ZANJOE MARUDO ON WHY CLOSENESS TO 'UNMARRY' CO-STAR ANGELICA PANGANIBAN NEVER TURNED ROMANTIC

Zanjoe Marudo said it was easy to accept the “UnMarry” project because it meant working again with his longtime friend Angelica Panganiban.

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

Zanjoe reunites with Angelica Panganiban in 'UnMarry,' directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and produced by Quantum Films and Cineko Productions for the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival.

“First of all, of course, sinabi nila ang lead is Angelica. (Game) na ako agad dun. Kampante na agad ako,” he said. “Parang kung tumanggap si Angelica ng isang project... siguradong maayos at maganda at gusto niyang gawin.”

As a costar, he noted that a side of Angelica that the public might not know is that she’s “very professional.” “Hindi siya nale-late, hindi siya nagkakamali sa mga scenes. She really knows her character.”

Their last major project together was the comedy-drama series “Playhouse,” where they played a married couple on the brink of separation but stayed together after becoming the guardians of their orphaned godchild.

This aired pre-pandemic and before real-life marriage and parenthood. But despite the years and major life changes, the friendship remains strong and steady.

“Close na kami talaga. But during the time, we were making ‘Playhouse,’ dun talaga kami naging super close,” Zanjoe recalled.

“We're really comfortable with each other and wala naman kaming kumbaga (we don't really have any)... inhibitions when it comes to acting, when it comes to off-cam, on-cam kasi gusto namin kasama ang isa’t isa eh (because we like hanging out with each other). Barkada talaga kami.”