Angelica Panganiban and Eugene Domingo: A friendship that deepens the truth of ‘UnMarry’
In ‘UnMarry,’ the chemistry between Angelica Panganiban and Eugene Domingo is not loud or theatrical — it is lived-in, layered, and deeply human
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Daily TribuneIn ‘UnMarry,’ the chemistry between Angelica Panganiban and Eugene Domingo is not loud or theatrical — it is lived-in, layered, and deeply human
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ANGELICA Panganiban and Eugene Domingo.
Photograph courtesy of quantum films/ig
‘UNMARRY’ cast with Tom Rodriguez, Zac Sibug, Angelica Panganiban, Zanjoe Marudo, Eugene Domingo, Nico Antonio and director Jeffrey Jeturian.
Some on-screen pairings feel effortless not because they are polished, but because they are honest. In UnMarry, one of the official entries of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival, Angelica Panganiban and Eugene Domingo bring years of shared history, trust and emotional shorthand — elements that cannot be manufactured, only lived. Joined by Zanjoe Marudo, the trio anchors a film that explores separation, love, and the quiet ache of letting go, without resorting to spectacle.
For Eugene Domingo, making UnMarry was unexpectedly emotional — not because of melodrama, but because of its restraint. Reflecting on the film, she explained why she found herself tearing up. “Alam mo yung paminsan-minsan, nakakagawa ka ng pelikulang maganda (You know how every now and then, you make a good movie),” she said. What moved her was the film’s sincerity. “Kasi, sincere lang sa mensaheng gustong ipalabas. Walang super-hype drama. Walang hysterics. It’s just telling a story that all of us can relate to.” At its core, the film mirrors a universal truth, she added: “Because all of us are capable of loving and losing a love.”
While UnMarry centers on the painful process of annulment, Eugene clarified that her emotions did not stem from personal heartbreak —but from empathy and timing. With characteristic humor, she quipped, “Talagang mababaw talaga ang luha ko ngayon. Kasi, menopause na ako” before adding, “Nakalaloka! Susunod na pelikula ko nga pala ‘yung tungkol naman sa menopause. Nakakaloka.” Still, she spoke candidly about how the subject matter resonates deeply. “Anyway, sa point na ito, I’m so happily married. I just got there. I married twice, but I’m a late bloomer.” Even so, the idea of annulment is not something she takes lightly. “So I cannot imagine myself reaching that point na magpapa-annul. It’s very painful, just the idea. Because you invested a lot of emotions.”
In the film, Eugene plays Atty. Jackie Lombridas, the lawyer who becomes both guide and witness to a couple’s unraveling. “But anyway, speaking of my role, my role is Atty. Jackie [Lombridas], and I’m the tool so that mai-present namin ang pinagdadaanan ng gusto magpa-annul (I’m the tool so that we can present what those who want to be),” she explained. “So as Atty. Jackie, ako ang magpepresenta. Eto ‘yung mga proseso, at sa opisina ko magkikita itong dalawang ito.”
The couple she refers to is played by Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo, portraying Celine and Ivan — two people forced to confront the reality of a love that no longer works.
Eugene described the film’s tone as both familiar and quietly humorous. “And so the situations are maybe familiar to all of us, na para kang pumupunta sa mga alam mo na, sa mga agencies, nangangailangan ng assistance sa legal procedures (And so the situations are maybe familiar to all of us, as if you go to those you already know, to agencies, needing assistance with legal procedures).”
What elevates these moments, she said, is how carefully they are handled. “The situations can be funny. And I’m very thankful to direk Jeff and to Chris [Martinez, scriptwriter] because they wrote very funny scenes but are not pushing.” Instead, the humor comes from recognition. “It’s just real and familiar and very Filipino and funny. And it’s really happening.”
Working again with director Jeffrey Jeturian was, for Eugene, a privilege. She praised his approach to performance and storytelling. “I really like how you give us the freedom to interpret our roles but not going overboard,” she said. “And I really appreciate the tone of our movie, which is very sincere.”
That sincerity is amplified by her long-standing bond with Angelica Panganiban. Eugene spoke about their relationship with affection and laughter. “Naku, kung it’s an honor for you, no, to do a film like this with Direk Jeff and everyone, ako, nasa akin talaga ‘yung honor and pleasure,” she said. “Kasi, una sa lahat, totoong may relationship na kami. Inaanak ko na siya talaga (Because, first of all, we are already in a real relationship. I am actually raising him).”
What began as fiction years ago became real life. “From Here Comes The Bride, where our souls changed and I was her godmother, yes! She really did take me as her godmother at his wedding.” She added jokingly, “Pero buti na lang, hindi nagpalit yung kaluluwa namin, at hindi ako ang naka-honeymoon ni Gregg [Homan]. Pasalamat ka! Oo, hindi nagkaroon ng ano, ano iyon? Soul-swapping at saka eclipse (But luckily, our souls didn’t swap, and I wasn’t the one on Gregg [Homan’s] honeymoon. Thank goodness! Yeah, there wasn’t anything, like that.”
As an actress, Eugene sees Angelica’s growth not in grand gestures, but in subtlety. “Ang liliit na ng mga bigay ni Angelica ngayon. Meaning, galing na talaga sa puso,” she observed. “Hindi na ‘yung parang acting na natutunan niya, ipinapakita niya sa mga serye (It’s not like the acting she learned, she shows it in the series).”
For Eugene, Angelica’s restraint makes her performance more piercing. “Ngayon, ‘yung mga ibinibigay niya, ay!!! Masyado nga minsang kimi.” She continued, “Pero konting galaw lang, konting mata, konting bibig, konting hinga — ano na, tagos na sa iyo.” To her, this depth is earned. “So, marami ka namang natutunan sa mga pinagdaanan mong pain.”
Angelica responded with humor of her own: “Sana naman, di ba?! Gamitin natin, pagkakitaan natin!” — a line that sent Eugene into laughter.
Angelica, for her part, spoke warmly about reuniting with Eugene on screen. “Nakakamangha! Palagi! Ang sarap panoorin,” she said.
What makes Eugene special, she explained, is her generosity. “But I told you, Ate Uge, she has a magic that won’t intimidate you. She’ll excite you.”
Angelica added, “Ang sarap, ang sarap, ang sarap niyang makatrabaho pa din. Ang sarap niyang panoorin. And of course, ang saya-saya namin sa set dahil sa kanya (It’s great, it’s great, it’s great to still work with her. She’s great to watch. And of course, we had so much fun on set because of her).”
Zanjoe Marudo echoed that sentiment, describing his scenes with Eugene as electric. “Nakaka-excite. Nakaka-excite gumawa ng scene. Parang alam mong may mangyayari, di ba? Nabasa mo na ‘yung script…”
Angelica laughed and jumped in, “Ha! Ha! Ha! Parang siya ang bahala pag kaeksena mo siya. Kaya niya iyan, siya ang bahala! (It’s like she’s in charge when you’re in a scene with her. She can do that, she’s in charge).”
Zanjoe agreed, noting the unpredictability that makes their scenes come alive. “The scenes seemed unpredictable even though we had rehearsed them. It was so much fun.”
In UnMarry, the chemistry between Angelica Panganiban and Eugene Domingo is not loud or theatrical — it is lived-in, layered and deeply human. Their friendship bleeds into their performances, grounding a story about endings in warmth, humor and truth. In a film about separation, it is their connection that reminds audiences what remains when love changes shape.
