22%3A1046775.7000000011%2C%22ls%22%3A18006.800000000745%2C%22le%22%3A18989.800000000745%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="886" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-181" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/3/exclusive-noel-comia-jr-grateful-to-carlo-aquino-for-guiding-him-in-it-s-okay-to-not-be-okay-ph-1128"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Noel Comia Jr., grateful to Carlo Aquino for guiding him in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay PH</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-182" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6oLfMWPZwt/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A182%2C%22os%22%3A1047420.3000000007%2C%22ls%22%3A18006.800000000745%2C%22le%22%3A18989.800000000745%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-182" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>The 21-year-old actor also talked about what he is looking forward to the most with the upcoming rehearsals for the musical happening later this year. “I’m really looking forward to working with everyone in the production, our music, and the creative process that we’ll all go through—which for sure will be the most challenging part. I’ve done musicals in the past also set in the 80s, but this will be my second one adapted from mainstream media, the first one being <em>Tabing Ilog the Musical</em>. I’m sure that this will be a musical that people will have to watch and will enjoy,” he said. </p><p><em>Bagets The Musical</em> is scheduled to run from January 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. The musical is a joint production of VIVA Communications Inc., The Philippine STAR and NEXT by Philstar Media Group, 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.</p>

<p>It’s Okay To Not Be Okay actor Noel Comia is excited to be back on stage next year as one of the stars of Bagets the Musical where he takes on the role of geeky Gilbert, which was originally played by Herbert Bautista in the hit 1984 film of the same name. </p>

It’s Okay To Not Be Okay actor Noel Comia is excited to be back on stage next year as one of the stars of Bagets the Musical where he takes on the role of geeky Gilbert, which was originally played by Herbert Bautista in the hit 1984 film of the same name.