Frankie Pangilinan: Choosing her battles, owning her voice

Frankie Pangilinan—writer, advocate, artist, and daughter of two public figures—has never been one to stay quiet when it matters most. But in her first-ever exclusive interview on Fast Talk With Boy Abunda, she revealed a different kind of courage: the strength to pause, to reflect, and to choose when and how to speak.

Known for her bold opinions and vocal stances on social and political issues, Frankie was once a frequent firebrand on social media, unafraid to tweet about feminism, human rights, and accountability. But over time, netizens noticed a shift. Her posts became less frequent. Some assumed she had backed down because of the intense online bashing she often received. Frankie, however, was quick to clarify: it wasn’t fear, but self-awareness that made her recalibrate.

“I had to take a step back because I realized I was treating my Twitter like most people my age,” she explained. “But I’m not like most people my age.”

While her views remain as strong as ever, she now sees the weight her voice carries—especially given her lineage. “I didn’t want to be the mouthpiece of movements that I should be the mouthpiece for,” she said thoughtfully, signaling a newfound clarity in how she wants to engage with advocacy.

Frankie’s candidness laid bare a tension many public figures—especially children of celebrities and politicians—face: the struggle for personal identity amid public expectations. “Nagulat na lang po ako na ba’t naging ‘Kakie says’? Biglang all of the headlines [were like that],” she mused, describing how her words, even when echoed by many others her age, would become the subject of news stories. “I didn’t understand why I couldn’t be treated the same.”

To that, host Boy Abunda responded with a pointed truth: “Because you’re Kakie.”

And Kakie is indeed someone who won’t back down—not even when her own family is in the hot seat. Addressing criticisms hurled at her father, former senator Kiko Pangilinan, Frankie shared that defending him was never about blind loyalty.

“Inaaway ko po ‘yan actually tuwing may hindi po ako naiintindihan,” she said with a laugh, underscoring how accountability begins at home. She recounted how, as early as age 12 during the Pork Barrel scandal, she would anxiously check the papers each morning. “I was prepared to confront him,” she said. “That says something about the kind of house we were raised in. Our parents made sure that we could come to them for anything.”

For Frankie, defending her father doesn’t mean dismissing his faults—but trusting that their relationship was built on open dialogue, honesty, and mutual respect. “To some extent, definitely may bias,” she admitted. “But at the end of the day, it’s not blind defense.”

Frankie Pangilinan is choosing a different path—one of intentionality, introspection, and unwavering integrity. She hasn’t gone silent; she’s simply learned to speak with purpose.