Rochelle Pangilinan on criticism, courage, and SexBomb legacy

Long before nostalgia reframed them as pop culture icons, the SexBomb Girls were fighting battles far bigger than choreography. At the height of their rise, the all-female dance group found themselves scrutinized, blamed, and misunderstood—an experience their leader Rochelle Pangilinan now revisits with clarity and calm.

In a recent conversation with broadcast journalist Karen Davila, Pangilinan acknowledged that discrimination was not occasional but constant. “Maraming beses,” she said when asked if the group faced prejudice (“Many times”). Their critics at the time blamed their image. “Pinapatanggal yata kami ng mga panahon na ’yon kasi ano raw, nagiging cause daw kami ng rape kasi sobrang sexy ng suot namin. Naka-bra sa TV. Siyempre masakit sa’min ’yon,” she recalled. (“Back then, they wanted us removed because they said we were causing rape because our outfits were too sexy. We wore bras on TV. Of course, that hurt us.”)

The accusations cut deep—enough for Pangilinan to question herself. Raised in a society that leaned toward the Maria Clara ideal of modesty and restraint, she admitted moments of doubt. “May pagka-Maria Clara pa rin ang mga Pilipino eh,” she said (“Filipinos still have that Maria Clara mindset”). “Pero ito kami, nga naman… baka nga, kasi ang sexy namin, ang lala ng giling naman, ’yong sobra, baka nga.” (“And here we were… maybe they were right, because we were sexy and our dancing was intense.”)

Time, however, reshaped both wounds and perspective. Today, Pangilinan sees the group’s legacy through the eyes of those who grew up watching them. “Pero ang iniisip ko na-heal ’yon kasi ’yong mga pinalaki ng SexBomb ngayon,” she shared (“I think that healed because the kids who grew up with SexBomb are adults now”). “Kung paano kami nakatulong sa kanila sa panahon na marami silang pinagdadaanan noong kabataan nila… nakapagbigay kami ng inspirasyon sa ibang tao sa kabila ng bina-bash kami noon.” (“We helped them during difficult times in their youth and inspired others despite the criticism we faced.”)

Behind the scenes, challenges extended beyond public judgment. Pangilinan confirmed that indecent proposals were a reality some members encountered. “Sa mga interview na naririnig ko sa sinasabi ng mga kagrupo ko, nagkaroon sila. Ako, isa lang po,” she said (“From what I hear from my groupmates, it happened to them. For me, it happened once”). Her response was immediate. “Tumakbo po ako palayo, hindi ako lumaban, bawing-bawi po ako.” (“I ran away. I didn’t fight back, but I protected myself.”)

She credited her upbringing for that resolve. “Parang lagi sinasabi nila nanay saka ni tatay sa’kin, ‘Lahat paghihirapan mo,’” Pangilinan recalled (“My parents always told me, ‘You have to work hard for everything’”). That lesson became her armor. “‘Yon na lang mabibitbit ko sa pagkatao ko na maipagmamalaki ko, lalo sa anak ko. Na, kahit mahirap ako, proud ako sa sarili ko na hindi mo ako kayang bilhin.” (“That’s what I carry with me and can be proud of, especially for my child—that even if I was poor, I can say you could not buy me.”)

Today, the SexBomb Girls stand reclaimed—not just by fans, but by history. Their reunion concerts, extended to multiple nights due to overwhelming demand, signal a powerful reversal. For Rochelle Pangilinan, it is not merely a comeback but validation that resilience, dignity, and hard work outlast even the loudest criticism.