"Bawat Bonggang Bagay" -- everything is "Bongga"

1,000,001 – Watching Bawat Bonggang Bagay

I'm adding one more item to Duncan Macmillan’s growing list of brilliant things: finally seeing the Tagalized version of Every Brilliant Thing last Saturday at the PowerMac Center Spotlight Theater. It’s been on my bucket list for some time, and it was more than worth the wait.

Not just Tagalized — it’s beautifully localized.
Bawat Bonggang Bagay resonates deeply within a Filipino context. The themes, scenarios, and references feel intimately familiar — you’ll find yourself nodding, smiling, and perhaps even tearing up as memories from your own life come flooding back. It's more than a translation — it's a cultural reimagining that feels personal and true. And every brilliant thing mentioned? It reminds you to notice the joy in the ordinary.

No two shows are ever the same.
As an interactive one-actor play, the only constant is the ever-brilliant Jon Santos and the script. The rest is magic — audience members are invited to participate, portraying various characters. This spontaneity gives the show a fresh dynamic every night, offering participants their unexpected 15 minutes of fame — and sharing the stage with Jon Santos is a brilliant thing in itself.

A heartfelt, eye-opening journey.
Like the original Every Brilliant Thing, Bawat Bonggang Bagay takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, masterfully building up the main character's story. It's tender, funny, poignant, and achingly real. The narrative weaves through love, childhood, mental health, and the weight of growing up. Its message is powerful — especially for those quietly struggling — and its importance cannot be overstated.

I truly hope this won’t be the last staging of Bawat Bonggang Bagay. Jon Santos is a perfect fit for the role, delivering a performance that’s both charismatic and vulnerable. Even the set — filled with little boxes waiting to be opened — feels symbolic, inviting the audience to unpack, understand, and embrace each layer of the character’s life.

Bawat Bonggang Bagay is a special Pride Month presentation of The Sandbox Collective, directed by Jenny Jamora — and a brilliant thing worth witnessing.