My neighbors will hate me for weeks. Wicked: For Good is so emotionally good that I’ll be singing the entire tracklist from Act I to Act II every day until further notice. Stephen Schwartz even wrote two new songs for Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda, and yes, I’m already learning them. And since we’re Filipinos who love to belt our feelings out, I’ll be hitting those notes with pride. Hydrate before attempting “For Good”—those upper belts hit differently when you’re crying.
Thanks to NUSTAR for inviting us to the advance screening. It was a cozy event filled with fans dressed in pink, green, and the occasional full costume. Pink and green were everywhere: in the food, the clothes, and even the lighting that washed over NUSTAR’s building.
At one point, I heard a group singing “For Good” in the restroom, and honestly, it was beautiful. It has proven yet again how naturally musical Filipinos are, staying ready with the harmonies. Every time I hear the opening lines of that song, the same wave of emotion comes rushing back.
Whoever those guests were, you have beautiful voices. I hope your recording finds its way online someday—maybe on TikTok. Filipinos are just effortlessly musical. One of our local influencers even filmed himself singing, and you could swear he walked straight out of Shiz. We’ll just stay tuned and see when his video drops. You might famously know him as the guy who always says, “I gugma YOU!”: the Bisaya Conyo Girl, David Cua. And honestly, I gugma your singing as well. Slay!
Image courtesy IMDb
The night kicked off with a best-dressed award—congrats to Geneva Ramos, our very own girl in the bubble. We settled into NUSTAR’s plush cinema seats with free popcorn and posters, which, in true moviegoer fashion, we finished before the opening credits rolled.
When the film finally started, it was everything I hoped for. Halfway through, soft sobs echoed around the room—and yes, me included. I honestly don’t know how anyone could stay unmoved; the music alone gives you goosebumps, the visuals are lush, and Cynthia and Ariana deliver performances that feel raw, lived-in, and heartbreakingly sincere. If this isn’t Oscar-worthy, I don’t know what is.
As someone who grew up performing theater but never saw Wicked live (especially when they toured in Manila in 2014 and 2017), this adaptation hit hard. I’m deeply grateful to Jon M. Chu and Universal Studios for bringing this musical to life in a two-part film. Many of us only knew the soundtrack by heart and relied on grainy bootleg videos, never experiencing the full magic onstage. Seeing it fully realized on screen for the first time—led by two phenomenal vocalists—felt like closure and magic all at once.
Image courtesy IMDb
This adaptation gives the musical room to breathe. The filmmakers expanded the witches’ backstories, enriched the emotional beats, and even slowed down some of the music to draw out its depth. It doesn’t just recreate the stage show—it transforms it into a full cinematic experience. I’m obsessulated, as Glinda exclaims!
The musical’s Act I and Act II were reimagined into two separate films, each staying true to the original themes while expanding the characters’ backstories. Wicked focuses on Elphaba’s early life, her awakening, and the journey toward embracing her identity—culminating in her choice to rise above fear and prejudice. She claims her power and uses it for the greater good, even as the world twists her image into something villainous. Wicked: For Good shifts to Glinda, whose lifelong ambitions finally come to fruition, but not without sacrifice. The film explores the burden of maintaining a flawless public persona built on half-truths, and the painful reality of being pushed to uphold propaganda—especially when it means betraying the friend she loves most. And finally, the film develops Elphaba as she fully embraces and becomes the “Wicked Witch of the West”. It is a finale about hard choices and heartaches, and what it means to become fully good, and the sacrifices you make for a better tomorrow.
Image courtesy IMDb
Additionally—mini spoiler ahead, so skip this part if you don’t want even the tiniest detail revealed—I absolutely loved how the production honored Judy Garland’s legacy as Dorothy in the 1939 The Wizard of Oz. They paid tribute to her in the most respectful way by limiting her presence to glimpses: just her silhouette from behind and the iconic shoes. It lets the audience’s imagination fill in the rest, preserving the timeless image of the young girl we all remember.
And since we’re already on the topic of spoilers, here’s a small blessing from me: a peek into my interpretation of the two new original songs in Wicked: For Good. “No Place Like Home” feels like a spiritual prelude to Elphaba’s No Good Deed—a piece filled with raw emotion and humanity. No matter how difficult or painful our upbringing might have been, there’s always a part of us that holds an unconditional love for the place we came from, and a desire to protect it.
Meanwhile, Glinda’s “The Girl in the Bubble” plays like an extension of Thank Goodness. It dives deeper into her inner conflict—her carefully crafted image, the pressure to uphold it, and the dilemma of whether to continue the Wizard’s bidding or finally reveal the truth. These added songs enrich the narrative and highlight the nuanced gray areas of every character, blurring the line between good and evil in the best possible way.
Image courtesy IMDb
I must admit that I’ve never been a die-hard fan of any musical. I’m more of a straight-play performer than a musical kid, but this one cracked my heart open. Just thinking about it makes my eyes well up again—these flying monkeys keep chopping wicked onions every time. I hope someday I get to see Wicked on Broadway or the West End. And who knows—maybe I’ll even get a chance to audition and get cast someday, whether as a Munchkin or the girl in the bubble. A girl in the bubble can dream!
So I won’t gatekeep this. Go watch it and fall in love with it again—and again. Get dressed, get dramatic, and get yourself to Wicked: For Good, now showing in PH cinemas nationwide.
