MARICEL LAXA GRATEFUL TO SON DONNY PANGILINAN FOR CONVINCING HER TO RESUME ACTING

MARICEL LAXA-PANGILINAN credited her son, Donny Pangilinan, with influencing her decision to reenter the acting scene in 2019 after years of prioritizing her real-life roles as a mom and wife.

- NATHALIE TOMADA

As both mother and son finally work together, as co-stars in the upcoming film GG (Good Game) under Media Works and MQuest Ventures, Maricel couldn't help but thank Donny for convincing her to accept onscreen projects again.

"I have Donny to thank talaga because he forced me creatively to go back to showbiz and I've never been happier," the veteran actress shared during a recent one-on-one with The Philippine STAR.

"Because we're co-managing Donny with Star Magic so I'm always with him in events and then meetings, ganyan. Lagi niya sinasabi, Mom, always dress up ha.' Bakit? 'Cause you're artista.

I'm not artista. 'No, you should go back," Maricel recalled her past conversations with Donny.

"So pag may nakikita siyang hinihindian ko, sasabihin niya, "Say yes, say yes.' So, finally, I said yes and that was Hello, Love, Goodbye," she said.

In the movie that would rank highest-grossing Filipino film of all time for several years, she played  the mom to Kathryn Bernardo's character.

"And I have not stopped working since then,' added Maricel, who subsequently starred in teleseryes on all major networks TV5, GMA and ABS-CBN.