MANILA, Philippines - Two musicals, one a homegrown creation, the other a foreign piece, compete for audience share under one roof next month.

Which one would gather the most number of people?

Although they have their respective venues and playdates, the two musicals will still have a head-on collision in mid-August at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

"Banaag at Sikat, Isang Rock Musical", a production of Tanghalang Pilipino (TP), will go onstage at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) of the CCP next month.

Lea Salonga's Broadway show starrer, “Cats,” on the other hand, a Citigroup, Inc. offering of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, had already commenced its two-month run at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) at the CCP.

The people behind the local musical "Banaag at Sikat, Isang Rock Musical" are nervous that their production would suffer a dismal fate at the box office.

TP’s Artistic Director Fernando "Nanding"Josef couldn’t hide his anxiety about their presentation going head to head with the colossal production of the Broadway hit.

“Nakakatakot ang laban. Ngayon pa lang, kinakabahan na ako. We are up against a giant,” intimated Josef at the press launch of the Filipino rock song and dance musical.

Josef expressed his sentiments about the Filipinos' penchant for Broadway imports. “Alam mo naman tayo, pag Broadway, exciting para sa atin lalo na at well-publicized ang worldwide show. Kaya nga gusto namin na marami ring publicity ang show namin. Maraming salamat sa inyong mga press people,” acknowledged Josef, also a stage, movie and television actor.

“Isa pa, si Lea Salonga ang artista nila at pag Lea, may audience na talaga ‘yan, international pa. Pero umaasa pa rin kami na may manonood sa amin,” Josef added.

For Josef, it's never say die when it comes to his passion and dedication to theater even if he spends his own money to finance a production. “Dito na lang sa rock musical na ito, inabonohan ko muna ang suweldo ng mga artista,” he volunteered.

But, at the end, he said the company reimbursed what he shelled out. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature and writer of the libretto of the rock musical, pinned his hopes on a niche theater-going crowd.

“Iba naman ang crowd ng Filipino rock musical. It can tap the youth,” said Lumbera who collaborated with National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal for the stage play’s impressive sets and costumes.

Lumbera also pointed out the differences in the ticket prices of the two shows.

“Mas mababa ang presyo ng tiket ng rock musical namin kaysa ‘Cats’ na libu-libo. Kaya maa-afford ng audience,” said Lumbera. Entertainment writer William Reyes agreed.

“Banaag at Sikat, Isang Rock Musical” is based on "Banaag at Sikat," the groundbreaking novel of Lope K. Santos, a pioneer in Filipino language studies and a literary giant. It is about the breakup of the Filipino family and the rise of socialism in the country.

According to Lumbera, “Banaag at Sikat, Isang Rock Musical” could draw young people in because it boasts of music that is very much in today--indie rock.

It will be staged under the artistic vision of Jose Estrella, a critically acclaimed director whose works for TP include “Orfeo sa Impiyerno (Orpheus Descending)" and “Ang Pokpok ng Ohio (The Whore from Ohio)", among others.