Among the most closely watched races at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival is the Best Actress category—an honor widely regarded as one of the most difficult to win. For UnMarry lead star Angelica Panganiban, the prestige of the award is matched only by its unpredictability.

“Mahirap masungkit ang MMFF,” Panganiban admitted candidly, reflecting on the competitive nature of the festival. Despite being hailed as one of the most versatile actresses of her generation, the award has so far eluded her—an irony not lost on the actress herself.

Responding to growing talk that UnMarry could finally earn her the coveted trophy, Panganiban offered an honest, almost self-aware take. “Hindi ko masagot. Marami na rin akong pelikula na nagawa for MMFF. Sabi ko nga, ‘Always a nominee but never a winner.’ Parang may ganoon na akong pakiramdam,” she said.

Still, there is a quiet sense that this year might be different. In UnMarry, Panganiban delivers a deeply internalized performance that leans on emotional restraint rather than grand gestures—something many critics believe plays to the strengths of MMFF jurors. For the actress, however, the role already feels like a victory in itself.

“Kung ibibigay, masaya. Nag-comeback ka at pinaghirapan mo,” she shared. “Tapos luluwas ka ng Olongapo to Manila. Kung ibibigay — siguro — gaganahan ka uli.”

Her words point to the physical and emotional demands behind the project, which required repeated travel and sustained commitment—no small feat for an actress who has been selective with film work in recent years.

Yet even without a trophy, Panganiban remains at peace with the outcome. “Pero kung hindi, masaya pa rin ako at nakagawa ako ng magandang pelikula. That’s enough,” she said, underscoring a maturity shaped by years in the industry.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she added with a laugh, “Kung hindi best actress, box-office na lang. Mas gusto yata namin ‘yun ni attorney (Joji Alonso).”

UnMarry marks Panganiban’s first MMFF appearance since 2012’s One More Try, and her decision to return was far from automatic. She revealed that many earlier offers failed to spark her interest.

“No offense naman sa mga ibinigay sa aking script noon na nag-aaya sa akin na bumalik na sa movies,” she explained, “pero parang wala talaga siyang lukso ng dugo. Hindi nakaka-comeback ‘yung dating niya.”

With a quieter personal life now, the actress said it took something truly special to pull her back into the demanding world of filmmaking. “Tahimik na kasi [ang] buhay ko ngayon so kailangang pakitaan ninyo ako at sabihin ko na, ‘Ay sandali. Ang ganda nito. Luluwas talaga ako para rito.’”

She added that UnMarry was the kind of project she had been waiting for—one that refuses to let go. “Kailangan ko talaga ‘yung nanggigigil ako sa project. ‘Yung tipong hindi ka makakatulog. Kumbaga ‘pag pinalampas ko ito, parang manghihinayang ako. ‘Yun ang hinihintay kong project.”

Produced by Joji Alonso, Gilmer Roque, and Min Bernardo under Quantum Films and CineKo Productions, with a screenplay by Therese Anne Cayaba and Chris Martinez and direction by Jeffrey Jeturian

Whether or not the MMFF Best Actress trophy finally finds its way to Angelica Panganiban, her return—marked by honesty, effort, and artistic conviction—has already made one thing clear: this is a performance born not from ambition alone, but from purpose.