In an interview with Boy Abunda last week, Angelica Panganiban told stories of how she found real friends in an industry where it is hard to look for one.
Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes star said that Glaiza De Castro, her friend of 15 years, gave her the kind of friendship that transcends the demands of their respective careers.
“Hindi na po ‘yon kaya ng network; ‘yung kahit na maglaban pa ‘yung network. Sabihin ng kontrata, hindi ka na pwede makipag-kaibigan kasi sa ibang network siya nagtatrabaho pero andoon kami sa level na, ‘Ay, sorry po eh ‘di hindi na lang ako mag-work,'” she said.
Panganiban is under Star Magic and works for ABS-CBN while De Castro is an artist in GMA, the former’s rival network.
The actress also said that she wants her friendship with De Castro to be seen as an example in the industry.
“Ang powerful niya kasi makikita ng ibang generations na, ‘Pwede pala ako makipag-kaibigan sa ibang artista. Hindi ko pala dapat isarado ‘yung mundo ko dito’ kasi iisa lang tayo eh. Lahat tayo artista. Hindi natin pwedeng lagyan ng bakod mga sarili natin, ‘yung ‘Ay! Taga-ibang network ‘yan. Wag na lang.’ Lahat tayo artista, lahat tayo isa lang ang goal sa buhay,” she said.
Panganiban also shared one of her most memorable experiences with De Castro which was when they went to Bhutan for her so-called “Quest for Happiness.”
“It is the happiest place on Earth. Ang pleasant-pleasant lang ng Bhutan… Naging perfect yung lugar para doon sa nararamdaman ko,” she said.
“Tapos parang ang laki ng mundo. Isipin mo ‘yung Bhutan, ang liit-liit lang niya. So parang, paano pa ako? Iyon country na ‘yon pero ako tao lang ako, eh ilan tayong tao? So parang, mag-ma-matter ba ‘yung problema ko? Hindi eh,” Panganiban, who was going through a recent breakup that time, said.
Panganiban and De Castro became friends when they first worked together in the youth-oriented show Berks in 2002. They were able to keep their friendship in all those years.
In a separate interview, De Castro also talked about their friendship: “Siguro dahil talagang kahit na tapos na ‘yung contract ko sa ABS-CBN before, o tapos na ‘yung show namin, we make it a point na nagkikita-kita pa rin kami outside work.
“So, na-maintain namin ‘yon dahil may effort ‘yung bawat isa na, let’s say sa mahahalagang chapters ng buhay namin, like ‘yung birthdays, o hindi lang ‘yon, kapag nararamdaman namin na, ‘A, kailangan kaming kausapin nito. Kailangan ng kausap nito,’ nandu’n kami para sa isa’t-isa,” the GMA actress added.
