(From left) Jordan Andrews as James, Vivoree Esclito as Eds, Akira Morishita as Rovic, Andi Abaya as George, Vino Mabalot as Fonzy, Jude Hinumdum as Badong, Miah Canton as Corrinne | Photography by Miguel Alomajan

"Tabing Ilog The Musical" is a collaboration between Star Magic and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). It is inspired by the 1999 drama series starring John Lloyd Cruz, Kaye Abad, Baron Geisler, Patrick Garcia, Desire del Valle, Paula Peralejo, Paolo Contis, and Jodi Sta. Maria. 

Now set in the Generation Z era, it is presented to both fans of the series as well as a fresh set of audiences, capturing the essence of what it feels like to be young nowadays. The musical discusses topics and issues like mental health, finding oneself, and family, among other relevant themes: "Respect and courtesy, selflessness, integrity, fairness including justice and freedom from prejudice, power, and a lot more," offers cast member Joann Co, who plays the role of Lola Juling (Rovic's grandmother).

(From left) Vino Mabalot as Fonzy, Omar Uddin as Andoy, Anji Salvacion as Corrinne, Sheena Belarmino as Eds, Benedix Ramos as Rovic, Jude Hinumdum as Badong, and Andi Abaya as George

(From left) Jude Hinumdum as Badong, Jordan Andres as James, Anji Salvacion as Corrinne, Akira Morishita as Rovic, Sheena Belarmino as Eds, and Kiara Takahashi as George

Audiences are in for a treat with the production’s talented cast members including some of today’s top pop stars, actresses, and theater actors. BINI member Jhoanna Robles, Sheena Belarmino, and Vivoree Esclito play the role of Eds. BGYO's Akira Morishita and Benedix Ramos take on the character of Rovic. Miah Canton and Anji Salvacion alternate as Corrinne. Vino Mabalot is the sole actor for the role of Fonzy. Completing the "Tabing Ilog" barkada are Andi Abaya and Kiara Takahashi; Jordan Andrews and Kobie Brown as James; Jude Hinumdum as Badong; and Adrian Lindayag and Omar Uddin as Andoy.

The show is spearheaded by director Phil Noble and musical director/composer/arranger Vince de Jesus who acknowledges that though it is the same story, people can expect some fresh takes and tweaks on the rerun. Vince also explained that because he and Phil are teachers, it is innate for them to seek improvement and challenge the actors: “In a way,  you also help them push themselves.” 

“Definitely po, nagkaroon ng new ways kung paano palalimin pa kung sino si Rovic,” Akira said. 

“'Yung binigay sa amin na oras, definitely, ang nagbigay sa amin ng pagkakataon na makita kung ano'ng p'wede namin idagdag na layers sa character,” added Benedix.

Read the rest of the cast members' thoughts on "Tabing Ilog The Musical" below:

(From left, clockwise) "Tabing Ilog The Musical Rerun" cast members Omar Uddin as Andoy, Miah Canton as Corrinne, Jhoanna Robles as Eds, Akira Morishita as Rovic, Vino Mabalot as Fonzy, Jude Hinumdum as Badong, and Andi Abaya as George

Jude Hinumdum as Badong

“It was unexpected and a blessing at the same time ’yung audition na ’yun,” Jude Hinumdum recalls his unforgettable experience trying out for “Tabing Ilog The Musical.” At the time, he was planning to return to his province and settle there, thinking there was no more reason to stay in Manila. But then he got a call from Vince de Jesus (the musical’s director, composer, and arranger), which changed the course of his 2024. 

When he researched the series Tabing Ilog and watched a few of its episodes, the character he found most striking was Badong. “Sa series, siya ’yung kwela, siya ’yung magaan. So sabi ko, siya ’yung i-go-goal kong makuhang role,” he shares, adding that he thoughtfully created a monologue that resembled Badong’s tone for the audition. His effort paid off, and not only did he get the opportunity to portray this layered character once, but he could also breathe life into Badong again in the rerun. 

Jude, a Theatre Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines, sees Badong as “the source of joy ng barkada” because he likes to joke around and make people laugh. “Naging less challenging sa’kin ang pag-portray kay Badong kasi nahanap ko na siya sa pagkatao ko,” he reveals, elaborating the similarities they have.  

