Catch the Topee Fever with Jeff Moses and Sam Shoaf

The barkada gets a major boost of cool with Topee—the martial arts ace and athletic heartthrob of Bagets. First brought to life by J.C. Bonnin in the 1984 film, Topee now makes his much-awaited stage debut in Bagets The Musical. Taking on the role are two rising stars—Jeff Moses and Sam Shoaf—who are ready to charm audiences and capture the thrill of teenage discovery all over again.

Sam Shoaf, JC Bonnin and Jeff Moses

Embodying Topee’s Hiligaynon roots with Jeff Moses

For Jeff Moses, portraying Topee is more than just stepping into a beloved character—it’s also about honoring shared roots. Born and raised in Negros Occidental, Moses deeply relates to Topee’s longing for home.

 

“Puli ‘ta Bacolod. Madalas ‘yung sinasabi niya sa nanay niya (Let’s go home to Bacolod. That’s what he often tells his mother),” Moses shares. “Ako ramdam ko ‘yung bigat no’n kasi tuwing holidays na lang din ako nakakauwi sa’min (I can really feel the weight of that because I only get to go home during the holidays).”

Since signing with GMA Sparkle Artist Center, Moses has steadily built a name in film and television. He earned Best Actor at the 1st Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival for Under a Piaya Moon, and appeared in hit shows like Abot Kamay na Pangarap and Magpakailanman. In 2023, he was named Outstanding Youth of the Philippines at the Philippine Outstanding Men & Women Awards.

“Topee is kind, mature, and treats his friends like family,” he reflects. “But deep inside, he carries a hidden vulnerability.”

That complexity is exactly what Moses hopes audiences will connect with. “Even if life pushes us to grow up fast, I want people to realize that being young at heart never really goes away. We can still feel joy or sadness as purely as we did when we were kids.”

For the 24-year-old actor, Bagets The Musical marks his first theater experience—a challenge he’s both nervous and excited about. “On stage, there are no take twos. Everything is raw and live. That’s what makes it so powerful.”

 
Finding Topee in Sam Shoaf
While Jeff Moses finds Topee in his roots, Sam Shoaf finds him in his spark. A self-confessed fan of the ’80s, Shoaf has long been fascinated by the era’s music, fashion, and energy.

“Everything was just full of life back then,” he says. “When I first watched Bagets, that’s what I saw in Topee, too.”

 

Shoaf imagines that if Topee were around today, he’d be a fitness-loving, TikTok-savvy guy who never missed out on fun. Like Topee, Shoaf also loves martial arts—something he showcased in his role in Ang Mutya ng Section E.

“I see a lot of myself in Topee,” he explains. “We’re both active, but we also tend to keep certain parts of our lives private.”

For Shoaf, this emotional complexity is at the core of the musical. “Bagets The Musical is really about us. Different timelines, different circumstances, but the same story of growing up, figuring things out, and learning who we are.”

Shoaf first captured audiences as a contestant on The Voice Kids Philippines and later on Your Face Sounds Familiar. Now, he’s ready to bring that mix of music, energy, and heart to the stage.
A timeless coming-of-age story

Through Jeff Moses and Sam Shoaf, Topee returns as both a fighter and a dreamer, embodying the highs and lows of adolescence. Together with their castmates, they’ll bring to life the messy, thrilling, and unforgettable ride of growing up—proof that the magic of youth never truly disappears, it just evolves.

Bagets The Musical runs from January 23 to March 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Joining Moses and Shoaf are Noel Comia Jr. and Tomas Rodriguez as Gilbert, Milo Cruz and Migo Valid as Tonton, and Ethan David and KD Estrada as Arnel.

The musical is a joint production of VIVA Communications Inc., The Philippine STAR, and Newport World Resorts, in collaboration with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Plus. It is directed by Maribel Legarda, written by J-mee Katanyag, and scored by musical director Vince Lim, with the support of Sun Life Philippines.

Stay updated by following VIVA Communications Inc. (@vivaartistsagency), The Philippine STAR (@philippinestar), and Newport World Resorts (@newportworldresorts) on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sign up for the ticket waitlist now via Newport World Resorts.