After four years, award-winning actress Angelica Panganiban returns to the big screen via the annulment-themed movie "UnMarry," an official entry to the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival.

"No offense naman sa mga ibinigay sa aking script noon na nag-aaya sa akin na bumalik na sa movies. Parang wala talaga siyang lukso ng dugo. Hindi nakaka-comeback yung dating niya. (No offense to those who gave me scripts before that encouraged me to return to movies. It doesn't have anything. It does not merit a comeback)," she said.

Angelica added, "Tahimik na kasi buhay ko ngayon sa kailangang pakitaan ninyo ako at sabihin ko na, 'Ay sandali! Ang ganda nito. Luluwas talaga ako para dito.' Kailangan ko talaga yung nanggigigil ako na project. Yung tipong hindi ka makakatulog. Kumbaga pag pinalampas ko ito parang manghihinayang ako. Yung ang hinihintay kong project. (My life is so quiet now that they need to show you something and say, 'Oh wait! This is beautiful. I'm really going all out for this.' I really need the project that I'm excited about. The kind that you can't sleep on. I feel like if I miss it, I'll regret it. It's the project I've been waiting for.

"Noong nagtext sa akin si Direk Jeff (Jeturian), kinabahan na ako. Love ko si Direk Jeff. Nagtext sa akin sila Direk and Atty. Joji (Alonso) kung pwede raw sila magpresent ng project. Parang pinag-usapan nila. (When Director Jeff (Jeturian) texted me, I was nervous. I love Director Jeff. Director and Atty. Joji (Alonso) texted me asking if they could present a project. It seemed like they were discussing it)," she said.

People behind "UnMarry" said they wouldn't be surprised if Angelica would notch her first MMFF trophy in this film.

"Hindi ko masagot. (I can't answer)," said Angelica when asked if she thought her role in the movie would win her another acting trophy. "Marami na rin akong pelikula na nagawa for MMFF. Sabi ko nga, 'Always a nominee but never a winner.' Parang may ganun na akong pakiramdam. Mahirap masungkit ang MMFF. (I've also done many films for MMFF. I used to say, 'Always a nominee but never a winner.' I think I have that feeling. It's hard to win the MMFF.)"

"Kung ibibigay masaya. Nag comeback ka at pinaghirapan mo. Tapos luluwas ka ng Olongapo to Manila. Kung ibibigay siguro gaganahan ka uli. Pero kung hindi, masaya pa rin ako at nakagawa ako ng magandang pelikula. That's enough. Kung hindi Best Actress, box office na lang. Mas gusto yata namin yun ni attorney. (If it's given, I'm happy. You made a comeback and worked hard. Then you'll go from Olongapo to Manila. If it's given, you might work again. But if not, I'm still happy, and I made a good movie. That's enough. If not Best Actress, it's just box office. I believe attorney and I would prefer that)," Angelica said.

The last time Angelica joined the MMF was with "One More Try" in 2012. Currently based in Olongapo City, Angelica is married to Greg Homan. They have a three-year-old daughter, Amila Sabine. In October 2024, the actress also underwent a successful two-hour hip replacement.

Angelia, 39, discussed how she navigated her relationships despite making several poor decisions.

"I was surrounded by the right people. Kung may failure may sa past relationships, decision, may mga tao na nakasurround sa akin na good people who guided me. Magpaganda ka, mag-aral ka, be kind. Mga ganung advice na isinabuhay ko. (If there is failure, it is in past relationships, decisions; there are people who surrounded me who were good people who guided me. Be beautiful, study, be kind. That's the kind of advice I put into practice.)"

"Hindi naman ako perfect at marami akong maling decision na hindi ako proud. But as you go in life, dapat may learnings ka at natututo ka sa iyong mga nagawa. (I'm not perfect, and I've made many bad decisions that I'm not proud of. But as you go in life, you should have lessons and learn from your mistakes.)"

"So kapag nakita na ng universe na natuto ka na, that's it next chapter ka na. I'm sure meron pa tayong pagdadaanan. (So when the universe sees that you've learned, that's it, you're on to the next chapter. I'm sure we still have a long way to go)," she said.

Chris Martinez, the visionary behind the film, shared his preparations, revealing a glimpse into the journey that brought his idea to life.

"Noon pa niya (Atty. Joji) sinasabi sa akin na gumawa ako ng movie about annulment. Pero natatakot ako kasi ang heavy ng research niya. And then wala naman akong firsthand experience sa ganyan. Kasal nga wala eh. "She (Atty. Joji) was telling me to make a movie about annulment. But I was scared because her research was so heavy. And then I didn't have firsthand experience with that. I wasn't even married.)"

"So mahabang research at marami akong na interview na lawyers. So nanood din ako ng step-by step process sa YouTube on annulment. So ganun ang structure ng film that will walk you through sa process ng annulment. (So I did a lot of research and interviewed a lot of lawyers. So I also watched a step-by-step YouTube video on annulment. So that's the structure of the film that will walk you through the annulment process.)"

"Pero siguro ang preparation na nag stick sa akin is yung pinapanood ako ni attorney sa hearing sa annulment. (But maybe the preparation that stuck with me was the one when attorney allowed me to watch the annulment hearing.)"

"Tatlong hearing yun so humingi siya ng permiso na manood ako ng hearing (on annulment). Grabe pala yung pinagdaraanan kasi from the moment you met and the moment you separate. So parang masakit siya. (There were three hearings, so she asked for permission for me to watch the hearings (on annulment). It turned out that what they were going through was painful, from the moment you met to the moment you separated. So it seemed like it was painful.)"

"Yung una chill lang pero yung pangalawa nakakatawa pero yung pangatlo na napanood ko tungkol talaga sa pamilya eh. Masakit yun. Parang nanood ka ng sine na basta na lang tumulo ang luha mo. I tried to channel it by writing na sana ma-capture ko yung ganung klaseng pain sa script. (The first hearing I heard was just okay, but the second one was funny, and the third one I watched was really about family. It was painful. It was like watching a movie that just made your tears flow. I tried to channel it into the writing, hoping I could capture that kind of pain in the script.)"

Other stars of "UnMarry" are Tom Rodriguez, Zanjoe Marudo, Eugene Domingo, Solenn Heussaff, Nico Antonio, and Zac Sibug. Produced by Quantum Films and Cineko Films, "UnMarry" will be shown in cinemas beginning Dec. 25.