Derrick Monasterio takes on Crisostomo Ibarra in bold, Gen Z-driven ‘Ibarra… Ngayon’ revival

Director Frannie Zamora skips auditions as he handpicks Derrick Monasterio for a younger, more urgent reimagining of the Rizal classic.

For “Ibarra… Ngayon” director Frannie Zamora, casting the titular protagonist meant skipping the usual theatrics of the audition room. Choosing Derrick Monasterio to take on the role of Crisostomo Ibarra was, as he puts it, an absolute no-brainer.

The decision signals a deliberate shift in energy. Following the 2023 staging led by Piolo Pascual, the musical returns with a younger, more urgent heartbeat.

With his striking features and commanding, towering frame, Monasterio possesses an undeniable physical alignment with Rizal’s most famous tragic hero. Yet, this iteration promises something far deeper than mere aesthetic accuracy.

Handpicked to breathe life into an icon

Zamora revealed to radar Entertainment that this revamped staging of Jomar Fleras’s book and lyrics—molded seamlessly alongside the sweeping musical compositions of Joed Balsamo—seeks to capture a fresher, more youthful pulse.

“I once saw Derrick sing on a video posted on Instagram,” Zamora recalls. “I knew right then he had the makings of Ibarra. And the rest is history.”

The production’s philosophy has evolved since its previous run. While the 2023 staging subjected nearly its entire cast to rigorous auditions, the lead roles for this upcoming cycle were strictly handpicked. Monasterio anchors a company where most of the original, seasoned supporting cast members return to reprise their roles, ensuring a steady structural foundation around their new lead.

The messianic duality and the Gen Z mirror

For Monasterio, understanding Ibarra meant dismantling the portrait on the textbook page and looking at the raw psychology underneath.

“He’s a romantic guy,” Monasterio observes. “He’s a deeply devoted and idealistic fiancé to his childhood sweetheart, María Clara.”

But romance is merely the gateway to revolution. Tasked with translating Rizal’s critique of the brutal Spanish colonial regime to a modern audience, Monasterio consciously zeros in on a specific demographic: the Gen Zs.

“Ibarra mirrors a messianic image,” the actor pointed out. “He has this Christ-like pursuit of reform and redemption. He offers an ultimate sacrifice for his country. He resonates with Gen Zs as an idealistic youth battling systemic corruption and archaic institutions.”

Monasterio’s grip on the lore is impressively nuanced. 

He views Ibarra’s trajectory across Rizal’s duology—the symbolic death of the idealist in “Noli Me Tangere” and his subsequent resurrection as the brooding, vengeful anarchist Simoun in “El Filibusterismo”—as a tragic study of a savior turning into a cold judge.

He admits, however, that before stepping into the character’s shoes, he shared very few traits with the historical icon.

“I love my country, but I wasn’t as passionate as him in pursuing changes or reforms,” Monasterio confesses. “But getting into the skin of my character, I’ve realized something must be done. For the good of the people.”

The natural gravity of maturing

This shift from passive citizen to theatrical revolutionary mirrors Monasterio’s own evolution as a creative force. The simple, youthful desire to sing has transformed into a heavy commitment to craft.

Having made his professional theater debut as Tolits in “Rak of Aegis,” Monasterio never anticipated tackling a psychological labyrinth as complex as Ibarra.

“Depende talaga sa mga experience mo kung paano ka mag-mature sa mga ginagawa mo,” Monasterio reflects candidly. 

“If you suddenly mature sa buhay, magre-reflect din sa pagtingin mo sa trabaho. Feeling ko it came naturally. This isn’t the time to play around anymore. I am getting older. Mas gan’on din ang tingin ko sa mga roles na tinatangan ko.”

In this vibrant restaging, Monasterio shares the marquee with Andrea Manuel-Stevenson, who steps into the delicate, complex role of Maria Clara.

They are backed by an ensemble featuring Kevin Posadas, Sheila Ferrer, Nazer Salcedo, Aira Maglinao, Elian Santos, Ever Serrano, Jay Mangui, Bon Franz Gonzales, Joseph Billeza, Neil Tolentino, Dea Formacil, Mondrian Sampang, Jerome Ferguson, and Victoria Mina.

“Ibarra… Ngayon” will run at the GSIS Theater, Pasay City, on the following dates: June 18: 7:30 PM; June 19: 7:30 PM; June 20: 2:30 PM, 7:30 PM.

Tickets are officially available via TicketWorld and Ticket2Me.