A Candy-colored life

Candy Pangilinan is fun to be with. She is also one of the sweetest. One of the busiest actors in town, Candy added a new title to her career portfolio with the creation of Five2Seven Entertainment Production which she set up with fiancé GB Sampedro. Five2Seven Entertainment Production is behind the 400 years anniversary celebration of the University of Santo Tomas. UST will celebrate its Quadricentennial in 2011. Countdown to 2011 (4 horas, 4 dias, 4 hundred days, 400 taon) will start today with a grand celebration at the UST Grandstand. The theme of the grand event is 400 Years Celebration of Unending Grace. During the festive countdown, the Quadricentennial Prayer, the Quadricentennial Song, the Quadricentennial Flag, the Quadricentennial Clock will be launched. GB is the overall director of the show while Candy is the creative director.

1. If there is a comedy movie that best describes you, what is it and why?

Birdcage. It’s a funny heartwarming film about family, work, and love. It depicts how our lives, and the lives of the people around us are inter-connected, intertwined. The movie is funny, it mirrors reality.

If you have the chance to portray one famous world figure, who would it be and why?

Queen Elizabeth. Her story is very interesting, colorful and her clothes are awesome. To be able to rule a country at a very young age, she must be really tough, strong and wise.

What did you want to be as a child?

An artist.

What makes you cry?

Extreme good and extreme bad like anger, betrayal, good news, blessings, love, and movies.

Name 10 best comedy movies (local and foreign) of all time?

Tootsie, Annie Hall, Groundhog Day, Birdcage, Analyze This, First Wives Club, Bala at Lipstick, Tanging Ina, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Click, Anger Management and Little Nicky. There are so many good comedy films.

If you can choose your name, what would it be and why? Billie or Mannie. All Bill’s and Manny’s that I know are very intelligent and rich like Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Manny Pacquiao, Manny Pangilinan… Audrey, parang ang ganda eh like Audrey Hepburn. Or maybe I will just stick with my name, Candy, because it best suits me.

What is your ultimate dream as an entertainer?

To have my own talk show that would entertain and reach out to the hearts of many, building hope in the lives of people… Basta yung show na masaya and positive.

Three things you would like to do before you die?    Travel where Jesus was born, lived, died and resurrected. Write a book. Open opportunities for all special children to live normally and function as respected individuals. In this way, I may be able to connect and give joy to their parents.

Your life will be turned into one big comedy skit. How would you title it?

SM — Single Mom (We’ve got it all for you).

What do you like most about your job? What don’t you like about it?

The people, the pay and its unpredictable nature is what I like best.

The people, the pay and its unpredictable nature is what I dislike as well.

How do you handle fame?

It’s a struggle to get there with all the hard work. When you get there step by step it doesn’t really matter. It’s a journey and adventure that when you reach it, deep within you it’s an achievement; and preparing oneself on how to maintain it. In other words, it handles itself.

If you have the power to solve all the problems in the country, what will you solve first?

I will change people’s attitude with themselves. I believe if we are all individually cool, everything will be in place. Then maybe that doesn’t need special powers at all. It just needs initiative from each individual. But Filipinos are bull-headed. Then maybe I will give everyone a video playback of all we have done with our lives, so we can all review where we all failed, did good and make better choices.

I wish we can bring back our dignity and respect as individuals and as a nation.

The person who makes you laugh?

My mom, my son, GB and friends.

How do you say goodbye to a loved one?

Eyes open wide, with a smile, a warm hug and parting words of affection.

If you had an extra P100-M, how will you spend it?

It could be a start up to relocate all squatters and give them a decent home where they can rebuild a new life with dignity.

You are to run as President of the country, what is your slogan?

Kay Candy ang dignity ay Importante.

What is your motto?

Life is short, let’s not make it shorter.

It is in receiving that you give, for you cannot give what you don’t have.

How would you like to be remembered?

She made me laugh.

What is your security blanket?

Prayers.

What do you do when you are lonely?

That’s the moment I enjoy eating.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think you would be?

As a person, I’d like to come back as myself. At least I already know how I’m going to live my life. I can make better choices. I don’t want to come back as a non-living thing. Walang kabuhay-buhay! Pero If I have no choice but be a non-living thing, I’d like to be a dinner table. This is where family and friends converge to share stories, eat together and bond.

Do you believe in heaven? If yes, how do you get there? If no, why?

Yes. Love God and love thy neighbors. It sounds easy but it’s really a task that needs grace from God.

If you go to hell, who do you want to be with you?

I don’t want to go to hell. And if I really do, I don’t think I’ll have the time and leisure to mingle around. The truth is if I were to go to hell I wouldn’t want any body to be with me.

A genie is in front of you and you are to make three wishes. What would they be and why?   Heal my son and make him normal, so he may have good friends. Give me plenty of work that I may provide for the people that are under my care like my son, family, household, etc. Please punish the people who have spoken ill of me, and who have judged me. Make them better people.

How do you spoil yourself?

I go to the salon, have a hair treatment, do some shopping, get a massage, and then watch DVDs,

The best-looking man in the Philippines? Explain?

The one I love. Because he possesses the attributes I’m looking for in a man, loving, caring, and God-fearing

What is love?

Love is something that you give away and it will come right back to you.