I'm so glad I was able to catch Sa Wakas: A Sugarfree Rock Musical during its final run. I’ve been dying to see it ever since it first opened in 2013. It's the kind of show that will completely tear your heart into pieces.
Pepe Herrera stars as Topper, an aspiring photographer torn between Lexi, a neurosurgeon played by Kyla Rivera-Soong, and Gabbi, a writer played by Justine Peña.
Pepe was the first to walk on stage, flashing a big grin 😁 as if saying "Hi" to the audience. But in a split second, his expression turned somber as the music kicked off with "Kwarto"—a painfully sad opening number. When Pepe sang those first lines, it was heartbreaking yet strangely comforting at the same time. Then Kyla took over the second verse, and the emotional weight was just as heavy.
The story is told in reverse chronology. Within the first five minutes, you already learn the reason for the breakup. "Burnout" serves as their final breaking point. The original version has an upbeat, driving tempo, but for the musical, they rearranged it to sound raw and angry to fit their intense argument scene. I was expecting it to hurt just as much as "Kwarto," and while it hit a slightly different note, it still packed a punch.
Then came "Unang Araw"—hands down the saddest Sugarfree song for me. Hearing those lyrics live about navigating the very first day alone after someone leaves just completely cuts through you.
They paired the song with a storyline: they've been in a 10-year relationship and living together, but all of a sudden, they break up and suddenly miss each other's quirks. That first day is easily the hardest part.
At first, you’d think it’s entirely Topper's fault, but as the story progresses, you won't be so sure. Lexi seems to think Topper's photography career is just a joke, and she barely makes time for him. Even when they do spend time together, she’s always the one calling the shots. Of course, cheating was still Topper’s choice—but Lexi definitely played a part in why they started drifting apart in the first place.
Act I closes on a high note, with the trio coming together for a powerful medley of "Bawat Daan," "Ikaw Pala," and snippets of "Prom."
Bawat Daan is Topper's song singing
maligaw man at mawala
Umikot man sa kawalan
Sa bawat kailan, sino't saan
Ikaw lamang ang kasagutan
Bawat kanan at kaliwa
Kung timog man o hilaga
Ang bawat daan ko ay patungo
Pabalik sa 'yo
Ikaw Pala, Gabbi's song
Nung hindi na nakatingin
At saka ka dumating
Nandiyan ka lamang pala
Di ka lang nagsasalita
Ikaw pala, aking hinahanap
Ang bahaghari ko sa likod ng ulap
Ikaw ang hulog ng langit sa puso kong napunit
Dahil sa dramang paulit-ulit
Prom, Lexi's song
Parang atin ang gabi
Para bang wala tayong katabi
At tayo'y sumayaw
Ng hindi na tayo bibitaw
One of my favorite scene is when Topper and Gabbi is singing Kwentuhan, a defensive song, because it has lines like
Puro usap lang ibaon mo na sa limot ang lungkot
Ang sarap-sarap mo palang kasama
Dati kasi tahimik ka lang palagi ngunit ngayong gabi
Parang kay rami-rami mo nang sinabi
Puro usap lang dahil gusto kitang makilala...
It implies that while you know you aren't doing anything technically wrong, you can feel that there’s a spark or connection brewing. That scene makes it completely clear why Topper and Gabbi fell into each other's arms—they just clicked.
Another favorite scene of mine features "Ang Pinakamagaling na Tao sa Balat ng Lupa"—I think it’s the second-to-last song. It's a fun, upbeat track, but it also says a lot underneath the surface. Right from the start of the relationship, there are unresolved issues that they both just keep to themselves, bickering and taking subtle jabs at each other silently.
Heto na sya, ang henyo ng henerasyon
Kaya mga kaibigan, magpalakpakan
Lumuhod sa kanyang harapan
Halikan ang kalsadang kanyang dinadaanan
Heto na sya, ang pinakamagaling na tao
Sa balat ng lupa
They finished it with Prom. A very happy and in love song. But of course you know what happened in their story so it's still heartbreaking.
Sa wakas is my first musical. And if you are like me, who grew up listening to Sugarfree songs, then you shouldn't miss this show. You will realized that their songs are so damn sad, but you are a masochist so you will still listen to it anyway. And the people behind the musical are sadist, they know how to hurt us really bad.
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