ngelica Panganiban offers us our salvation!

Here's the real meaning of the term “photogenic”: Remember that hot chick's Friendster profile you've been stalking? Chances are, if viewed through real-life vision, her jaw-dropping bikini photos will reveal painstaking effort to such in her stomach and throw a supermodel grin, the caking makeup used to give the illusion of flawless skin and high cheekbones, and the many re-takes it took to achieve that one perfect Friendster mug.

In that case, we dare say that Angelica Panganiban is not photogenic. See, photogenic people appear stunning in photographs, regardless of how hideous they look in real life. These photo-friendly faces look nicer in two dimensions or, bluntly put, they seem more attractive in dull, flat surfaces, like a mere printed photograph or a paltry jpeg file. But as for our seventh anniversary muse here, a mere snapshot isn't enough to showcase how breathtakingly stunning she really is.

With all due respect to FHM's stellar cover shoot crew, Angelica is at her most beautiful without makeup and minus the flare of camera lights. You know those Magic Eye 3D photos where many awesome 3D stuff pop out when you stare at them for quite some time? Angelica's like that, too. If you gawk at her long enough outside the klieg lights and spend time with her beyond the dazzling hedges of showbiz, many wonderful things about her unfold freely before your very eyes.

These photos right here are exquisite beyond words, yes, but they only bare half of what makes Angelica the lovely young woman she's grown to be. They don't tell the story of how her passion for writing steered her toward an editorial stint at her high school newspaper-twice. Or that she's moved out of her mom's home because she felt the need to learn to do things apart from acting in front of the camera. Nor do they show how incredible she looks sitting alone on one end of a dining table, wearing her eyeglasses, hair tied back, and one leg propped up on her chair solving Sudoko Samurai puzzles.

Nevertheless, forget resorting to 3D glasses or making a diorama out of this rag only to have a more genuine Angelica Panganiban experience like we had during our shoot in Bohol. Besides, who the hell's to say she can't charm the FHM reader silly with just these sizzling snapshots and her candid interview?

It's been a long time coming, this shoot. What took you so long to say yes?

When Santa Santita was released, I was aware that you were already trying to invite me to pose. At the time, though, I felt that Santa Santita was enough to show people that I was ready to take on mature roles. Wala pa sa sistema ko ang mag-pose para sa men's magazine. To me, timing is very important. So ngayong ready na ako, si Mr. M [Johnny Manahan] na yung pinag-decide ko. Kung pumayag siya, go ako dahil kaya ko na.

Now that you've come out of your teenybopper shell with such aplomb, aren't you afraid of being typecast into sexy roles?

No. Alam ko rin naman na roon na ako papunta-sa lahat ba naman ng mga pinaggagawa ko, ha ha! Pero just as long as there's no nudity. Although personally, if it were up to me, this would be my last appearance in a men's magazine.

Do you feel pressured to maintain a certain image?

Actually hindi kasi mas nahirapan akong gawin yun nung bata pa ako. especially at the time na karamihan ng followers ko mga bata rin. Dapat lahat talaga ng mga kilos ko maayos.

So, you can now admit to having a crazy side?

Oo, baliw talaga ako, sobra, ha ha! Lumabas na siya ngayon! Makulit ako at sobrang gulo kasi halos lahat ng friends ko bading. Nahahwa tuloy ako sa pagiging maingay at magulo nila. Sometimes, I even talk like them when I'm being interviewed on television.

Are you more comfortable with guys and gays than girls?

Hindi naman. Game akong makipagkaibigan sa lahat. I'm not judgmental but I'm brutally frank. Kung friends tayo, asarawn lang tayo buong araw. Kung mapikon ka, matatawa lang ako.

At what point did you realize that you're no longer a child?

Some time last year. I was questioning myself. Soul searching, ika nga nila. I asked myself: Do I still love what I do? Kung okay oa ba yung buhay kong hindi ako nag-aaral? Bakit ang dali ng buhay ko na tuwing paggising ko may nakahain nang pagkain sa harap ko? I thought, would I live this way until I grow old? There was even a time na sobrang frustrated ako kasi hindi ko man lang maitupi yung damit ko nang maayos. I then realized that I wasn't young anymore; that I really had to learn how to be independent. Doon ko naisip na 20 years old na ako pero buong buhay ko, ang alam ko lang gawin ay umarte sa harap ng camera.

