‘HOOK UP: The Musical’ brings out the ‘human’ in the discourse on sex

CEBU, Philippines – In a hyperconnected world, the line between lustful lovemaking and real romance only becomes a hurdle when you leave out the person behind the profiles.

This is one of many messages that hit Cebuano musical HOOK UP is hoping to remind this generation of dating app tourists and hopeless romantics as it makes a return performance for Pride Month this June 13, at the SM Seaside City Cebu Sky Hall in Cebu City.

Written and directed by songwriter and musical producer Jude Gitamondoc, Hook Up dives deep into the multifaceted world of the LGBTQ+ community, their unique struggles with identity, aspirations for love and acceptance, and confronting stigma in all of its forms.

The story follows the adventures of fresh grad Tim who hops on a dating app called Hooked where he finds an abundance of thirsty gay men looking to pounce on their next “sweet treat.”

Along the way, he meets Manny who has conflicting feelings about his sexuality and fears the consequences of being “out in the open” and accepting his truth. 

CONNECTION. Tim and Manny’s story is more than just a passage of romance and passion. Photo from Hook Up The Musical

They become tangled in a steaming romance and without revealing too much about the plot, overcome their demons and “get hooked” on something much greater than sex.

The musical doesn’t just stick to a single romantic-comedy narrative but openly tackles several complex issues that haunt the community like internalized homophobia, sugar baby relationships, body shaming and the most important of all — hookup culture.

The truth about Hook Up

According to Gitamondoc, the idea for Hook Up started from a conversation with fellow playwrights after the staging of his musical You’ve Been Facebooked (YBF) in 2014 and Gugmang Giatay in 2015.
For the musical producer, it would be a “twin production” to YBF that would tackle dating apps instead of social media in general, and present the experiences of LGBTQ+ members in the dating scene.

“I was scared to write it back then. I didn’t think I was ready,” Gitamondoc said.

The musical producer explained that the writing process for Hook Up required a great deal of precision and research to explain the dynamics of LGBTQ+ relationships and how these are affected by the spread of HIV.

“I realized I have to embrace the fact that if it’s dating apps, we have to deal with the HIV talk because it’s there. It’s part of it. It would be irresponsible to pretend it doesn’t exist.” Gitamondoc said.

HOOKED. Beyond the dating app, the musical explores the intricacies of queer relationships and the boundaries set by individuals when seeking connection. Photo from Hook Up The Musical

Drawing from personal experiences and engagements with advocacy groups like LoveYourself PH, Hook Up’s storytelling, Gitamondoc added, aims to change the story about sex, especially with HIV.

“We want it to reflect the joy of being gay, that it doesn’t go bottom from here… the narrative about HIV always ends up with tragedy and we want to change that trope with a person surviving and living a normal life,” the producer concluded.

CAST. The cast includes beloved thespians Paul Pablo, Shim Dagatan, Grant Bacaltos, Jan Echavarria, Jaggy Gomez, Fritz Pepino, Alem Garcia, Joer Gallur, Drae Cerna, Euvic Ferrer, Barret Richards, Gabriel Gomez, and Joana Modesto. Photo from Hook Up The Musical

The goal for love

The musical comes at a crucial time for Cebu as the Department of Health has recorded more than 300 HIV cases in the province in 2025. 

The province has also recently institutionalized its own “right-to-care” policy, allowing LGBTQ+ community members to make healthcare decisions for partners during emergencies and other welfare-related situations.

“This is the perfect time for us to tell a different story,” actor Shim Dagatan, who plays Tim, told Rappler.

For Dagatan, the goal for Hook Up’s cast is to bring the conversation past the dating apps and towards building genuine human connection that would encourage people to know more about HIV/AIDS.

Actor Paul Pablo, who also plays Tim, stressed that individuals who live with HIV still live on to have normal lives and are as deserving for support as anyone without it.

RISING. The musical’s vignettes feature powerful ballads and drag performances that deliver on their message. Photo from Hook Up The Musical

“There are still parts of Cebu that are very conservative and there’s a good amount of the population that may not want these baby steps to happen,” actor Grant Bacaltos, who plays Manny, said.

Despite this, Bacaltos said that even in conservative Filipino contexts, people resonate with the idea of protecting loved ones, especially family — something the musical leans heavily towards with Manny’s character arc.

“We’re not in the 80s anymore. HIV doesn’t have to end in tragedy and it’s time to tell a different story which this musical tells just that,” actor Jan Echavarria, who also plays Manny, told Rappler.

This June 13, the actors invite the public to watch their 4:30 pm regular show and 8 pm gala performance at SM Seaside City. Learn more about the show and ticket details here. – Rappler.com