MANILA — At 24, Atasha Muhlach is already ticking off some of the dreams she once only imagined, from taking on the coveted role of Annie Batungbakal in “Bongga Ka ’Day!” to being named the youngest recipient of People Asia magazine’s Women of Style and Substance 2026 award.
For Muhlach, the recognition is another milestone in a year sh e describes with gratitude, especially as she continues to find her footing as a performer.
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Atasha Muhlach at People Asia magazine’s Women of Style and Substance 2026. Handout
“I feel very, very honored and very blessed,” said Muhlach, after receiving her Women of Style and Substance 2026 award from People Asia magazine on Tuesday night. She was the youngest in the batch of 11 awardees.
“I feel nothing but gratitude about this recognition,” added Muhlach. “This is another dream-come-true getting this award. Living in this present moment, I am so grateful. This is something that I didn’t expect.
To receive something like this is something I will treasure forever. I want to really say I am living my dream right now. The person I am today and way that my parents brought me up, I have nothing but gratitude to my parents.”
The 24-year-old Muhlach is the eldest of twin children of actor Aga Muhlach and beauty queen-actress Charlene Gonzalez. The award came as she essays her coveted role of Annie Batungbakal in the Hotdog musical, “Bongga Ka Day,” now being staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
Annie Batungbakal is such a “full circle moment” for her. She performs four times a week. Although she has an understudy, she has yet to utilize her.
“In cases of emergency or something that will happen that we don’t expect, maybe she will come in,” she said.
“I’m just so thankful that I was able to experience this and to be with a group of people who have taught me nothing but kindness, support and love. There are so many things to learn from.”
Muhlach is thankful to see the people who supported her from Day 1 when she stepped into her role as Annie Batungbakal until now. “I’m very thankful for all the positivity and all the angels in this journey,” she said. “I’m just very happy to see the people’s reactions. To see the audience clapping, cheering and screaming. That is all I can never ask for. That is really why I want to do Annie Batungbakal in the first place.
“Seeing my family watching and seeing the crowd’s reaction and just to focus on the good and see all the positivity behind it, all the support and all the love. That’s really what I'm super, super happy. To make people smile. That’s it.”
Muhlach’s dad, Aga, was confident when his daughter was performing that she would deliver. “I think it was because he saw all my sacrifices, the work that went on behind the scenes, the amount of time and effort I put to this project,” she said. “For him to see all that. It was nice to see my dad from the audience giving his thumbs up sign and smiling. I felt his encouragement.”
She was grateful to see her parents beaming with pride while the young Muhlach was onstage. “I’m just very, very grateful to have such supportive parents who always encouraged me to go after my dreams,” Muhlach said. “They remind me the importance of hard work.”
Her brother, Andres, has yet to see her Annie Batungbakal performance. “He is in Spain where he went on a biking tournament,” she disclosed. “Once his schedule frees up, he will see me very, very soon.”
Awardees Atasha Muhlach and Shiela Valderrama. Leah Salterio
Meanwhile, another Women of Style and Substance awardee was theater actress and singer Shiela Valderrama, who delivered the entertainment numbers for the evening -- “Defying Gravity” and “Journey To the Past.”
Valderrama surprised everybody who saw her with her lean frame after losing 25 pounds. She disciplined herself after cutting carbs from her diet and even her midnight snacks.
“It took a while,” Valderrama stressed. “During the pandemic, I lost it slowly since then. Up to now, I’ve been going to the gym four or five times a week. What was effective for me was when I switched to a coach who helped me. I did weightlifting and full-body exercises.”
She also has a meal plan. She shifted to shirataki and avoids eating a lot. “I avoid sweets, although I’m not really fond of sweets. I avoid snacking at night. I love eating chips even at night. I had to stop that specifically.”
Valderrama is presently in the cast of the musical “Sayaw ng mga Ilaw,” by playwright Juan Ekis with a rousing score by Krina Cayabyab at the CCP’s Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. At the helm is Jonathan Tadioan. It runs until October 11.
She will also have a pre-Christmas concert at the Spotlight Theater at Circuit PowerMac Makati on November 29, with Arman Ferrer, Nyoy Volante, Mikki Volante, Gian Magdangal and Lara Maigue.
Women of Style and Substance 2026 awardees. Stargate People Asia/Facebook
Other awardees in the Women of Style and Substance 2026 were Rappler executive editor Glenda Gloria, mayor of Alcala, Cagayan lawyer Tin Antonio, head of design at SM Prime Holdings Jessica Sy, Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez, CEO of LMT Packaging Corporation Shyla Tan, astrophysicist and scientist Dr. Reinabelle Reyes, chef Quenee Villar and medical specialist Dr. Nelda Eufemio. International Olympic Committee board member Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski was unable to attend.