Since Badong is running for barangay kagawad (barangay councilor) in the story, an important theme the character highlights is integrity, a timeless topic that remains relevant today. Explaining his character’s motivations and intentions, Jude shares, “Magse-serve ba siya para i-elevate ang sarili niya or magse-serve ba siya because ’yun ’yung burden niya? Very important na na-tackle ng Tabing Ilog ang integrity kasi it’s something that we should tell our audiences… It’s very important to open the conversation on integrity.”—Grace Libero-Cruz

Adrian Lindayag as Andoy

Adrian Lindayag is a new member of the “Tabing Ilog The Musical.” But he’s navigating it and making the newness of the environment work to his advantage. The key for him is to immerse himself fully in the role, get to know Andoy, and discover ways to develop him in the process. 

Andoy is somewhat of an outsider because he doesn’t live in San Juan E., the story’s setting. And because he’s also a new cast member, Adrian draws emotions from his experience on the set and mirrors those in his portrayal.  

“Catching up on an existing show and being part of a rerun isn’t something new for me and it’s always a fun challenge for an actor na makahabol at maka-keep up,” Adrian shares, clearly open to embracing challenges to hone his craft. 

He describes his character, Andoy, as sensitive and caring toward his friends. “I remember my younger days sa energy niya,” Adrian quips. 

Although he doesn’t belong to the generation Tabing Ilog catered to, he’s aware of how much the series contributed to the entertainment scene. He feels grateful to have been allowed to be part of its legacy on a new platform. “Because this is live theater, each show is original and fresh,” he notes. 

It’s a blessing to work on a project, but it’s even better when it’s something that an actor can connect with on a much deeper level and use as a tool for spreading awareness on relevant and important discussions. In Adrian’s case, “Tabing Ilog The Musical” Rerun is very much aligned with his advocacy because of the themes it explores and highlights. “LGBTQIA+ rights will always be at the core of my craft as an actor,” Adrian shares. “Napakahalaga ng visibility in media for us LGBTQIA+. When I was growing up, it was hard for me to relate to barkada shows kasi wala akong nakikitang bakla katulad ko. Laging katatawanan o extra. Ngayon, binigyan ng pagkakataon ang isang bakla katulad ni Andoy na maging bahagi ng Tabing Ilog barkada, at malaking bagay ’yun para sa mga kabataang manonood, kaya sisiguraduhin ko na magiging maayos ang pagkakalatag kay Andoy.”—Grace Libero-Cruz

Omar Uddin as Andoy

Andoy is a new character in the musical which Omar Uddin and his alternate Adrian Lindayag breathe life into. Andoy is described as James’ good friend who meets the barkada.

For Omar, the musical is an update of the TV show. “Mas Gen-Z siya compared to the first Tabing Ilog. And it’s a new generation of barkadas,” he says. 

The show also expounds on the topics affecting today’s generation, especially mental health. “The musical establishes the stakes of one friend's mental health, another friend's relationship, and the decision-making of another friend as well,” he hints.

Like the other cast members, this is the second time Omar has played his role. He’s definitely hungry to improve on his craft, especially with a character who’s part of the LGBT community. Omar went out of his way by doing his own research for his character to better portray it and exude a sense of authenticity with it. 

"My process of trying to improve this character is more of asking a lot of my friends, and just asking for advice and listening to stories about their lives as gays," he tells us.

For this rerun, Omar also looks forward to spending time with the cast after a one-year hiatus and is beyond thrilled to deliver good shows for the audience.—Jel Villanueva

Maritres: Lance Reblando as Meow, Vyen Villanueva as Toots, and Teetin Villanueva as Anchang

                      (From left) Lance Reblando as Meow, Vyen Villanueva as Toots, and Teetin Villanueva as Anchang           

Lance Reblando as Meow

“Free-spirited,” “social butterfly,” and “opinionated” are the adjectives Lance Reblando used to describe her character, Meow, in “Tabing Ilog The Musical Rerun.” She further said that her onscreen persona is like her “photocopy” because they have the same personality. 

