Angelica Panganiban officially made her debut on the theater scene during the recent special preview of the dress and technical rehearsal of her play, Don’t Meow For Me, Catriona.
In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the award-winning actress shared how deeply she connected with her character in the one-act play.
“Siyempre sa relationship ng mother-daughter. Kung nandyan pa yung mother niyo at may chance pa kayo talaga na makasama siya, mabigay yung alaga na hinihingi niya parang bigay na lang natin. Siguro yun, yun yung tumatatak talaga sa akin,” Angelica expressed.
In Don’t Meow For Me, Catriona, Angelica plays Phoebe—fondly called Pebing by her mother—a devoted daughter accompanying her mom on a trip to Bicol. While waiting at the bus terminal, the two are forced to confront unresolved issues and long-standing family tensions.
Angelica also revealed the most challenging part of her first-ever venture as a stage actress.
“Pag every time magsisimula kami. Kasi siguro punong-punong ng kaba lang yung buong pagkatao (ko). Kaya parang gusto mo lang talaga mawala yung mga jitters, yung doubts mo, and yung takot mo na baka ma-mental block ako and everything and alam ko naman na pag nasimulan ko, it will flow na lang eh. And ang ganda-ganda kasi nung script niya na tama yung build-up para marating mo talaga yung hinihingi dun sa ending kaya yung kaba sa akin is always yung beginning,” she admitted.
The Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez of the Cultural Center of the Philippines was filled with laughter and heartfelt emotion as Angelica and her co-actress, Peewee O’Hara, brought to life the love-hate dynamic of a mother and daughter.
Angelica, known for her versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles, shared that she never sets out to make people laugh or cry with every portrayal she takes on.
“Ever since, hindi ko naman din ginu-goal na dapat matawa sila sa akin or dapat maiyak sila sa akin. Ang gusto ko lang, ang ginagawa ko lang talaga is pinagkakatiwalaan ko yung material na nagustuhan ko and ang gusto ko lang is maitawid sa audience kung bakit ko ginagawa yun di ba, kasi ibig sabihin, may nakita ako doon na maganda and gusto ko lang din iparating sa kanila yung message,” she expressed.
The Kapamilya premier actress also shared how much she learned from working with theater veteran Peewee O’Hara.
“Marami (akong natutunan sa kanya), pero isa doon yung confidence niya and yung experience na rin niya. She's a veteran pagdating sa aktingan, lalong-lalo na sa theater. So kapag minsan tinatakot niya ako na, tinatanong niya ako sa mga lines niya, (ang sagot ko) ‘Talaga? Tita Phoebe naman eh. Huwag ako yung takutin mo. Ako yung first-timer. Parang dapat ako yung sasandal sa'yo. Tapos, tatakutin niya ako, (sasabihin niya) ‘Hindi, totoo nga. Hindi ko talaga maalala.’ (Sabi ko sa kanya) Hala huwag kang ganun,” she recalled.
In the meantime, Angelica, who recently made her television comeback with a role in Maalaala Mo Kaya, shared the lessons she learned in theater that she plans to apply to her future acting roles.
“Siguro yung proseso na meron sila, yung oras na meron sila para talagang mag-take time, himayin yung bawat ginagawa or yung bakit mo kailangan i-deliver ng ganitong klase yung isang linya. Kahit yung ganun lang kasimple, parang malaki pala yung impact niya,” she said.
Don’t Meow For Me, Catriona is part of the lineup for the 20th anniversary of the Virgin Lab Fest, titled Hinog. It will run from June 11 to 29 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.