"Hindi ko inisip na magkakaroon ako kasi hindi ko naman siya planong bilhin kahit kailan," said Angelica Panganiban about the Hermès bag that boyfriend Derek Ramsay gave on her 23^rd birthday last November 4.

Angelica said she never asked anything from her boyfriend for her birthday. "Kaya noong binigay niya ang bag, na-surprise ako talaga kasi parang ngayon lang niya ako na-surprise," she told the media at the birthday press conference prepared for her by Star Magic this afternoon, November 20, at Proud Mary Café on Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

The actress then narrated how Derek constantly asked her what she wanted for her birthday. 

"Alam niyang mahilig ako sa bag," she began. "Kasi nga, nag-Hong Kong ako, kasama 'yong family ko, supposed to be kasama siya. So, tanong siya nang tanong kung ano ang gusto kong gift. So, sabi ko, 'Gusto ko ng bakasyon lang kasama ang family ko at saka ikaw. Kaya sobra akong nagtatampo.' Sabi niya, 'Wala na, e. Hindi na ako nakasama, e. Ano nga ang gusto mong gift?' Sabi ko, 'Wala. Nandito sa Hong Kong ang gusto ko.'

"Sobra siya talagang hirap na hirap, hindi ko siya binibigyan ng clue kung ano ang gusto ko. Tapos noong gabi, noong may surprise party 'yong mga friends ko, nagulat na lang ako, biglang may malaking paper bag ng Louis Vuitton. Sabi ko pa nga noong una, 'Ay, Louis Vuitton, di ko type.'"

But Angelica was deceived because the bag did not contain a Louis Vuitton bag as she expected. She recalled, "Nagulat talaga ako, Hermes pala siya. Naiyak talaga ako! Sabi ko pa nga sa kanya, 'Alam mo, 'yong iyak ko na yun, hindi ko pa nagagawa sa harap ng camera ever.'"

Angelica said her boyfriend of three years is really generous when it comes to giving her gifts. For their third anniversary, she received a Mini Cooper from Derek. 

Despite all these material things, Angelica said that having Derek around is already enough for her. "Gusto ko 'yon, basta nandiyan ka [Derek] lang, happy na ako doon."

I LOVE YOU, GOODBYE. Meanwhile, Angelica feels sad about the passing of veteran actor Johnny Delgado yesterday, November 19. Johnny is the husband of the director of her upcoming movie I Love You, Goodbye, Laurice Guillen. (CLICK HERE to read related story.)

Angelica said that they had to pack up several shooting days recently because Direk Laurice had to attend to her ailing husband.

Although they still have five more shooting days to finish the movie, Angelica said that they might not resume taping soon to give Direk Laurice and her family enough time to grieve.

"Hindi lang namin alam kung kailan kami magre-resume ng shooting. Ayaw naming magbigay ng pressure sa kanya or sa family niya. I'm sure matatapos at matatapos din namin 'yon by the time na kailangan na matapos na siya," said Angelica.

She also related how Direk Laurice and the scriptwriters surprised her in this movie. 

"Noong ginagawa ko ang movie, nagugulat ako," Angelica said. "On the spot ginagawa ang script namin. Sila Direk Laurice ang nagsusulat, pati mga writers. Habang gumagawa sila ng script, tulog [kami], paggising mo, ganun na ang nangyari. Nakakagulat naman. Exciting ang movie talaga."

Aside from I Love You Goodbye, Star Cinema's entry to the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival, Angelica is also busy taping for her next TV series on ABS-CBN, the Philippine adaptation of the Mexicanovela Rubi. As the title role, she will be playing a "bida-kontrabida" character.