Angelica Panganiban conquers her doubts in theater debut

Angelica Panganiban. Image: Courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines

Angelica Panganiban has always been interested in theater. Despite receiving offers to be part of theater productions, she had to make sure that she’s fully ready before diving into what she considered far from her comfort zone.

Panganiban is preparing for her theater debut in the upcoming play “Don’t Meow for Me, Catriona,” which is part of Virgin Labfest (VLF) 20: Hinog. The actress will be joined by Peewee O’Hara in a short play where Toni Go-Yadao and Ryan Machado serve as its director and writer, respectively.

“I have always been interested in theater. A lot of people have been asking me back then, but I wasn’t confident enough. But since I was able to rest for quite some time, I will focus on how to conquer my struggles, questions, and doubts,” she admitted to reporters during the festival’s media con.

“When I received the script, I thought, ‘Why not?’ I have to swallow my fears and doubts. I know that I’ll be bitter if I see someone portraying my character, instead of me,” she continued.

MEET THE CAST OF ‘DON’T MEOW FOR ME, CATRIONA’ 🐱

LOOK: Angelica Panganiban, who will make her theater debut in “Don’t Meow For Me, Catriona,” posed for a photo during the media con of “Virgin Labfest 20: Hinog” last May 28.

Panganiban was joined by her co-actress Peewee… pic.twitter.com/W2te4fEEbo

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 4, 2025

According to Go-Yadao, Panganiban received the offer to be part of the play while she and a friend were watching “Tatlong Upuan” at the Ateneo de Manila University. The actress confessed that she was initially uncertain about accepting the proposal since she thought that it wasn’t true.

“I wasn’t halfhearted while accepting it, but I initially thought that the offer wasn’t real,” the actress recalled.

Touching on the “Rubi” star’s theater debut, Go-Yadao is confident that the Virgin Labfest is the “perfect opportunity” for her.

“Virgin Labfest is the perfect opportunity [because the play follows a] shorter form and konti lang ang shows and actors, it’s a good opening for her to try it,” she said.

For the actress, one of the factors she realized throughout the process was “unlearning” a lot of things she knew about acting in film and TV.

“You would see that these are entirely different medium. You have different stamina.Makikita mo na magkaibang magkaibang medium [sila]. Ibang iba ang processing, iba ang stamina,” said Panganiban. “I’m not undermining my job in film and TV, but since I’m new to theater, I’m not too familiar with it. You have to fix yourself and perform.”

Apart from “Don’t Meow for Me, Catriona,” the plays included in Virgin Labest (VLF) 20 are “TBT: Takbo, Batang Tondo,” “Ang Bata Kag Ang Ilaga,” “Polar Coordinates,” “Minating ni Mariah ang Manto ng Mommy ni Mama Mary,” “Unang Araw,” “Presidential Suite # 2,” “Mga Magindara sa Siyudad,” “Ang Problema sa Trolley,” “The Late Mr. Real,” “Anniversary,” “Mommy G,” “Identite,” “Pagkapit sa Hangin,” and “Sa Babaeng Lahat.” /edv