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MANILA – More than half a year since she announced that she will be retiring from doing teleseryes, Angelica Panganiban said on Monday that she has not changed her mind about this decision.

The Kapamilya actress made the statement during the final press conference for “Walang Hanggang Paalam,” which she co-stars with Zanjoe Marudo, Paulo Avelino and Arci Munoz.

“Siguro hindi naman kasi siya parang overnight kong pinag-isipan. Hindi naman siya 'yung kumabaga ‘Ay may presscon bukas, gagawa nga ako ng pasabog or gagawa nga ako ng ingay.’ Hindi naman siya ganun. Siyempre bago ako umabot sa point na iyon, maraming marami naman akong kinonsider,” she said referring to her retirement from TV soaps.

Before accepting her role in “Walang Hanggang Paalam,” Panganiban said she was already at peace with the idea that “Playhouse” was her last TV project.

“Nandoon na ako sa stage na kung 'yung ginawa namin ni Zanjoe na ‘Playhouse,’ iniisip ko kung 'yun na 'yung magiging last project ko sa TV, magiging masaya na ako. Kumbaga gusto ko na siyang iwan ng ganon.”

• Angelica Panganiban announces retirement from teleseryes

However, unprecedented events happened like the global coronavirus pandemic and the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise that she felt it was insensitive to reject an acting stint while a lot of people are losing jobs.

“Sino ba naman ako para tumanggi sa trabaho samantalang ang dami daming nanghihingi ng trabaho di ba?”

Nonetheless, her experience in doing her latest drama series only convinced her more that it should be her last – at least for now.

“Yung pagod na pwede ko pang itrabaho 50 years from now, naibigay ko na po sa show na ito. Pati 'yung luha po, nung mga bandang dulo, wala na po ako maipatak,” she said.

Despite this, Panganiban said she is not closing any doors on any possible opportunities that may arise in the future.

“Ayaw kong magsalita ng tapos pero ‘di ba malay mo dumating, 20 years from now, mayroon akong role na hindi ko talaga ma-resist and kumbaga kaya kong lunukin 'yung pride ko at 'yung paninindigan ko. Wala naman sigurong mawawala sa akin,” she said.

Panganiban thinks she deserves this break since more than half her life, she has dedicated to television work.

‘Siguro ngayon, ganun pa rin ang decision ko. Siguro kasi for almost 30 years, ito naman 'yung ginawa ko. Sa kalahati ng buhay ko, gusto ko ring ibigay sa sarili ko, deserve ko naman din sigurong magpahinga pagdating sa paggawa ng teleserye,” she said.

With “Walang Hanggang Paalam” now coming to an end, Panganiban shared that she will now focus her time on movie projects lined up for her.

“So far may mga nakapila naman na gagawin kaya lang alam naman nating lahat na dahil sa situation ngayon, mahirap mag-develop ng isang project. May mga projects namang naka-line up so ayun exciting kasi hindi ko rin alam kung kailan ito maisasakatuparan,” she said.

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