CEBU, Philippines — Angelica Panganiban shared that her decision to no longer accept teleserye assignments was one she ruminated lengthily on.
“Hindi naman kasi na overnight ko lang pinag-isipan. Kumbaga hindi ko inisip na, ‘Ay may presscon bukas gagawa nga ako ng pasabog. Gawa nga ako ng ingay.’ Before getting to that point, there were a lot of considerations,” the actress said when asked if she hasn’t changed her mind during the farewell presscon of what will be her final soap, “Walang Hanngang Paalam.”
“Bago ko naman talaga tanggapin ang ‘Walang Hanggang Paalam,’ I was already in that stage where okay na ako if ‘Playhouse’ which I did with Zanjoe [Marudo] would be my last television project, masaya na ako. Gusto ko ng iwan ng ganoon. Of course the pandemic happened and sino ba naman ako para tumanggi sa trabaho samantalang ang daming nanghihingi ng trabaho diba?”
In accepting her last television series, she had to weigh the risks, and while she does not regret saying yes and taking over the role from Julia Montes, Angelica feels she has nothing more to prove. The Kapamilya star, who has admitted to be in a relationship with a businessman, said it’s about time she focused on another chapter of her life.
“I considered of course that we will be placed in a bubble and the shoot was July to December. Lock-in, iuuwi, pabalik balik lang kami. So it was a big risk and it was a new experience for everyone. After I experienced lock-in, that’s when I was fully convinced na siguro nga last na ito kasi yung pagod na pwede ko pa itrabaho 50 years from now, naibigay ko na sa show na ito. Yung bandang dulo, wala na akong maipatak na luha. Gusto ko na turuan ng tricks yung luha ko.”
Still, she’s not entirely closing her doors. “Ayoko magsalita ng tapos. Malay mo 20 years from now I will have an irresistible offer. Kung kaya kung lunukin yung pride and paninindigan ko, wala naman siguro mawawala sa akin. But for now my decision remains the same. Kasi for almost 30 years eto lang yung ginawa ko. Kalahati ng buhay ko, gusto ko naman ibigay sa sarili ko…deserve ko siguro magpahinga pagdating sa paggawa ng teleserye.”
Fans need not fret as Angelica is still keen on doing movies. There are many offers lined up, in fact, only the pandemic has made planning them a go-and-see affair.
“Napakahirap mag-develop ng projects with the situation now,” she said “There are exciting projects – exciting kasi hindi ko rin alam kailan maisasakatuparan.”