How Anthony raised Donny into a successful, humble young man

“How do you raise a kid like Donny Pangilinan?” This was Bernadette Sembrano’s question to Anthony Pangilinan, Donny's dad and one of the people behind his phenomenal accomplishments.

In her latest vlog episode, Bernadette spent a day with the father and son, and learned their family’s tried-and-tested hacks for making sure each member grows into successful but grounded individuals.

She joined the block screening for “GG,” a film co-produced and starring Donny. The veteran journalist was pleasantly surprised by the warm reception that Donny received, as people flocked to him from the mall entrance to the cinema, despite the event being announced just yesterday. This is one of the reasons why Donny meticulously plans each activity. He ensures everything is well-organized, so to prioritize the safety of the audience.

Donny's huge success didn’t happen overnight, Anthony noted; rather, it stemmed from the young man's decision to conscientiously take good care of his career post-college.

“Merong ginagawa itong batang ito na kahit ako mismo, kami ni Maricel, we’re not able to do,” he remarked that things also just fell into place for Donny.

But humble as he is, Donny downplayed the situation, acknowledging his occasional lapses. He knows his life isn’t as balanced as it appears on the surface, “There are so many things I’m trying to juggle kasi.” But with the help of his inner circle, his team, he’s able to do things at once.

While there’s no perfect formula for success, a crucial factor lies in the people surrounding you – basically, the home you grow up in. Donny, raised in a family with strong values and clear sense of purpose, has adopted their hard-working ethos.
“It showed us at an early age that if you really want to accomplish something, like, for example, finish the race, not even place but finish the race, you really have to train. You really have to make the time and you really have to put in the effort,” he reflected.

Life is truly a marathon for Team Pangilinan, with Donny currently immersed in the cutthroat race of showbiz. Beyond proving his acting mettle or earning plaudits, he aims to contribute to the Philippine entertainment industry by creating innovative content, such as “GG,” the first e-sports movie in the country.

The crowd went wild for Donny that day, which he appreciated. Beyond the cheers and gifts from fans, what he values most is the smiles he receives in return. He’s happy to make his fans happy, especially the senior citizens who come up to him, as they remind him of the grandmother whom he lost five years ago and was very close to.

After the event, Bernadette engaged in a conversation with the handsome duo. Asked about his role in big events like this mall show, Anthony explained that he wears different hats, adapting based on the specific role at hand. In this instance, he was just in the yellow zone, meaning he was on the sidelines just being alert about the exit locations in case of an injury or trouble given the energetic crowd.

Donny’s parents currently co-manage his career with Star Magic, and it works best for them this way. He values the fact that his career is shaped by individuals who genuinely love and care for him, rather than merely performing their duties for the sake of their job.

However, Anthony underscored that he and Maricel know when to step back, especially when Donny decides for his well-being, such as when he feels the need for rest or to enjoy his introverted side.

Anthony shared a formula they adhere to as a family – W.I.N.D. The first letter stands for “Walang plastikan,” meaning they teach their kids to be true to all they meet. “I” represents “Iniisip ang ibang tao,” which Donny has applied as a film producer, making sure that everyone on set gets proper treatment, eats on time, and prioritizes mental wellness, even going so far as having a resident psychologist on set.

“N” is for “Nagbabasa”, emphasizing the importance of reading, from contracts to scripts and deliverables. “Before we went down the car, we had to sit down and review the whole program,” shared Anthony, with Donny adding that you should know what you’re getting into.

“D” means “Dumadating sa set on time.” While Donny acknowledges occasional imperfections, he tries to be on time as much as possible, which takes effort considering his travel time from his house in Laguna to work in Quezon City. Anthony humorously noted that despite having his own house, Donny remains inseparable from their family and he loves to still stay in their family home.
For the Pangilinan family, home is a sanctuary for relaxation and bonding, so they consciously avoid work discussions in that sacred space. They even have separate chat groups for work and personal matters within the family.

Outside showbiz, the other half of the DonBelle loveteam aims to venture into additional businesses, in addition to the gas station he opened this year. He’s actively involved in several real estate projects. Most of all, he’s looking forward to traveling more, as it is where he learns more about life.

Judging by his actions and words, Donny will likely become a great family man one day. But he doesn’t think much about this yet, as he still has many other life goals to pursue. “You’ll only know when you’re there,” he said about the right age for him to settle down.

And certainly, he has the right models in raising his future family, as he would carry with him the values his parents taught, the most important of which is to choose each other no matter what happens.

Donny is fortunate to be surrounded by the right people, including his on-screen partner, Belle Mariano. While working as a team, the “Can’t Buy Me Love” lead stars respect each other’s growth, making sure they both reach their full potential. They love working with each other as DonBelle but they would also love to take on solo projects once in a while.

While there's no definitive formula for success, having the best inner circle is undeniably a significant factor in achieving it.

*Photos credit to Anthony Pangilinan IG