It’s been four years since Angelica Panganiban was seen on the big screen after headlining the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Love or Money with Coco Martin. This year, she finally returns to acting in director Jeffrey Jeturian’s romantic drama UnMarry which reunites her with longtime friend and colleague Zanjoe Marudo. During the pictorial for the film, Angelica shared what made her say yes to going back to the limelight again.
“Siguro unang una yung tiwala sa mga makers nung film. Yung nagsulat, and sa mag-di-direct ng pelikula. Kasi nung nakatrabaho ko si direk Jeff para akong laging nasa isang safe space. Sobrang ganda nung rapport na na-build namin nung ginawa namin yung Playhouse with Zanjoe din. So nung prini-present sa akin ni direk Jeff, hindi ko pa alam yung story, kabado na ako kasi alam ko na mukhang mapa-oo ako kahit anong mangyari. And then nung narinig ko na yung kuwento, yung simplicity nung story niya but at the same time very complex. Ang ganda ganda nung atake, nung storytelling, na hindi siya nanghihingi ng kahit anong bigness, ng kumbaga, hindi ito yung typical na napapanuod natin na love story na sobrang daming bangayan, awayan. Ang tahi-tahimik nitong pelikula. Ang tahimik ng atake ng storytelling niya,” she said.
The UnMarry star also explained how the film is unlike the other movies about family relationships she has made in the past like One More Try and The Unmarried Wife.
“That is why nakikita ko yung maturity na ganito naman talaga sa totoong buhay eh, hindi naman kayo lagi nagbabalitaktakan kapag may pinagdadaanan kayo eh. Minsan yung pinakamasakit na experience, nangyayari siya sa pinaka-simple at tahimik na pangyayari sa buhay mo. Mas doon mo nararamdaman yung realness. So dun ako na-excite. Doon ko nakita na hindi ito yung typical film na nagawa ko na, kahit na tungkol pa rin siya sa love, tungkol pa rin siya sa ending, tungkol pa rin siya na si Angelica nasaktan na naman dito, yung ganun. Pero ibang klaseng pananakit naman (laughs). Ibang atake,” she added.
READ: Angelica Panganiban reflects on her theater debut: ‘Nagkaroon ako ng bagong respeto sa sining’
Looking back on her first day of shooting UnMarry, Angelica admitted she still had a period of adjustment.
“Of course, hindi maiwasan kabahan, parang nangangapa sa umpisa dahil nag-iba talaga yung takbo ng buhay eh. Naging mas totoo eh. Ang dami kong naramdamang totoo lang sa life sa past three years sa buhay ko so nung babalik ka sa mga make believe and sa kumbaga, may mga emotions kang hinahalungkat, kakaibang experience pa rin talaga siya. High pa rin naman. Ang sarap pa rin sa pakiramdam kapag nagagawa mo ang isang bagay na you are very passionate about. But at the end of the day, pagod but fulfilled ang pakiramdam,” she recalled.
With the film officially announced as part of this year’s MMFF lineup, Angelica shared that before she made the decision to accept the project, she already knew that it also meant sacrificing time during the holiday season. She also admitted that her return to the MMFF will be something new for her husband Gregg Homan to adjust to.
When asked if they had already made any plans for Christmas and New Year, Angelica candidly replied, “Wala! (laughs). Wala, ganun talaga eh. Nung tinanggap ko naman ito, medyo napapikit ako dahil sabi ko kung makakapasok nga ito ng Metro Manila Film Fest, hindi na naman ito bago sa akin. Pero bago ito sa asawa ko so ikakagulat niya talaga. Pero well, ngayon malalaman na niya kung ano yung ibig kong sabihin di ba?”