For much of her young career, Atasha Muhlach has been introduced through the people around her — the daughter of Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez, the twin sister of Andres Muhlach, the newest addition to “Eat Bulaga!.”
But years before, Muhlach was simply a nine-year-old girl making her theater debut as Brigitta von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” on the stage of the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
Fifteen years later, she is returning to that very stage, this time not as a child in the ensemble but as the lead of “Bongga Ka, 'Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical.
Taking on the role immortalized by the late Nora Aunor, it is a wonderful return to where her love for theater first began.
In the musical, Muhlach steps into the shoes of Annie Batungbakal, a spirited, creative and generous young dispatsadora (saleslady) at House of Pasion. Driven by her dream of becoming a fashion designer, Annie longs to become part of the glamorous Coco Banana circle. But her desire to fit in comes at a cost, and her journey toward finding acceptance ultimately becomes one of self-discovery.
Looking back, the 24-year-old admits the realization did not truly sink in until she walked into the theater once again for promotional shoots. Suddenly, memories of rehearsals, costumes and childhood excitement came rushing back.
"For me, it's a full circle moment. Because now I'm living my dream as an artiste. Imagine now to come back 15 years later on the same stage. This is a story and a time and a moment that I will cherish forever," she said during a press conference.
"Even when I'm older, I'm going to be telling everyone about it because, to look back at it, even walking on that stage when we were shooting the content for this production, it was so heartwarming. It was tears of joy that I'm so grateful to be here, to be given this opportunity and to be given the chance to perform again where it all started,” she continued.
It was indeed an important period in the careers of the Muhlach twins. Earlier this year, Andres ventured into theater through “Bagets: The Musical,” portraying the younger version of Adie — the iconic character immortalized by their father, Aga Muhlach, in the beloved 1984 coming-of-age film. Now it is her turn to embrace the stage.
Although she has built an impressive résumé over the past few years, Muhlach believes theater presents a challenge unlike any other.
Her career has steadily expanded across different platforms. She led the Philippine adaptation of “Bad Genius: The Series” as Linette Estrella. She also became one of the fresh faces of “Eat Bulaga!,” where audiences embraced her natural warmth and quick wit as a host. She also starred alongside her parents and twin brother in the TV5 family sitcom “Da Pers Family.”
Each project has introduced a different side of the young actress. Theater, however, asks for everything at once.
Unlike television or film, where scenes can be redone until they are perfected, the stage offers no second takes. Performers sing, dance and act continuously before a live audience, relying entirely on months of preparation and trust in one another.
For Muhlach, that challenge is precisely what drew her back.
"There's this magic of performing. When you're able to sing, dance and act at the same time, and to create a story with a big crew and go through the rehearsals together, there's something different about it," she noted.
"By the time you're there on stage, knowing all your movements, understanding your character and feeling that character come to life, with no cuts and a straight two-hour performance, it's a different kind of adrenaline,” she continued.
"It's an addicting feeling. It brings me so much joy. To be able to see people's faces and reactions in the audience as the performance goes on is something very memorable because you can physically see people smiling and laughing,” Muhlach enthused.
Returning to theater, however, did not mean returning to familiarity. If anything, Muhlach felt she was starting all over again.
She knew portraying Annie Batungbakal — one of Filipino pop culture's most beloved characters — would demand more than simply memorizing lines or learning choreography.
Months before auditions officially began, she had already committed herself to workshops, training sessions and hours of practice. Every day revolved around singing, dancing and acting, while she also spent time studying the Manila Sound movement and the music of Hotdog, whose timeless hits form the heart of the production.
"So the preparation took months. It was months in the making of dancing, singing and acting. Of course, there was also a lot of research because I wasn't born during the '70s. There was a lot for me to learn in order to understand the character,” she recalled.
"Leading up to auditions, every day I was doing workshops. I was singing, dancing and acting. I put a lot of pressure on myself to memorize all of the songs and make sure that I really gave my 100 percent for this audition,” she added.
The audition itself proved every bit as demanding as she expected.
The applicants prepared songs from the era, learned choreography and underwent multiple callbacks that tested not only their individual talent but also their chemistry with fellow cast members.
"There were two songs that I prepared — one from the '70s and one Hotdog song — plus a dance production number. Later on, the director requested that I learn another dance on the spot," she said.
"I was so nervous because Sam Concepcion was there. He's such a great performer and so talented, so of course there was a lot of pressure. But throughout the journey he was very sweet and made me feel very comfortable,” she added.
