Gab Pangilinan, in her own words

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Gab Pangilinan talks about the people and events that have influenced her, leading to her debut concert at BGC Arts Center this February 14.

(Last part)

We continue to lend the space to theater royalty Gab Pangilinan, who embarks on her very first solo concert at the BGC Arts Center via “Gab Pangilinan in Concert, This Is Not a Musical” on February 14.

Gab’s romance with music started at an early age.

“My parents (and relatives!) have always been musical people. I was exposed to the classics at a very young age. Mom would take me to every Lea Salonga performance when she was here – we saw her Broadway concert, ‘Miss Saigon,’ ‘Cinderella,’ ‘They’re Playing Our Song.’ But also, constantly being around theater people heavily influenced me, as well. My workshop classmates who were part of blueREP that inspired me to go to Ateneo, one of them was Caisa Borromeo, a theater actor I’ve always looked up to but also who I’ve grown to become really good friends with. In ‘High School Musical,’ some members of the cast were Kakki Teodoro, Nelsito Gomez, Sam Concepcion – all of whom are creating their own waves and making their own marks in the industry today.

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Gab Pangilinan

“Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, Maronne Cruz, SabJose were just some of the girls I worked with in ‘Clowning Around’ who pursued their theater careers before me, and just seeing that friends and contemporaries could do it made me believe that maybe I could do it, too. And of course, there’s Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Sheila Francisco, women I have always been inspired by since my teen years and also whom I learn so much from just by being in the same room as them.”

Gab reflects on the challenge of staying disciplined and in top physical form in the path she chose.

“Because we use and need our bodies to perform, one of the greatest challenges is staying disciplined and staying in top form at all times. It’s really about getting to know and listening to your body and not taking it for granted. There was a time that I overworked myself to the point of getting hospitalized during tech week (a theater actor’s worst nightmare!)- I really had to assess what I was doing wrong and where I could improve on in terms of lifestyle.

“It goes without saying that the biggest challenge any performing artist had to face was the pandemic. The theater industry was thriving in 2020, most of the friends and colleagues I knew were booked for the entire year.  But when the world stopped, it made me question everything, who l was outside of theater, what my other possibilities were. I started looking for myself outside of the theater actor. In a way, it’s what also pushed me to become one of the founders and producers of Barefoot Theatre Collaborative.”

Gab continues to look forward to telling more stories and working with other artists, including her best friends.  

“Right now, I’m grateful to have worked with different theater companies through the years. I hope to be able to tell more stories, different stories through musicals and plays. Yes, I hope to do more straight plays if given the chance. Where do I want to go? To be honest, I don’t know. I just know that I am happy to be able to do what I love for a living. I’m so proud to be a full-time theater practitioner and I hope one day that would be sustainable enough for those who choose this field. Right now, I am and have been open to possibly doing more screen projects if the right story or project comes along. One of my favorite projects ever was for a digital series under D5 Studio, called Forever Sucks. We lasted for 3 seasons andif may wishlist man, I hope to be able to do something like that again one day. Suntok sa buwan, libre naman mangarap, people say I always end up doing heartbreaking roles, so sana magka-romcom series o play o film naman! But again, not closing doors to any possibilities.

“Dream collaborators? Too many to mention! Top of mind, I want to be directed by Guelan Luarca, Caisa Borromeo, and Nelsito Gomez (in a non-Shakespeare play haha). I hope to work with new companies like Mad Child Productions. Super dream ang magka-play with my best friends in the industry: Teetin Villanueva and Gold Villar Lim. I hope to originate more roles, sana makapag-Virgin LabFest at Cinemalaya, and I want to learn more when it comes to film and the big screen. Many dreams, many possibilities!

“People always tease me that I don’t know what I want but I know exactly what I don’t want. I am privileged to even be in a position where I get to choose what projects to take on. (Is this real life?!) I always love working with new people, but I also love being able to work with people I’ve grown to love and trust. Theater has always been about community and aboutbeing a teamplayer. The only standard for me there is as the people involved are teamplayers and as long as they are there to do good work and tell good stories, I’ll trustthat I’m in good hands.”

What Gab values are the work, the story, and the people involved. As a person, she finds joy in the creative process and the love in the connections with others.

“What really matters to me? As an artist: The work. The story. The people. As a person: The joy that comes with the work. The truth that comes with the story. The love that comes with the people.

“What brings me happiness? Much like my young self just happy to be a part of the workshops, I am just happy to be here. All I ever wanted was to be a part of the industry in any shape or form because of how much I love the craft. All I hoped for was to be able to just keep doing the work and to be able to sustain myself in the long run. If I get to do that for the rest of my life : To tell stories for the rest of my life with people who love storytelling just as much, l’m set.”

For her supporters and friends, Gab says: “To all of you reading this and supporting me in whatever way, for whatever reason that brought you here, thank you for being here. For why you stayed after all these years, thank you. If you are a new supporter to the theater, thank you for giving it a chance. I may not be able to show or express my love and appreciation through words, but know that everything I do and every project I take on, I do it to the best of my abilities for the craft we all love. The stage door gifts, the heartfelt message, the flowers, the stickers, the friendship bracelets, the art- I am in awe of your hearts and your effort and I continue to be inspired by you. Thank you. (And if you are in my IG broadcast channel, a special shout out to my braincells!)

“Speaking of being open to new opportunities, I am intentionally ridding myself of impostor syndrome, and I’m beginning 2025 with this – ‘Gab Pangilinan in Concert: This is Not a Musical.’ A celebration of the musical theatre-filled decade that was and all that has yet to come. No, this is not another musical. For the first time ever, allow me to serenade you with music that has both shaped and saved me. In this evening, let’s revisit some of the roles I’ve done through the years and also put a spotlight on the people that have helped me become who I am today. I hope to see you on February 14, 2025 at the BGC Arts Center.”

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