Lance remembers that her aunt was a fan of the Tabing Ilog series. “Patok na patok siya sa mga teens or nasa late teens kasi nga ’yung mga themes na na-touch sa teleserye were very relatable,” she shared. Now that the series was reimagined in the modern setting for the theater, she believes the musical has a braver and bolder approach. 

“Mas matapang ’yung issues na tina-tackle and tina-touch sa musical na ito,” Lance observes, hinting at LGBTQIA+ themes in the musical. “Kasi, for example, gender and identity, hindi naman siya na-touch gaano sa teleserye kasi hindi pa ganu’n kagising o kamalay ang mga tao tungkol sa sexuality.”

Aside from that, Lance appreciates how “Tabing Ilog The Musical” puts the spotlight on mental health, a topic she believes deserves more attention in the entertainment scene. As a reminder, she explains, “Kasi ngayon, sa nagbabagong takbo ng technology at ng society, minsan nakakalimutan natin alagaan ’yung mental health natin and important ’yun sa well-being ng isang individual. Kasi kung ano ’yung nasa utak mo, nagta-translate siya physically and nakakaapekto siya du’n sa mga tao at bagay na nasa paligid mo.”—Grace Libero-Cruz 

Teetin Villanueva as Anchang

Vyen Villanueva as Toots

“I’m a theater guy: Clunky, scrappy, quirky are what we celebrate,” Vyen Villanueva tells Metro.Style, as he paints a picture of his character, Toots, in “Tabing Ilog The Musical” Rerun. “Kuya Toots is somehow like the clunky, scrappy kuya of the barkada who supports everyone in his own quirky way.”

Preparing for this role is a tedious process but one that he basks in despite having to characterize his role from scratch just like his fellow “Maritres” Lance Reblando and Teetin Villanueva did with their respective roles. 

“Theater gives you the opportunity to create your own truth. But besides objective and truth, one of the hardest things to build in theatre is synergy. Having to ensure you have a truth on your own is already a journey, what more building a truth encircling three?” he asks rhetorically. 

Suffice it to say, “a few metaphorical fistfights here and there” were worth it for the sake of onstage synergy that’s meant to reflect the relationship of a real-life barkada, a group of friends navigating issues on “mental health, discovering one’s personality, commitment, and individualistic choices."—Grace Libero-Cruz 

Parental figures: Gimbey Dela Cruz and Yeyin Dela Cruz as Azon and Red Nuestro as Panyong                                                       

(From left) BINI Jhoanna Robles as Eds, Gimbey Dela Cruz as Azon, and Red Nuestro as Panyong

(From left) Sheena Belarmino as Eds, Gimbey Dela Cruz as Azon, and Red Nuestro as Panyong

(From left) Red Nuestro as Panyong, BINI Jhoanna Robles as Eds, and Yeyin Dela Cruz as Azon

(From left) Vivoree Esclito as Eds, Red Nuestro as Panyong, and Yeyin Dela Cruz as Azon

Gimbey Dela Cruz as Azon

Gimbey Dela Cruz grew up watching the Tabing Ilog barkada, so working on this musical comes with a tinge of nostalgia. 

In “Tabing Ilog The Musical” Rerun, Gimbey plays the role of Nanay Azon, the mother of Eds (played by BINI Jhoanna Robles, Sheena Belarmino, and Vivoree Esclito). As a mother to a tween herself, she finds bits and pieces of herself in the character, giving her portrayal a much-needed authenticity. “Her warmth and strength as a mom really resonate with me,” she tells us. “I know the joys, worries, and hopes that come with raising a young one. Bringing this character to life feels natural because we share similar concerns and the same fierce love for family.”

For Gimbey, the timing of the musical coincides with another production, making her rehearsal schedule more challenging than usual. “The fast pace is no joke—especially since it’s a rerun, so most of the cast already knows their parts. That meant speeding up my memorization and finding ways to catch up fast. It’s challenging, but it’s also pushing me to be sharper and more adaptable as a performer,” she explains. 