Making it through the first round only led to another challenge.
She shared, “The callbacks also felt like another audition. The musical director played the song for the first time, and we had to memorize it within a limited amount of time before performing it individually in front of everyone. So of course there was pressure. I'm just happy with the PETA team and everyone enjoyed the performance."
The effort eventually paid off. PETA Plus Deputy Director Gold Lim later revealed that the production had auditioned around 300 performers before deciding Muhlach embodied the Annie they envisioned.
"We saw Tasha as the Annie that we wanted. The charm, the fire — Annie is someone who's very passionate about her craft, and we saw that in her because she prepared well for her auditions," Lynn said.
For Muhlach, hearing that affirmation from the creative team made every sacrifice worthwhile.
"There was a lot of hard work and preparation put into this. A lot of time was sacrificed. To hear those comments now for the first time is heartwarming and touching " she said.
"We still have a long way to go, but we're off to a great start. I'm happy to hear all the feedback. Nothing but proud and honestly super humble,” she added.
For Muhlach, landing the role was never about being handpicked but was about earning it.
"I like it a lot better to audition because you have to go through the process. When you've prepared and they pick you because of the work that you've prepared for, it feels more deserving," she said.
"It doesn't feel like you just took something or that you're taking something for granted. We don't know the outcome of an audition, but when you finally hear the news, it's so fulfilling. It makes you feel like, 'Okay, I'm right where I need to be,' and it feels like I belong,” she pointed out.
She understands why people make assumptions since she grew up under the public eye.
"It's okay. It's part of the industry," she said of public comments questioning her casting.
"It's something that's out of everyone's control. You can't please everyone in life, and that's okay. Just like this character, at the end of the day, you can't please everyone. As long as you stick to being yourself and make sure your morals are good, then you're okay,” she added.
Although many people see the Muhlachs as one of Philippine entertainment's most admired families, she said she and her twin brother were raised to believe that a famous surname should never replace hard work.
"With our family growing up ever since we were little, we were always taught that whenever you want something in life, you have to work for it. Nothing is given. If you're given something and you put no work into it, it doesn't feel right," she said.
"Nothing comes easy in life. What people don't see behind the scenes is the work and preparation behind it,” she added.
When asked whether she had ever considered her parents' stature in show business either an advantage or a disadvantage, she answered, "I've never seen them as celebrities. I've always seen them as my parents. If anything, I'm more inspired to be like them as people because they taught me the core values and the importance of working hard.”
"The reason who I am today is because of them, and I can't thank them enough for that. I would never ever see my family as a disadvantage. And for sure, my parents will never allow us to ever use a Muhlach card. Hindi puwede (That's not allowed),” she added.
Those same values continue to guide her even as her career grows busier but according to her, every opportunity comes with its own challenges and deserves the same level of commitment.
"I think they all have their own hardships. I wouldn't say one is harder than the other because every opportunity given to you shouldn't be taken for granted. Give it your best " she said.
Asked what Annie would be like if she lived in 2026 instead of the 1970s, Muhlach immediately found a connection between the beloved character and today's generation.
"I think she'd still be a sales clerk. I think that in this generation, even back then, what stays consistent is the fact that she's a dreamer, and that relates even to the Gen Zs now," she said.
"With this generation, we all have big dreams no matter the situation. Just go for it. Don't let anything stop you because in life you never know what the outcome is. You just have to take that first step because the only thing stopping you is yourself. Give it a shot, chase your dreams and savor life. Enjoy the journey, the ups and the downs. It's not about Point A to Point B. It's always about how you get there, and that's life,” she enthused.
She hopes audiences, particularly younger viewers discovering Annie Batungbakal for the first time, will recognize a story about authenticity, resilience and believing in yourself despite life's uncertainties.
"I think what makes her super relatable is the key message that she embodies. In life, you don't need to change yourself in order to feel loved, accepted or successful. That's the key thing," she said.
"I think all the Gen Zs are going to relate to that. If anything, I think they're going to enjoy the fun, the vibrance of all the Hotdog songs and the '70s because there's something so charming about that time that I'm so excited for my generation to see and enjoy,” she ended.”
Joining Muhlach in “Bongga Ka, 'Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical” are Sam Concepcion, KD Estrada, Jeff Moses and Anthony Rosaldo as the production's leading men.
Produced by Newport World Resorts in association with VIVA Communications and staged with PETA Plus, the musical features the timeless hits of Hotdog and opens this September at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.