Ang Huling El Bimbo (musical)

This article is about the jukebox musical. For the Eraserheads song, see Ang Huling El Bimbo.

Ang Huling El Bimbo is a jukebox musical featuring the hits of the Filipino band, Eraserheads. The official name of the musical is Ang Huling El Bimbo: a musical featuring the songs of the most iconic 90's band^[1]. The musical features the lyrics and melodies of at least 40 of the band's songs^[2].

The first run debuted on July 20, 2018 and ended on September 2, 2018^[3][4][5]. The second production ran from March 1 to April 6, 2019^[4][6], and from July 5 to August 18, 2019^[7]. A recorded 2019 performance of the Blue Team was shown on YouTube and Facebook from May 8 until May 9, garnering a total of 7 million views in 48 hours^[8]. Iwant TFC Online, ABS-CBN's online platform geared for audience overseas, will be showing a pay-per-view 2019 performance of the Red Team from September to November 2020^[9]. For Philippine viewers, the digital platform KTX.PH will be showing a pay-per-view 2019 performance of the Red Team on November 28-29, 2020^[10].

The musical is written by Dingdong Novenario and directed and choreographed by Dexter Santos^[11], with musical direction by Myke Salomon^[1]. The music is provided by a live band and an orchestra under the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Rodel Colmenar^[12]. The set design is by Gino Gonzales and the lighting design is by Monino Duque.^[13]

The musical has always been a dream by director Dexter Santos to create. He first watched the band perform when he was just a Theatre Arts college student in University of the Philippines Baguio back in the 1990s^[2]. From then on, he has been a fan.

Now a teacher in University of the Philippines Diliman, Santos requires his Theatre Arts students to perform an hour-long piece based on an Eraserheads song.

The show opens with a young Joy dancing to the tune of Ang Huling El Bimbo. As the light goes dim, a corpse covered with a white cloth is shown being inspected by a police officer. The next scene then shows three men, Emman, Anthony, and Hector, having problems with work. (“Poor Man’s Grave”/“Slo Mo”/“Walang Nagbago” medley). They are then called by the police to inform them that a certain Joy Manawari has died. They were the ones she last contacted before getting hit by a vehicle (“Waiting For The Bus”). Outside the precinct, the three men see each other after a long time. They discover that Joy has been calling the three of them repeatedly even though they all led separate lives already after college (“Anong Nangyari Dito”).

A flashback shows people in 90’s style clothing (“Bahay Namin”). Three young men named Emmanuel “Emman” M. Azarcon, Anthony “AJ” F. Cruz, Jr., and Hector Q. Samala are being sent off to college by their parents (“Waiting For The Bus (Reprise)”). The three of them become roommates in the college’s dormitory. They get acquainted with each other and with the new environment. They attend classes and go to school events (“Minsan Sa May Kalayaan”). Back in the dorm, they talk about their aspirations. Hector remarks that they now have a lot of opportunities within reach (“Alapaap”). Emman calls a girl named Mylene to profess his love but she hangs up on him. Hector and AJ joke about his broken heart. They then talk about the different puppy loves they are experiencing (“Tindahan Ni Aling Nena”).

Back in present day, the police officer questions the connection of Joy to three of them. They are informed that she was on the drug watch list and that she’s worthless, which Hector refutes. A smiling young Joy emerges, holding her basket (“Ligaya”).

A flashback shows CAT students jogging, including the three main characters. They are introduced to their commandant, Arturo Banlaoi, and their student leader, Andre Antonio. Banlaoi tells the group to buy turon snacks from Joy. He tells them that Joy lives with her Tiya Dely and that they run a karinderya named Toyang’s in Area 2. Joy gives her boyfriend, the student leader Andre, a free turon. Emman calls Mylene again, only to learn that she already flew to Canada (“Lightyears”). A scuffle ensues among the students, which results to the students being forced to do drills (“Pare Ko”). Joy invites the three young men to eat at Toyang’s, but Banlaoi is there when they arrive (“Ligaya”). Tiya Dely warns Joy about trusting men too easily. After eating, the boys realize they don’t have enough money. Joy bails them out (“Shirley”/“Tikman” medley).

The trio eats at Toyang’s again, where they meet Andre. Andre breaks up with Joy because of Banlaoi’s treatment of him (“Ligaya”/“Tama Ka” medley). They try to comfort her. Hector stays behind to try to cheer her up. Joy tells Hector that they will never understand her because the three of them can study while she can’t (“Huwag Kang Matakot”/“Sembreak” medley). Joy sees AJ with a bruise on his face caused by his father. Joy tells AJ she accepts his true gender (“Hey Jay”/ “Huwag Kang Matakot” medley). Emman makes Joy read the letter he was going to send to Mylene. She tells him about her plan to go back to school. Hector and AJ join them and the four of them goof around. Emman and AJ leave the two behind. Hector and Joy kiss (“Huwag Kang Matakot”).

Back in present day, Ang Huling El Bimbo is playing over the radio. Banlaoi arrives and asks them why Joy was calling them. They reiterate that they have not hung out with Joy again after college. Banlaoi tells them that Joy has a daughter named Ligaya. The three are made to wait for the arrival of Tiya Dely and Ligaya (“Maaalalahanin”).

