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Janine Teñoso

Leah C. Salterio

After a decade in the music industry, singer Janine Teñoso is finally set to fulfill a longtime dream as she makes her theater debut in the upcoming OPM musical “Muli.”“Muli” is the latest musical from the makers of “Sa Wakas,” the 2013  Pinoy rock musical that featured the compositions of Ebe Dancel, former frontman of Sugarfree. “Muli” takes its title from one of Dancel’s songs.Early this year, Teñoso received an e-mail from the musical&#x27;s writers Charissa Pammit and People Asia editor Paolo de la Cruz, who sent her the script of “Muli.” “I read the script and it was such a beautiful script,” Teñoso told ABS-CBN News. “I really wanted to be part of this musical. That was four months ago. I sent an audition video. After a week, they replied asking me if I want the role of Kath, the daughter of Anita [to be played by Gawad Urian and Gawad Buhay best actress winner Kakki Teodoro].”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786498112134IMG_4926.jpeg" style="width:655px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="655"/> Janine Teñoso </div>For Teñoso, the musical is “heaven sent” as 2026 marks her 10th year in the business and she cannot be any happier that she finally got the opportunity to do theater. “I’ve been wanting to do theater for a long time,” she admitted. “It’s just that I haven’t been getting an opportunity. It has always been part of my bucket list. I’ve been watching theater even before. A lot of my favorite idols in songwriting, like Sara Bareilles, they have their own theater musicals. I love her musical, ‘Waitress.’ “I really wanted to do something like what Sara does,” Teñoso said. “I always looked up to her in songwriting. That inspired me. Maybe someday, I can write my own musical and write songs for my own musical. This [‘Muli’] opportunity came to my doorstep. That’s very heartwarming. I’m now doing my best to make sure I deserve this opportunity.” Teñoso also found a strong connection with her character, as Kath’s experiences reflect aspects of her own life. “The character is very familiar to me,” she said. “I just feel like I really have the calling to do this musical. It’s something that’s familiar with me.”Aside from learning the musical’s songs, Teñoso also faced the challenge of taking on a more substantial acting role. She previously got the opportunity to act, when she did mini-series on Viva Television, where she played supporting roles. Her last one was in “Ship Show,” with Heaven Peralejo and Marco Gallo, aired three years ago.  “Usually, one-liner lang ang dialogue ko,” she said. “I never really had a chance to exchange lines with my co-star. I never had a project previously where I did a lead role.” Teñoso started singing as early as 5 years old. She took vocal lessons and joined barangay competitions. She also tried her luck in high school singing contests. At 17, she joined TV5’s “Born to Be a Star,” where she was discovered by Viva Entertainment. She signed with the company a year later.She wrote songs about her personal life. “Muli” marks the first time that she gets to talk onstage and sing as a character. “The challenge and struggle for me is to let go of myself and just play Kath [in the musical],” Teñoso said. “I got so used that when I go onstage, it was Janine whom I present most of the time.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786498135833J.jpg" style="width:655px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="655"/> Janine Teñoso with Kakki Teodoro </div>“Muli” is a funny yet deeply moving musical about love, loss and the haunting pull of what-ifs, taking viewers on a musical and visual journey through the &#x27;90s and early 2000s, “anchoring its nostalgic vibe on the timeless themes of unfulfilled dreams and second chances.” “Muli” will have 17 performances from September 11 to 28 at the Globe Auditorium of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater. The cast has been rehearsing for six weeks.Teñoso admittedly felt nervous working with theater veterans in her first musical. “Those actors were all very professional,” she remarked. “Theater is really another level of discipline. I was culture-shocked when I started rehearsing. But I’m grateful that they were all very warm. “They asked me what I needed to learn. I always have an open heart whenever I attend rehearsals. We all help each other and that’s what I love about theater.”  “Muli&quot; will feature 11 original compositions by Nica del Rosario (“Rosas,” “Tala”) and violinist, musical director-composer Matthew Chang, with inputs from Flip Music, the group behind BINI&#x27;s “Pantropiko,” “Salamin, Salamin,” amd “Karera” and Sarah Geronimo’s “Tala.” Other members of the cast are Vien King, Marvin Ong, Justine Peña, Marynor Madamesila and “Dogshow Divas” host Baus Rufo. “Every member of the cast was hand-picked,” said Pammit. “We decided against holding open auditions because we already had a clear vision of who we wanted for each role. Some had to do a couple of readings, but for actors like Jussy (Peña) and Kakki, we already knew they were perfect for their roles.” Pammit began writing the first version of the script in 2018, but she did not connect as strongly with the material at the time. Dela Cruz later helped reshape the script to make it more dynamic and relatable to their generation.“That started as a stardom story,” said Dela Cruz. “We made it into what-ifs, the dreams you didn’t pursue. Those kinds of things. Somewhere between Manila and Tagaytay, we started writing the rewriting the story.” Meanwhile, Teñoso plans to finish work on an album that she hopes to release next year. She has so far released a six-track EP (extended play), with all songs featuring her original compositions.“After ‘Muli,’ I want to tour the album,” Teñoso said. “That will be my goal next year.”

After a decade in the music industry, singer Janine Teñoso is finally set to fulfill a longtime dream as she makes her theater debut in the upcoming OPM musical “Muli.”

After a decade in the music industry, singer Janine Teñoso is finally set to fulfill a longtime dream as she makes her theater debut in the upcoming OPM musical “Muli.”

Janine Teñoso fulfills longtime theater dream with 'Muli'

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Janine Teñoso fulfills longtime theater dream with 'Muli'

Leah C. Salterio

Published August 12, 2026 02:09 PM PHT

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Janine Teñoso

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