Donny Pangilinan Is Charting His Own Course

Donny’s in no rush. He’s not in a race with anyone because he’s always seen himself as his biggest competition. Part of what truly drove him to pursue acting full time was the thought that he had much to learn, and that’s a truth he’s not ashamed of. As a Pangilinan and the son of two prominent figures, Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan, he is, by definition, a “nepo baby.” To Donny, it’s a simple fact of the life he was given. For him, the term is less of an accusation to bear and more of a name to uphold and be proud of. “It really depends on how you look at it,” he said. 

It was his own parents who initially discouraged him from entering show business, but they were also the type to let their children steer their lives on their own terms. “I know that we were given the space and the time to work on ourselves. And that doesn't mean that I am where I am solely because of my parents. I've worked really hard to get to where I am.” 

In his early days, Donny’s acting was called “stiff” and “unnatural,” but instead of taking offense, he actually appreciates the feedback. The actor says that nepo baby or not, there’s no escaping the opinions other people may have. Everyone’s free to talk, so he’s had to learn when to accept criticism with an open mind and when to take it with a grain of salt. When they do hold water, he does the work and takes a good look at himself in the mirror. “I reflect on the stuff that I’m doing, what I want to improve on, and I see where I can go from there,” he told Preview. “It’s something I take pride in.”

Donny has never been one to only put half of himself into something he’s doing. He says that he still wasn’t 100% sure of acting two years into it. It was a fun gig and meeting people was a bonus, but as someone who’s deeply introspective, he knew he had to sit down and make a decision about his future sooner or later.

Later came faster when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020. With time for himself, he evaluated his path by writing down where he truly wanted to be once the lockdown was over, trying to envision how the next few years would play out. It was at that time that Donny realized he’d already fallen in love with the craft. 

“One of the things that hit me was that if this is something that I really want to do, I really have to commit to myself,” said Donny, “I really have to make sure that I absorb everything I can and learn from everyone. And it's going to be a never-ending cycle of learning and growth, which is why it's so exciting. Because there are so many things that I'm looking forward to.”

Donny still gets nervous on set. Different from the jitters of his naive youth, his racing thoughts now come from knowing exactly what he wants to do and endeavoring for a specific result. Gone is the lost amateur who had no clue what he was doing. These days, Donny’s more intentional about his roles. There’s more to getting into character than just wearing the clothes and delivering the script. He has to believe, in his very core, that every line he throws out is earned. 

He’s let go of the pressure, too, so much so that “perfection” doesn’t exist in his vocabulary. “I don't think wanting everything to be perfect is the way anymore, you know? Because now I've kind of accepted that in life it's never going to be perfect,” he explained. “And that's why I'm more eager to do more things. Because it's okay, no matter what happens, at the end of the day, you gave it your all, right?”

Purpose plays a big role in this grown version of Donny. He loves that Cisco from Tayo Sa Wakas is inherently flawed, calling the character a culmination of all the roles he’s played. As he enters his solo era, he’s looking for more characters like him with “honest” stories. When asked how he defines an “honest” script, he points to the ones that blur the lines between black and white, good and bad. “It’s real life. Sometimes it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, which is okay.” 

Though he’s open to anything that comes his way, he’d prefer to sign on to a project that stays with audiences long after the credits have rolled. For Donny, the conversations that happen outside the cinema or beyond the TV screen are a reward in itself and a testament to their success. “I like it when there are so many things you can say after watching [a story].  I think that's also something that makes it real. Like when it’s over, you’re still thinking about it, and it’s still resonating with you. That is something I’m also finding in scripts after this.”

The actor’s search for meaning isn’t just limited to the screen. He tries as much as he can to fight the good fight out in the streets where real help can be done.

At the height of the oil crisis in March, when most gas stations were jacking up prices, Donny and his dad, Anthony, opted to put their community first by cutting the cost of diesel at their Shell franchise in South Forbes. A few months later, he was given the Isah V. Red Award at the 9th EDDYS, a distinction that recognizes his charitable works and humanitarian efforts. These things don’t have to be grand, reminded Donny. They can be the smallest of gestures and still make someone else’s day.

And while he doesn’t want to impose his sensibilities on anyone, he does believe that celebrities with sizable platforms should at least consider using their influence for worthwhile causes. He expounds, “If you have the privilege of being a voice for so many people, if you are blessed with a great audience, maybe it's a conversation worth having with yourself if it’s something the country needs and can spark a chain reaction.”

A recent hobby Donny’s currently exploring is sailing. He tells me the ocean is his escape from the city noise and the concrete jungle. “You don’t hear cars. You don’t see buildings. It gives me a lot of peace.” And so he would ride on sailboats, finding relaxation in good music and company. Lately, though, he hasn’t been content with just being an observer. 

A go-getter by nature, Donny started taking sailing classes last June, and if it weren’t for the constant downpours of the season, he’d probably be off navigating the winds and living out his dream of being a skipper by now.

He shared excitedly, “Sailing is something that requires a team effort. It's very technical. You know, there's no engine. I’ve always been fascinated by it, and you get to do it with people who are also very excited about it, so they’re more than willing to learn, not as something you’re forced to do, but something you really just want to do.” Though still new to the ordeal, Donny already has a goal in mind: to set sail across the seas somewhere in the Philippines, possibly mapping out a journey from Palawan to the likes of Batangas. 

Almost like kismet, his current fixation seems to be setting the tone for his next great adventure. What it is exactly, he’s not sure of yet. If you ask Donny what’s next for him, his constant refrain to everyone is “I don’t know.”

He has business ventures he’s building from the ground up, including his first F&B and a few more franchises. He also wants to travel, spend time with his family, and dabble in behind-the-scenes work. There’s a whole oasis of possibility in front of him, and he’s keeping it that way. 

No plan is all the plan he needs when he’s the captain of his ship and embracing spontaneity with open arms. 

“I’m discovering a new side to all of this, discovering maybe a new path and getting to know myself more. I’m getting to know different things that I really wanted to get into before but never really had the time,” he expressed. “It's something I haven't thought about yet and something that I haven't fully decided on yet, you know, because it's a great place to be, I think. And this is a very interesting part of this whole journey, the unknown.”