Donny shares pros, cons of working with mom Maricel for the first time

MANILA, Philippines — Donny Pangilinan is set to star in an upcoming esports-themed film GG (Good Game) with his mom, Maricel Laxa, to be directed by Prime Cruz. The movie is a collaboration between Anthony Pangilinan’s (Donny’s dad) MediaWorks, Inc. and Cignal, and will also star Baron Geisler, Ronaldo Valdez and Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo.

In a press event for Sun Life Philippines, where Donny is the endorser of the financial services company’s new health campaign, he offered the advantages and disadvantages of working with Maricel for the first time in GG.

“There are a lot of advantages siyempre because, I mean, I know who she is and she knows (me) like inside out. Everything… hindi kami pwedeng magalit sa isa’t isa siyempre. Hindi. Joke lang,” he quipped.

The disadvantage, he said, was they needed to detach from their real-life relationship in order to portray their respective characters. “Because she is my mom, there are a lot of things that we need to change. Because we don’t want to, again, I don’t want to spoil anything from the story, we don’t want to give the audience what they already know. Like my mom, how we are, it’s very different in the story.

“So the hard part was to take away what we are in real life. Like I’m very close to my mom and to focus on doing different characters and portray two different characters who don’t really show what they are in real life like us, so it’s very different.”

“They’re very different from who we are — my character, my mom’s character but it was very fun,” he stressed.

Filming is done and a teaser will be released in the coming months, shared the He’s Into Her star.

In a previous interview with Maricel in Cebu City, she told the select press members that she was “just happy supporting Donny’s (career).” The actress was in Cebu at that time filming the ABS-CBN action-drama series The Iron Heart.

Donny was the one who convinced his mother to return to acting by accepting the Hello, Love, Goodbye project in 2019, starring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards.

Maricel recalled, “He (Donny) told me na ‘wag ko daw hindi-an yung Hello, Love, Goodbye. So when I did that, I didn’t know it would be the biggest film in our history. So that started it all (my return to acting). All because of Donny.”

She and her son are also “helping each other” out in terms of acting technique and approach. “I think there is always a lot to learn from our generation as much as we have a lot to learn from this generation,” she pointed out. “We just have to find the common ground kasi ‘pag kinalimutan na natin yung mga pinanggalingan natin, mahihirapan na tayo to move forward.”

Maricel, the daughter of the late screen legend Tony Ferrer (best-known as the secret agent Tony Falcon in the spy movie series Agent X-44), plays Atty. Helen in The Iron Heart and she has been displaying her action flair in the series.

Donny with his mom Maricel Laxa.

Photo from Donny’s Instagram

When queried if Donny also showed interest in doing action stunts, she replied, “I think what’s important is that there are seasons in a person’s career and right now, this is that moment where it’s their season and we are allowing him to do other things. Pero may mga surprise pa yun.” But it seems like being an action star runs in the blood as Donny stated in the recent press event that he would like to do an “action superhero” role if given the chance.

As for Donny’s loveteam with Belle Mariano, Maricel commented, “I feel great seeing them as friends and business partners and also, you know, they work together as a team. Natutuwa ako na nakikita ko na marami silang na-i-inspire na mga tao and I think yun naman talaga yung role nating lahat na nasa media ’di ba is we inspire.”

This paper asked Maricel on what are the things she always reminds Donny about when it comes to love and career.

“He is the one who always reminds me,” she responded with a laugh. “For me, what’s important is that Donny’s feet are on the ground. And then whatever he pursues, he will trust in the Lord in all His ways. And then take care of the people around him.”

For Donny, his family is also his safe space. “My safe space would be those that love me like my family (and) those that I really run to that I know will push (me) towards my goals and to remind me who I am. Siguro yun yung safe space ko talaga.”

“I think it’s very important for everyone who’s going through something (to) just find someone that you can really trust (and) that you can talk about it with. Don’t be afraid to share what you are going through with those who would give the proper advice or would just be there for you and to listen to you,” the actor, who recently joined fellow Sun Life Philippines endorser Piolo Pascual at the Sun Life CyclePH event in Imus, Cavite, told The STAR.

“Also, don’t be afraid to talk to someone who really knows what they are doing. Someone who’s like an expert. Talking about your problems with a psychiatrist, it’s very normal for that to happen.

“And never forget that every single person, I think that’s what I always say, every single person goes through something for a reason and you still have a purpose no matter what you think,” the Kapamilya star concluded.