‘One More Chance’ reincarnated as musical

‘One More Chance,’ the Star Cinema movie with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo as the young couple Popoy and Basha, will be adapted on stage. It is directed by Maribel Legarda and is set to run at the PETA Theater Center from April 12 to June 30

SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star 

March 22, 2024 | 12:00am

Musical theater is booming. Pinoys are not lacking for shows to watch anymore. There seems to be a new one opening every week. Given this need for materials, almost every tale new or already existing, and preferably popular, is now being reincarnated for the theater. Therefore, it is now inevitable that “One More Chance” (“OMC”) will now be among those turned into a musical.

Directed by Maribel Legarda, the adaptation of “One More Chance” is set to run at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City from April 12 to June 30. Tickets are already fast selling out. Here is hoping you, readers, out there will be fortunate enough to snag a seat or two. Given PETA’s reputation for musical theater, Rak of Aegis, Walang Aray, etc. “OMC” should be romantic and also lots of fun.

Better yet, here is hoping that PETA will announce another extension. “One More Chance” was originally slated to run only until June 16 but because 1,800 tickets were already sold during the first hour these were made available, PETA announced the extension. Now, it looks like there should be another one.

PETA’s Popoys and Bashas will tell their love story to the music of Ben&Ben. Photo shows the band's members with the lead cast at the presscon

So, why all this excitement about “One More Chance”? This is because “OMC” is the story of Popoy and Basha. Some 15 or nearly 20 years ago, Pinoy lovers of all ages, fancied themselves to be Popoy and Basha, mouthing hugot lines while struggling to either leave or stay in a romantic relationship.

Remember “When love ends, how long should you hold on?” Ouchy! How long indeed? Or what about this exchange. He: “She loved me at my worst. You had me at my best. Ba’t binale wala mo lang lahat yun?” She: “Yun ba talaga ang tingin mo? I just made a choice.” He: “And you chose to break my heart.” Double ouchy!!

The musical will have Sam Concepcion as Popoy and Anna Luna as Basha. Not in photo are their alternates, CJ Navato and Nicole Omillo.

“One More Chance” was originally a movie produced by the sisters Charo Santos-Concio and Malou Santos and directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina from the story and script by Carmi Valdez and Vanessa Raymundo. It became the biggest grossing film of 2007 and established Star Cinema’s reputation as a leader in the field of romantic drama. It also gave actors John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo their most famous roles as Popoy and Basha.

Now there will be new Popoys and Bashas singing and dancing to their love story in the PETA production and fans of the movie are excited to find out if the leads of the musical “One More Chance” will be anything like the now iconic John Lloyd and Bea. And these are Sam Concepcion and CJ Navato as Popoy; Anna Luna and Nicole Omillo as Basha.

Then, here is something that John Lloyd and Bea were never able to do in their “One More Chance.” PETA’s Popoys and Bashas will be telling their love story on stage to the music of Ben&Ben.

Ben&Ben is the Philippines’ biggest selling band. It is made up of twin brothers Miguel Benjamin and Paulo Benjamin Guico on vocals and acoustic guitars; Poch Barretto on electric guitar; Keifer Cabugao on violin; Andrew De Pano and Toni Muñoz on percussion; Pat Lasaten on keyboards; Agnes Reoma on bass; and Jam Villanueva on drums.

Ben&Ben’s kind of pop rock fused with the new world music style has produced hits like Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay, Leaves, Upuan, Paninindigan Kita, Kathang Isip, Pagtingin, The Ones We Once Loved, Langyang Pag-ibig, Lunod, Nakikinig Ka Ba Sa Akin and others.

The songs will be rearranged, chopped, mashed together and whatever needs to be done by musical director Myke Salomon to tell Popoy and Basha’s love story. It would be very interesting to find out which ones will make it to the show.