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John "Sweet" Lapus jokingly declared that Bongga Ka Day! The Annie Batungbakal Musical might be his last musical during its media launch on Tuesday, July 7, at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.

In an interview with GMANetwork.com and other entertainment media, Sweet admitted that he only recently realized how physically demanding the production would be.

“Pagod na pagod ako. Kasi, hindi ko naman na-experience yung sing and dance sa audition ng Delia D. Ito, pagdating ko sa bahay, sa sobrang sakit ng katawan ko, nagpamasahe ako. Ganung level ang sakit ng katawan.”

Sweet made his theater comeback in 2025 through Delia D: A Musical, which featured the songs of Jonathan Manalo

Working on The Annie Batungbakal Musical, he admitted that age has made him more aware of the physical demands of performing.

“Sabi ko, hindi na talaga tayo [bumabata]. Aminado naman ako, 53 na ako today.

“May kakaibang pagod ang 80s dance music. Na-realize ko na, oo nga, yun yung mga sinasayaw ko noong bata ako. Of course, hindi ako napapagod dahil bata pa ako.

“Looking back, oo nga, ang disco music is dance, hataw, energy, pagod. Ngayon, yung club dance ganun-ganun lang, hindi yun puwede. So, imagine 70s and 80s dance steps na punung-puno na ng energy, big movements, e gagawin pang musical theater.”

Despite his earlier remark, Sweet clarified that he was only joking about retiring from musicals.

“Nagjo-joke lang ako kanina, hindi pa kami nag-i-start ng rehearsal. Pero at least, nag-statement na ako na last musical ko na ito. Balik na ako doon sa straight play. Yun naman ang ginagawa ko since college days sa Taeatro Tomasino.

“Pero let's see, effort na naman ito at malalang stretching na naman. Well, nagawa ko naman noong Delia D, so feeling ko kakayanin ko naman.”

Despite the challenge, Sweet said he remains eager to return to the stage whenever the opportunity arises, believing that theater keeps his acting skills sharp after spending years focusing on directing and writing.

“Kapag may opportunity na magbalik sa theater, talagang ginagawa ko. Like ito, ang tagal kong hindi gumawa ng pelikula, nag-directing kasi ako, di ba? Buti na lang ginawa ko yung Delia D. Parang na-recharge ang acting ko kasi ang tagal kong hindi umarte. Noong ginawa ko yung Call Me Mother, thank God, maganda naman yung reviews sa akin.

“Kasi, kakalawangin ka kung matagal kang hindi umarte. Kasi nga, puro ako direk, sulat. So, noong nagkaroon akong ng opportunity to do Delia D, true enough, nahasa na naman tayo.”

Related gallery: Meet the cast of Bongga Ka 'Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical

Sweet also considers Bongga Ka Day! The Annie Batungbakal Musical as preparation for his next film project. He is set to portray the late Bernardo Bernardo in Ricky Lee's Ishmael Bernal biopic.

“Ito Bongga Ka Day, The Annie Batungbakal Musical, gagawin ko siya before kami mag-start ng Bernal movie, 'yung kay Sir Ricky. Hindi biro ang role na ibinigay sa akin, Bernardo Bernardo, na isang award-winning theater actor. Tito Bernie did theater din bago siya nag-pelikula at TV.

“Yun naman ang sinabi ni Sir Ricky, kaya sa akin yung in-offer, nag-agree naman 'yung producer, na dapat ako si Bernardo Bernardo, kasi pareho kaming nagsimula sa theater bago nag-film and TV. So hopefully, by the time mag-shoot kami ng Bernal, nakapag-open na ako for Bongga Ka Day, The Annie Batungbakal, nahasa na tayo ulit.”

Meanwhile, Sweet welcomed more mainstream film and television actors into the theater, saying the experience instills a level of discipline that benefits performers regardless of their background.

“Welcome! Kaming mga nag-theater nagpepelikula, so wala namang masama kung yung mga nagpepelikula at TV ay magti-theater. May kakaibang experience at kakaibang discipline na ibinibigay [dito].”

He also shared that Aktor PH plans to establish its own theater group to provide opportunities for both inactive and aspiring actors to develop their craft and work ethic.

“Gagawa ang Aktor PH ng sariling theater group para, one, yung mga artistang walang taping or walang ginagawa for that matter, mag-theater muna. Secondly, yung mga artistang baguhan, na hindi pa magaling umarte o hindi pa disiplinado sa kanilang work ethics, ini-invite sila to participate there para matutuhan nila.

“Kasi, ang TV at movies, kinukuha ang mga taga-theater kasi alam nila ang discipline namin. Alam nilang disiplinado, alam nilang magaling. Walang taga-theater na hindi magaling, modesty aside. May mga taga-film and TV na hindi magaling, pero wala kang mababalitaan na taga-theater na hindi magaling.”

Related gallery: Pinoy celebrities who succeeded in showbiz-theater crossovers