Actress Angelica Panganiban shared that returning to showbiz after taking time off has been a fulfilling and worthwhile decision, as she now balances life as a mother, wife, and performer.
In her interview on ‘Oh My Gan’, Panganiban described her comeback as both busy and rewarding, following her projects ‘UnMarry’ and ‘The Silent Noise’.
“Well, naging busy since ginawa ko yung ‘UnMarry’ mid of last year of 2025. Nagdire-diretso na siya hanggang nag-promote kami noong Pasko. So it’s a working holiday for me. And then right after that, sinimula namin yung ‘Silent Noise.’ Kaya medyo walang break,” she shared.
Despite the demanding schedule, the actress expressed excitement about being back at work after focusing on her family.
“Of course, I’m very happy dahil matagal-tagal naman din ‘yung pahinga ko. Kaya nung nakabalik ng work… lagi lang akong excited,” she said.
Panganiban admitted that returning to acting as a first-time mother came with challenges, including experiencing what she described as “mom brain.”
“Nung naging mom ako, parang ang dami ko laging nakakalimutan. Parang ako laging lutang. May mom brain. Parang ang foggy mo lang,” she explained.
To test herself, she also ventured into theater through the Virgin Lab Fest.
“Yes. Siguro kaya ko talaga kinonsider mag-theater. Gumawa ako ng ‘Virgin Lab Fest’ noong June of last year kasi gusto kong subukan kung kaya ko pa ba,” she said.
The actress said that over time, she regained her confidence.
“And then, nung ginawa ko yung ‘UnMarry,’ nung ginawa ko ‘tong ‘Silent Noise,’ kahit papano, hindi na ganun kagrabe ‘yung kaba ko. Dahil, parang it’s like riding a bike,” she added.
Beyond her professional life, Panganiban opened up about her personal journey into motherhood, including experiencing what she believes were “mommy blues” after giving birth to her daughter.
“Noong pagkapanganak ko kasi nagkaroon ako ng feeling ko, depression yata yung tawag doon, dahil feeling ko tumigil yung mundo ko,” she said.
She described how the transition from a busy showbiz career to a quieter life at home initially felt overwhelming.
“For the longest time, yung job ko is maingay eh. Nasa harapan ako ng mga tao. Nasa limelight ako. Center of attention ako. Then, nung naging nanay ako, biglang nag-shutdown,” she shared.
Panganiban admitted she struggled to process the change at first.
“Parang ‘what’s next for me?’ Then none. Wala. Ito ka. Ito ka na,” she recalled.
She also revealed that she initially hesitated to ask for help.
“Nahiya ako magtanong kahit sa friends ko, kahit sa mama ko. Kasi feeling ko maja-judge ako,” she said.
Throughout this period, she credited her husband, Gregg Homan, as her biggest source of support.
“Yeah, sobra niyang present sa mga panahon na ‘yun. Sa sobrang supportive niya, pinakinggan lang niya talaga yung nararamdaman ko,” she said.
Homan also encouraged her to return to acting after noticing the emotional toll of staying at home for too long.
“Bago ako bumalik sa acting, may mga parinig na siya na, ‘Balik ka na kaya mag-work?’ Kasi parang ako nababaliw sa bahay,” she revealed.
According to Panganiban, returning to work helped lighten her emotional burden.
“Nung nakabalik ako ng work, nakita niya dahan-dahan na nababawasan yung heaviness ko,” she said.
Now, the actress says she feels more empowered embracing multiple roles in life.
“Magical. Parang nakakatuwa na ipakita na ito ‘yung kapasidad ng isang babae. Kaya mo lahat. Kaya mong gawin lahat,” she said.
She added that she has become more intentional in choosing projects, ensuring they align with the fulfilling life she has built.
“Kasi ang sarap na ng buhay na meron ako ngayon. Fulfilling na siya eh. Fulfilling ‘yung buhay bilang isang nanay for me,” she said.
“So para magulo niya ‘yung buhay mo,’ yung balance na meron ako, gusto ko worth it talaga siya. Gusto ko uwi ako ng bahay na busog din ako,” she added.
Panganiban is currently starring in ‘The Silent Noise’, which she described as one of the most challenging and rewarding projects of her career.