Another flashback shows them ditching their graduation rehearsals for a joyride. They fetch Joy and they go to Antipolo (“Alapaap”). Joy tells them her wishes for them as they graduate. They take pictures and play a song on the guitar (“Fill Her”). They are interrupted by drunk men asking them for money. They refuse, so the men take the trio hostage while they take advantage of Joy. After the drunk men leave, the trio tries to comfort Joy but she is inconsolable. AJ tells them to go to the hospital but Hector tells them to forget this ever happened and that they should all go home.

Joy is seen alone on stage buttoning up her dress as she prepares to go to the trio’s graduation. in the midst of graduates, she tries to find the three boys but they are evasive. The three finally graduate. Joy is seen breaking down (“With A Smile”). Tiya Dely tells her she shouldn’t have went and that life has to go on. Joy has flashbacks of that fateful night (“Spoliarium”). Banlaoi goes to Toyang’s to tell Tiya Dely that her business is going bankrupt. She still refuses to sell Toyang’s. Banlaoi forces Tiya Dely and Joy to sell beer and girls so the business won’t close (“Tikman (Reprise)”). Toyang’s turns into a KTV bar. Joy is forced on men for money (“Paru-parong Ningning”).

Tiya Dely confronts Joy about her late nights. She tells Tiya Dely that she’s doing extra jobs for them (“Kilala”). Tiya Dely asks about her going out with different guys every night. Joy tells her they need to live, even if their life doesn’t seem like much of a life. Tiya Dely tells Joy that they will go back to the province (“Balikbayan Box”). As they were leaving, Joy is intercepted by Banlaoi. Tiya Dely leaves without Joy. Banlaoi makes Joy his drug mule (“Alkohol”).

Joy is now older, still working as a drug mule for Banlaoi. After getting her commission, she visits her daughter, Ligaya, who is living with Tiya Dely. They spend time together (“With A Smile (Reprise)”). She promises her daughter she will meet her 3 uncles someday. An adult Emman is showing Mylene their house together. An adult AJ, now Anthony, is seen marrying a woman named Eleanor. Joy tells Ligaya that her uncles are just busy. Ligaya cries as Joy leaves (“Spoliarium (Reprise)”).

Joy calls Hector to ask if he can meet her daughter but he turns her down. She then calls Anthony, who tells her to call Hector. She calls Emman but he doesn’t answer. Banlaoi arrives and asks who she was calling but she doesn’t answer. Joy tells him she doesn’t want to work for him anymore. He threatens her with a gun, forcing her to continue being a drug mule. He tells her her life’s in danger. She continues calling the trio but they don’t answer. Hector is seen directing a TV series. He is told to lengthen the series and to include an actress named Ima against his wishes (“Maskara”). Emman is staying late at the office and forgets his anniversary (“Poor Man’s Grave”/“Magasin” medley). Eleanor confronts Anthony about his date with a young man (“Kailan”/“Torpedo”/“Kaliwete” medley). Several women confront Hector about his commitment issues (“Walang Nagbago”/“Huwag Mo Nang Itanong” medley). Ima tries to reach out to hector but he pushes her away (“Maselang Bahaghari”/“Umaaraw Umuulan” medley). Joy goes back to the house and stares at the drug package from Banlaoi (“Ligaya (Reprise)”). She writes a letter and hugs Ligaya and Tiya Dely, then leaves (“Spoliarium (Reprise)”).

The three young men are seen fighting about their decision to not go to the hospital or police station. The three adult men also rehash the mistakes they made and figure out how to make it up to the now-dead Joy (“Spoliarium (Reprise)”). Joy calls them to tell them she wants to start anew, but no one answers (“Wating”). Joy is then hit by a vehicle.

Tiya Dely and Ligaya enter the morgue (“Fill Her”/“Ligaya”). Banlaoi tries to give Ligaya money but Tiya Dely throws it to the ground. Hector tells Tiya Dely that the three of them would shoulder the funeral costs. Tiya Dely tells them that even though Joy had a difficult life, she never blamed the three of them for what happened. Tiya Dely and Ligaya mourn joy. Ligaya talks to the trio and they promise to take care of her. All of them leave the morgue except Hector. He sings to her (“Ang Huling El Bimbo”). The trip are then seen at Joy’s funeral, along with Tiya Dely and Ligaya. Ligaya reads the letter Joy wrote for her. The young Joy, Emman, Hector and AJ get into the car and have a joyride beneath the stars. Ligaya sits on the hood of the car.

• Joy Manawari - A young woman who helps her aunt run a small eatery inside a college campus. To augment their earnings, she also sells afternoon snacks to the students
• Hector Samala - A film student looking to learn more about directing and filming in a local college before flying out to attend a film school in New York.
• Emman Azarcon - A provincial student aspiring to become a lawyer. He is the first person in their family to attend college in the city.
• AJ Cruz - A Business Management student abused by his father for being gay.
• Tiya Dely - Joy Manawari's aunt. She runs a small eatery called Toyang's that serves affordable meals for college students.
• Arturo Banlaoi - A CAT college commandant-turned-councilor who runs an illicit drug trade.

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