In the heart of Manila’s ever-thrumming theater scene, a familiar name is returning to center stage—but this time, with a bass guitar slung over his shoulder and a mission to embody a legend.
David Ezra, actor, singer, son of OPM royalty, has been cast as Pinoy rock icon Mike Hanopol in “Jeproks: The Musical,” the upcoming production from Tanghalang Una Obra.
Ezra is no stranger to the stage. A seasoned theater actor and the son of the powerhouse vocalist Dulce, he carved his own path in the industry long before stepping into Hanopol’s well-worn boots.
His breakout moment came when he portrayed Emilio Aguinaldo in “Mabining Mandirigma,” a performance that, as he puts it, “was a big blessing to me. It was one of my stepping stones towards my true calling.”
From there, his star only rose. Ezra won Best Actor in a Musical for his title role in “Aurelio Sedisyoso: A Rock Sarswela,” proving he could carry not just a tune, but a nation’s history, rebellion, and rhythm on his back.
But even with such accolades, the shadow of legacy loomed. “Mahilig na ako sa music bata pa ako,” he recalls. “Pero I used to avoid singing in public fearing of being compared to my mom. It’s hard to keep up with her legacy. But don’t get me wrong. She’s one of a kind and I’m forever grateful that she’s my mom.”
A Music Education graduate majoring in Voice from the University of Santo Tomas, Ezra even spent a stint at Hong Kong Disneyland during the pandemic—one of many performers finding stages wherever they could in the dry spell of live entertainment.
Back in the thick of it, Ezra recently appeared in “Little Shop of Horrors” and made waves in the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Isang Himala.”
“Musical theater is what I missed most here in Manila,” he admits. “But I’m also open to doing movies. So yeah, as long as there are roles for me, I will be doing them.”
His next role might be the most electric yet. In “Jeproks: The Musical,” Ezra channels Mike Hanopol, the rocker-priest and iconoclast whose raspy anthems scored a generation’s rebellion.
“I’m so honored, grabe,” Ezra says. “I used to sing his songs back in college while I was in a rock band so, to be doing this—it’s like I’ve come full circle.”
Songs like “Laki Sa Layaw” were the soundtrack of his childhood. “I am super familiar with that song because I’ve been hearing it ever since I was a kid,” he says. But it’s “Balong Malalim” that hits him in the gut. “Like Sir Mike, I am also a rock guitarist so I like blues and rock-influenced songs.”
Why tell Hanopol’s story now?
“It is always important to tell stories of our icons,” Ezra says. “Sir Mike is one of the pillars of Philippine rock and roll. Telling his story to the younger generation is very important. The new generation should understand where all the rock influences they listen to today came from.”
Presented by The Hammock Production Inc. and Twin Bill Theater, “Jeproks: The Musical” will feature 15 of Hanopol’s classic songs. The show runs November 20–23 and 27–30 at the GSIS Theater, J.W. Diokno Boulevard, within the CCP Complex.
