The December 11 episode of Kapamilya Chat reunited fans with Eugene Domingo, Angelica Panganiban, and Zanjoe Marudo as they promoted their 51st Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “UnMarry.” Set to be among the realistic and reflective films in the official lineup, it delicately explores the untold struggles and complexities of marriage and annulment in the Philippines.
With this as another substantial addition to their already lauded filmography, the episode took a turn by bringing the artists back to their previous works in the “Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue” segment.
As clear-cut as it seems, the trio was presented with three of their films to label as “old,” “new,” “borrowed,” and “blue.” The first to do so was the Hugot Queen, Angelica Panganiban, with her 2014 rom-com hit “That Thing Called Tadhana.”
Angelica emphasized that this is probably “blue” for her, especially since she still cannot completely let go of it. The film became iconic and helped her establish a strong working relationship with director Antoinette Jadaone.
Coming in second was her 2012 romantic-drama film with Zanjoe, “One More Try,” which had the actress second-guessing how to define it, as it had been such a blissful acting experience for her. She eventually chose to label it as something “new,” particularly because of director Ruel Bayani’s style, which prompts actors to improvise their own lines. Through this challenging method, Angelica created noteworthy lines such as: “Ang pera natin, 'di basta-bastang mauubos, pero ang pasensya ko, konting-konti na lang.”
Closing out her list was another Filipino rom-com classic with the renowned and timeless Kapamilya heartthrob Piolo Pascual, “Every Breath U Take.” Without a doubt, the actress tagged the film as “old,” specifically noting how young she looked at the time and giving praise to the one and only Papa P.
“Kailangan lahat ng babae maramdaman na maging leading lady ni Piolo Pascual. Kapag nangyari ‘yun, you’ve made it,” she added.
Zanjoe was also no stranger to romantic comedies. For his 2007 feature in “You Got Me!” alongside Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga, he fondly categorized it as “old.” The film marked his first acting stint coming shortly after he placed fourth in “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 1.”
For “My Illegal Wife,” in which he co-starred with Pokwang, he affectionately identified it as “blue,” citing its light-heartedness and hilarity as qualities that would be hard to move on from.
Rounding out his acting roles is the screwball comedy film “Bromance: My Brother’s Romance,” in which he played twin brothers with different sexual orientations making it a “new” experience for him.
Eugene placed a “blue” seal on her unforgettable role in the “Ang Tanging Ina” franchise, where she became known as “Pambansang Best Friend.” These films also served as the foundation for her long-time, close-knit connections.
In 2009, she scored her first leading role in the celebrated comedy film with Zanjoe, “Kimmy Dora,” a “new” journey that set her on the path to becoming a box-office star.
Finally putting a bow on her cinematic portfolio is another undeniable “blue” production, “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank.” This remains one of her most well-received works, even becoming the Philippines’ official entry to the 2011 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film.
“Hindi ko talaga ma-let-go and I’ll do it again, this time for the theater,” she shared,
Unravel what makes “UnMarry” a must-watch as it premieres in Philippine cinemas this December 25.