Angelica Panganiban: Growing Up on Cam

By Valerie Tort

One of the prettiest faces in the Philippine movie and television scene, Angelica Panganiban, knocked down a couple of men’s magazines in her comeback to the showbiz industry.

Angelica was on the spotlight of the Philippine movie industry when the film Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa showed in theaters. Though the spotlight was nor harsh to her, she cannot enjoy the usual things a normal person does since she became a public figure at an early age.

“At first it was fun, but when I reached 10 to 12, I became envious of my normal friends. We lived in Tondo when I was a kid, so I was able to go to places like Divisoria and the like. But when I started acting, I was not allowed to go to those places anymore, especially after Princess Sarah. Everyone in the public would always call out, ‘Becky,’” Angelica said.

She did some television acting on Gmik sometime after her movie and confessed how the Philippine movie industry can be strict when it comes to physical appearance to the point of taking her out in the long-running teen show.

“They are taking me out of the show because I’m too fat. I was such a junk food junkie during those days. I had snacks inside the car which they called ‘Angelica’s store.’” But now, my body is used not to eat too much. I just have pig out days once a week. Then, there are days I go on a really strict diet and they call me kambing because I will only eat salad. I just eat tuna in water for pictorials like this,” she said.

To lose the stubborn weight, “I took up boxing but I stopped. I do not really like working out. I prefer badminton. Carlo used to go with me to the gym nung kami pa. When I tried to go alone, I felt conscious because people would stare. I would just end up in a sauna,” she said while giggling.

“Now, I’m really conscious about how I look. Before, you would just see me in shirts, jeans, and slippers or sandals. Now I wear skirts and dresses. My guy friends would tease me whenever I dress up since they knew me as a cowboy. They would always say, ‘Feeling mo, babae ka?’” she added.

She managed to be on and of the spotlight for a long time even if her weight became a culprit for her to bag few projects. Her life’s endeavors made her strong while maintaining her virtuous side at the same time.

Though her arresting beauty overpowered her talent and character as a person especially when she did sexy pictorials for men’s magazines, she went away of the stereotype of a woman in the Philippine movie industry—all beauty, little brain, and just a lady from a men’s magazine cover. It is her challenge to prove the people were wrong in thinking of a stereotype to associate with her since the daring photo shoots she had that revived her career not as a teeny bopper but as a young and talented star.

Gossips will always be a part of the Philippine movie industry. To combat the gossips about her regarding body issues, fake Ginebra San Miguel photos, and edited men’s magazine pictures, she made sure to answer the people with respect and giving them the truth, which they will also discover soon.

Teen star turned sexy, Angelica Panganiban “I’m really aware with the chismis about me,” said Angelica. “I’m not dedma or feeling hindi ko alam ang mga intriga about me. It’s okay for me to answer all of them. It’s better that way to settle the issues. What’s important is that all the answers came from me and not from somebody else,” she added.

Her virtues never run out of fuel to combust in her persona and radiated during interviews and press conferences. “One of them is let them know and see that you respect yourself,” the 20-year-old actress said. “There are also rumors that a dirty old man is after me and I’m taking that advantage to earn more money. Kahit sardinas o kahit wala na kaming kainin ng buong pamilya ko, hindi ako papatol sa kahit na sino, magkapera lang,” she added.

Since her schedule became hectic these days, she never forgets to connect with her friends once in a while even if she is busy with her tapings and other projects. She sets aside time to bond and catch up with them.

“On days when I do not have work, I wake up around two in the afternoon, take a shower, and then eat “breakfast”. If I know I’m free on a certain day, I plan what I’m going to do before that day and start calling up friends to see who’s free. So, my activities really depend on my friend’s availability. I rarely accept work on Saturdays because I hang out with my friends on that day. It is like a ritual…Heart and I also keep in touch. There is not a day when we don’t send text messages to each other. At madalas din kaming mag-usap sa celfone,” she said.

Angelica Panganiban’s soft and tough side was seen by her fans for a long time. She continued to bag projects, with her latest primetime show is Rounin. Angelica plays the role of Aura, who has a prohibited relationship with her fellow Rounin Luis Manzano, in the character of Juris.

Tags: Angelica Panganiban, Philippine Celebrities, Philippine Entertainment News, Philippine Showbiz