Cheyenne Suarez

Not a musical: Gab Pangilinan all set for first solo concert

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

<p>MANILA -- The title of singer-theater actress Gab Pangilinan’s solo concert on February 14 and 15 at the BGC Arts Center, “This is Not a Musical,” is understandably immediately a disclaimer. </p><p>If one is familiar with Pangilinan’s work, she is a staple in many critically acclaimed and well-remembered musicals, particularly “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” through the years.</p><p>“This isn&#x27;t just the first time I’m staging a Valentine&#x27;s concert,” Pangilinan told ABS-CBN News. “It&#x27;s the first time I&#x27;m staging my first solo concert ever. It just so happened that it&#x27;s Valentine&#x27;s Day.”</p><p>The two-night concert came about because of her manager Noel Ferrer’s encouragement and belief in his talent. Everything just fell into place. </p><p>“It really wouldn’t have been possible without him,” Pangilinan insisted. “He (Ferrer) messaged me one day asking if I was okay to do a Valentine’s show, because he had a possible venue and he thought of me. As simple as that. And I remember thinking, ‘When would an opportunity like this happen again?’</p><p>“There had been moments in the past when I was presented an opportunity to do a concert or a solo show, but it was always the wrong timing or I was preoccupied with something else. Everything just aligned this time. It really wouldn&#x27;t have happened without Noel Ferrer.”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739340498753IMG_6485 (1).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Ninety percent of Pangilinan’s body of work are musicals. “Because it&#x27;ll be an evening of personal stories and music, I wanted the title itself to have a little bit of humor and a little bit of personality,” she explained.</p><p>Rony Fortich is her musical director, while Mikko Angeles is the stage director. When Ferrer presented the venue and the date, Pangilinan simply said, “I think I’m ready.”</p><p>Yet, Pangilinan knew right away she I didn&#x27;t want the Valentine&#x27;s concert to be literally Valentine&#x27;s themed.</p><p>“For my first concert, I’ve always envisioned it to be a celebration of the past decade of work that I&#x27;ve done and people I&#x27;ve encountered,” she said. “I am grateful to have had the chance to keep working on theater productions all these years.</p><p>“When this chance came about, I immediately thought this concert would be a love letter – not in the literal ‘love’ sense – but a love letter to musical theater and to the people who have helped me become the artist I am today.</p><p>“I guess that was also how we came up with the set list. I worked on it with Rony, Mikko and Myke (Salomon).” </p><p>Pangilinan was only 15 when professional theater beckoned in 2007. She joined Trumpets/Stages’ “High School Musical.”</p><p>“I didn&#x27;t think I was actually going to become an actor when I grew up,” she recalled. “Prior to that, I was a Playshop kid for many years. It was only in 2014 when I fully decided to pursue a theater career and my first professional production, where I considered myself a professional theater actor, was PETA’s ‘Rak of Aegis’.”</p><p>Singing came naturally for Pangilinan, who grew up in a very musical family.</p><p>“I think I&#x27;ve been singing and dancing since I could make noise,” she shared. “My dad was in LSGH&#x27;s (La Salle Greenhills) Kundirana, my mom lived the band life for many years (Music &amp; Magic and The 8 Track) and she also had theater experience once upon a time.</p><p>“My dad&#x27;s mother was a coloratura soprano and a theater actress in UP Diliman, whereas my mom&#x27;s mother apparently played Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ in high school. And then, of course, there are my relatives.</p><p>“I think being exposed to the performing arts and being able to experience it first-hand has helped me become the way I am in so many ways.”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739340536854PortraitsbyPaw_Gab Pangilinan 2024-55 (1).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Pangilinan’s parents encouraged her to take her first theater workshops as a child. “Then while I was studying, they discouraged me from doing it because it was affecting my studies,” she said.</p><p>“When I finally pursued performing professionally, they are now my biggest fans.”</p><p>There are just too many roles that Pangilinan has done to date in in professional theater. Both challenging and memorable for her are Joy from “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and Roxane from “Mula sa Buwan.”</p><p>“Those were iconic and life-changing roles, I think,” she said. “I just hope to continue telling stories and I hope to originate more roles in original Filipino plays and musicals.”</p><p>She will join CAST PH’s “Othello” in March but only for two weekends. “As for the rest of 2025, definitely a lot to look forward to,” Pangilinan said.</p><p>She has ventured into TV and films in the past, but she will definitely welcome similar offers in the future. “If the universe aligns the way it did for the concert this weekend, who knows?” Pangilinan said. “Why not? We&#x27;ll see. I just know I&#x27;m very excited for all that&#x27;s to come.”</p><p>Pangilinan expressed her desire to work with playwright, actor and director Guelan Luarca in the near future. “I’ve mentioned this before but I will say it again. I am a fan of his work,” she declared.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/02/21/23/mula-sa-buwan-stars-gab-pangilinan-myke-salomon-tie-the-knot" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&#x27;Mula sa Buwan&#x27; stars Gab Pangilinan, Myke Salomon tie the knot</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/02/22/asian-tv-awards-2022-maine-gab-among-filipino-winners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maine Mendoza, Gab Pangilinan among Filipino winners in 27th Asian Television Awards</a></div>