And now you're living on your own.

I told my mom that I really needed to do this, to help myself instead on relying on others to help me. She was very supportive and tinulungan pa nga niya akong maghanap ng condo. Paglipat ko, siguro it took me about three days just to fold my clothes and put them all in the cabinet. Until now I'm still adjusting.

Aside from folding clothes, what else have you learned in the six months of your newfound independence?

I'm beginning to learn how to cook. Una kong natutunang magluto ng corned beef. Marunong na rin akong mag-bake ng brownies—lasang sunog nga lang, ha ha. Tsaka adobong sobrang alat, ha ha!

What are the perks of living solo, though?

Walang curfew at hindi mo kailangan pagtiyagaan yung design ng bahay na pang-matanda, ha ha!

What do you do when it gets lonely?

I count the cars that pass by down the road from my window. And I now know that in Eastwood, 32 cars pass in a span of one minute. I also read a lot, play Sudoku, and watch DVDs.

Are you single?

I think so. Ha ha! Ewan ko, I'm still confused.

But you already experienced having a boyfriend when you were 13…

Ha? Wala! Never pa akong nagka-boyfriend! Sinong nagsabi sa inyo niyan? Ha ha, just kidding! Oo, 13 pa lang! Actually 12 pa lang ako noon going on 13.

How are the dynamics of such a tender boyfriend-girlfriend relationship?

Parang high school-love letters, magkabungguan lang nang konti yung mga kamay namin may electricity na, basta napaka-corny, ha ha! You think it's love but when you really think about it, all you had was a crush on each other. Pero ang maganda sa amin ni Carlo [Aquino], sinabi ko kaagad sa mom kong gusto ko nang magka-boyfriend. I didn't hide anything from her. Pero bantay-sarado kami noon, pag pumupunta kaming mall kasama mga pamilya namin. Nagabayan kami nang maayos.

What's the greatest lesson you've learned about relationships at such a young age?

A lot. One of them is to learn to respect yourself. And it's true na dapat talaga mahalin mo muna ang sarili mo. Kung hindi, magmumukha ka lang tanga sa relationship kasi okay ka lang nang okay sa lahat ng gusto niyang gawin.

And your take on rebound relationships?

I don't believe in having one. When I get hurt, I prefer to be left alone for a while. Lalabas lang ako pag naramdaman kong okay na ako.

Ever resorted to being a man-hater?

Hindi naman. Pero tinatanggap ko na lang yung reality na lahat ng lalaki iisa lang. Mambababae rin sila.

Sounds like you're open to having a cheating partner?

I still pray that there's one guy out there na dead na dead sa akin, na ako ang langit at lupa para sa kanya, na ang mundo niya umiikot lang sa akin. Pero ang chaka rin naman nun, parang walgn challenge, ha ha! Ito na lang, kung mambababae siya, wag lang in bed. Hanggang date-date lang. Anything beyond that, sampalan na talaga yun!

What does it take to tickle your fancy?

Basta I hate liars. If a guy does something wrong, aminin na lang niya kaysa magmukha akong tanga. Respeto lang ang kailangan ko sa akin, sa trabaho ko, sa pamilya ko, at sa mga kaibigan ko.

So, physical imperfections are all right?

Gusto ko yung lalalking may abs at maganda yung arms. Ayoko ng lalaking may beer belly!

But all men end up with beer bellies when they grow old!

It's okay if he develops its when he grows old. At least, na-develop ka na talaga sa kanya so mahal mo na siya talaga despite the beer belly. Isa rin sa requirements ko, dapat guwapo. Pag hindi siya guwapo, hindi ako magre-reply sa mga text messages niya, ha ha!

Is that your style of rejecting men?

I'm friendly, but when I feel that he's trying to pursue something else with me, I immediately shove him toward the “friend zone” kasi ayoko naman mawalan ng kaibigan.

