Filipino-American singer and musical theater actor Gene Juanich has quietly built one of the more interesting cross-border careers in the Fil-Am arts community, moving from indie recording work in the Middle East to steadily growing theater credits in the New York tri-state area.
Juanich first gained attention as an indie artist while based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, releasing original songs and collaborations that circulated online. His catalog includes OPM-style tracks such as “Puso Ko’y Laan” and “Dahil Kapag Wala Ka,” now available on major streaming services.
After relocating to the United States, he continued to write and record, including “Pasko Pa Naman,” a holiday lovesong highlighted by Fil-Am organizers as among the first OPM Christmas releases by a Fil-Am singer on iTunes and Spotify.
As his recording work grew, so did his interest in musical theater.
In 2021, Juanich joined the ensemble of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella The Musical,” marking an early stage credit that would lead to a steady string of roles. The following year, he took on Tonton Julian in “Once on This Island,” a featured role that allowed him to blend acting and song in a story rooted in island folklore.
He stayed busy in 2023 with “Working – A Musical,” portraying Utkarsh Trujillo in the patchwork of characters whose stories explore the dignity and struggle of everyday jobs. By 2024, his résumé showed clear momentum: he returned to “Cinderella” in the ensemble and joined “Jesus Christ Superstar” as an apostle, adding a rock opera classic to his list of credits.
In 2025, Juanich’s theater calendar expanded further. He appeared in the ensemble of “42nd Street The Musical,” tapping into the show’s backstage Broadway energy, and played the Purser in “Anything Goes,” a role that showcased his vocals and comic timing in a Cole Porter favorite. Taken together, these productions trace his growth from ensemble member to more defined, character-driven parts across multiple companies.
Most recently, Juanich joined the cast of “Un Libro Abierto Seré: The Musical” (ULAS), performing at the Long Island Pinoy Festival, where the show formed part of a broader celebration of Filipino culture. For audiences, his presence connects professional musical theater craft with familiar community spaces and events.
If his stage credits underscore his versatility, TOFA’s theme music reflects his quieter influence behind the scenes.
Juanich composed the original TOFA anthem in 2021, introducing a unifying musical identity for the awards. As the program expanded globally the following year, the piece evolved into “Pride of the Philippines,” reflecting a broader celebration of Filipino excellence worldwide. Now recognized as TOFA’s global theme, the song has been performed in various iterations, including a 2023 solo version by Juanich and earlier renditions such as “Philippines Pride in America” at Carnegie Hall.