Being part of the theater scene allows her to contribute to conveying important messages to audiences. Just as “Tabing Ilog The Musical” Rerun is doing now, Gimbey hopes to see more similar productions that tackle mental health, family dynamics, and the pressures young people face.

“Theater can highlight these in a unique way that really resonates with audiences,” she emphasizes. “When we put these themes on stage, we’re not just entertaining but also creating a space for audiences to reflect, feel seen, and connect.”—Grace Libero-Cruz 

Yeyin Dela Cruz as Azon

Preparing for any role comes with different challenges. And, for Yeyin Dela Cruz, the challenge in portraying her character, Azon, in “Tabing Ilog The Musical” Rerun comes from “following and carrying on your own character journey, everything that is going on even when you are not exactly part of the scenes.” 

As the mother of Eds, Azon appears every now and then in the story, so extra attention to detail is important to ensure the smooth transition and continuity required from Yeyin’s character. This theater actress describes Nanay Azon as stern. “She is very stern about wanting her child to have a good life,” she shares. We all have that Nanay Azon figure in our lives, so her presence lends a heartwarmingly familiar touch to the story.  

She may not be a mom, but Azon resonates with Yeyin in terms of the similarity in their personality. “I’m also very stern when I am aiming for something, especially with work. I tend to be very firm with myself when I am sure about what I want,” she says. 

Passionate about theater, Yeyin enjoys the process of building a world around a character. For “Tabing Ilog The Musical” Rerun especially, “There’s so much to imagine and work on in the parent’s backstory just so we carry that ‘history’ when we relate to the other characters on stage,” she shares.

The musical tackles mental health issues, among other relevant topics. But to Yeyin, “the environmental concerns should also receive the spotlight in the entertainment and theater materials that we produce.” She muses, “There’s also value in looking at the bigger picture that does affect us in a lot of ways. There are so many stories to hear and learn from in the experiences we have with flooding, typhoons, and stories that challenge our resilience.”—Grace Libero-Cruz 

Red Nuestro as Panyong

Red Nuestro may not have followed the Tabing Ilog series back then; but, the fact that “Tabing Ilog The Musical” now mirrors the core of the show’s relatability proves how timeless the original material is. 

The musical adaptation of the series bridges the generation gap because it tackles past issues with a fresh, modern spin while retaining the key themes crucial to the narrative. “I have to say na I love how the current version shows na ang problem noon, same rin ng problem ngayon. Nagkakaiba lang on how we face them because of the generation thing,”  Red observes. 

His character, Panyong, for instance, is someone fathers from different generations can resonate with on various levels. He is the loving father of Eds (played by Jhoanna Robles, Sheena Belarmino, and Vivoree Esclito). “Disciplinarian but compared to his wife Azon, mas madaling siyang suyuin at pakiusapan,” he describes Panyong. 

In terms of his similarity to his character, Red says he’s as easygoing and easy to deal with as Panyong. “As long as you can justify yourself or your request to me, go tayo,” he quips, painting a picture of a father who only wants the best for his child. 

Red reveals that having five brothers to look up to has guided his character portrayal. Drawing from his personal experience of seeing them raise their kids, he was inspired to form the layered personality of Panyong, molding him into someone who balances being a disciplinarian and a father with a sense of humor.—Grace Libero-Cruz 

"Tabing Ilog The Musical" Rerun will run until December 1 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Get your tickets here.

Its cast includes BINI Jhoanna Robles, Sheena Belarmino, and Vivoree Esclito as Eds; Akira Morishita and Benedix Ramos as Rovic; Anji Salvacion and Miah Canton as Corrinne; Vino Mabalot as Fonzy; Andi Abaya and Kiara Takahashi as George; and Jordan Andres and Kobie Brown as James.

Photography by Miguel Alomajan, assisted by Jhom Russiana and Cody Dagsa

Art direction by Chookie Cruz

Set design by Rocket Sets Rey John Legaspi

Styling by Aldrin Ramos, assisted by John Vince Cureg, Rona Lusanta, and Brens Paraggua

Hair and makeup by CUT Encarnacion

Texts and interviews by Angelica Tordesillas, Jel Villanueva, and Grace Libero-Cruz