You're Scorpio and Scorpios are said to be very intense. How passionate are you?

Ay sobra! Sobra akong magmahal, as in martir! Ako yung type na forgive and forget na, erase, erase, erase pa! I don't bear grudges although pag punung-puno na ako, sasabog na ako.

Ever been so pissed with those who cook up negative write-ups about you?

It's ironic nga na writing yung craft nila pero ginagamit nila para siraan yung ibang mga artista. I guess it's part of their job para na rin maging mas makulay ang showbiz. Sana lang wag na yung mga below-the-belt o kaya yung talagang makasisira na ng buhay o pamilya ng tao ang pinagsusulat nila.

Ever read a tabloid and guessed a blind item that was about you?

Lagi. Kasi ang dali naman nilang gumawa ng blind items, parang nananadya na. For example, “Isang artistang mala-anghel ang mukha…” Pag dun nagsimula ang linya, si Angel Locsin lang o ako ang maiisip na sagot. Ha ha!

What else do you want to achieve?

Marami! Gusto kong makapagtapos ng Journalism, makapag-aral ng pahotography, makapag-travel. Gusto kong magkaroon ng acting award. Ambisyosa talaga ako! Ha ha! Pero simple lang talaga ang mga pangarap ko.

Care to share them with us?

Some time ago someone asked me, “Anong mga pangarap mo?” Ang nasagot ko lang, “Hindi ko alam.” Naku, naiiyak ako bigla kasi pangarap ko lang naman talaga yung mabigyan ng magandang buhay yung family ko. Tapos tinanong ulit ako, “Eh yung para sa sarili mo?” Wala talaga akong maisagot. Kaya ko nililista sa Post-it yung mga simple kong pangarap-yung pagsakay sa jeep o MRT, at iba pa. pero kung itotodo ko mga goals ko, gusto kong mag-ara at magkabahay.

Can you picture yourself 10 years from now?

I want to get married. I want to travel with my husband and enjoy life bago kami magka-baby. I want around four kids. Sa showbiz naman, I will stay here hangga't masaya pa yung mga tao sa akin, may nanonood pa ng mga pelikula ko, at nagre-rate pa yung mga TV shows ko.

Speaking of TV, how'd you prepare for your teleserye Rounin?

Action ito so I trained for three months. Ako rin ang gumawa ng ibang mga stunts ditto. I play a superhero.

We heard you're doing a movie with Aga Muhlach—with a kissing scene to boot!

Oo, may kissing scene kami—hindi ko tatanggapin yung movie kung yung role ko ay anak ni Aga! Joke lang!

Who else are you willing to kiss onscreen?

Kahit sino, game naman ako. Kaya lang baka kina Direk Eddie Garcia o Sir Dolphy alangan na masyado, di ba? Baka hindi na maganda tingnan. Wala lang, naisip ko lang na baka hindi na kami bagay, ha ha!

Tell us about your days as a cheerleader.

Oo, nung high school cheerleader ako so medyo flexible ako. kahit ngayon sa wushu training namin for Rounin, ako yung pinakamabilis na mabali yung katawan. Kaya lahat ng bending kaya kong gawin!

Also, in high school, you were part of your student publication's editorial board. You were features editor, yes?

I was features editor when I was a junior and then the following year, I was associate editor. I even represented our school in writing competitions—although never akong nanalo, ha ha. Mahilig talaga akong magsulat. I devoted more time in our school paper than my academics kasi masaya talaga ako roon.

Do you still write?

Hanggang ngayon nagsusulat pa rin ako ng songs, poetry, at saka scripts. Since the sixth grade, hilig ko talaga yun. Malawak din yung imagination ko, so kahit anong inanimate object, kaya kong gawwan ng kuwento para mabigyan ng buhay.

Can you try to breathe life into FHM?

Paano ko naman siya bibigyan ng buhay eh buhay na buhay naman ang FHM! Ha ha!

If you were given the chance to be editor in chief of FHM for a day, what would you do?

Wag na lang. alam kong sobrang hirap ang trabahong yun! Ha ha!

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