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The Divine ‘Miss Madrigal’

The former child actress, Angelica Panganiban has completely charmed audiences with her portrayal of Maria Lena Rubio-Madrigal in the serial Book Two of Maging Sino Ka Man

ONE OF the biggest revelations, acting-wise, of the currently-airing Book Two of Maging Sino Ka Man has definitely been Angelica Panganiban. The former child actress has completely charmed audiences with her portrayal of Maria Lena Rubio-Madrigal, the illegitimate daughter of patriarch Don Fidel Madrigal, played by Christopher de Leon.

Angelica’s character was introduced toward the end of Book One. What was only supposed to be a supporting character has become the focus of the series, as Lena is sent by her mother Veronica to live with the Madrigals in their mansion, insinuating herself into their daily lives and driving a wedge between her stepsister Jackie (Bea Alonzo) and the latter’s husband Eli (John Lloyd Cruz).

Lena begins a light flirtation with Eli, but her heart lies with the blind sculptor Joaquin, who is played by Angelica’s real-life boyfriend Derek Ramsay.

Maging Sino Ka Man is the couple’s second time to work together; the first was in Ysabella. Derek says that working with his girlfriend has only made his respect for her acting talent grow even more. “When I saw her in A Love Story (the movie she did with Aga Muhlach and Maricel Soriano), I thought she was really good there. But she’s even better here.”

Speaking of Derek, Angelica says that there is no truth to currently-circulating rumours that the two of them have split up and that she is now dating Jake Cuenca who himself has reportedly broken off with girlfriend Roxanne Guinoo. Jake courted Angelica about two years ago, but nothing came of it. The last time they saw each other was during rehearsals for the ABS-CBN Christmas Special at the Meralco Theater, although they did nothing more than exchange brief hellos backstage. “There is nothing going on between the two of us,” she says. “Derek and I are still very much together.”

As a matter of fact, says Angelica, three days before she went on The Buzz to deny the rumors, she met Derek’s mother for the first time at a family dinner. Although it was their first time to meet, Derek’s Filipino mother was very warm towards her. In addition to that dinner, Angelica also flew to Taiwan to support Derek, who represented the Philippines at an Ultimate Frisbee tournament there. At the press conference for Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik held at Plaza Ibarra in Quezon City, Angelica and Derek were very sweet towards each other, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that their relationship was stable and secure.

Angelica can’t understand why people have to spread rumours like that just when everything is going so well in her life and her career. “A lot of people have been texting and calling and asking me if it’s true that Derek and I have broken up. We’re very much okay. There are no problems at all.”

She enjoys the fact that they’re cast together in Maging Sino Ka Man Book Two, even if at this point, they haven’t had very many scenes together. “It’s great, because this way, we get to spend more time together. We’ve actually taped some scenes already, but I’d rather not tell you, because it will spoil the surprise,” says Angelica.

She is being groomed by ABS-CBN to join the ranks of the network’s first-tier leading ladies, and judging from her performance in Maging Sino Ka Man, Angelica looks like she’s more than ready.