Angelica Panginiban opens up about her evolving relationship with her body while appearing on the sixth episode of national volleyball athlete Alyssa Valdez’s podcast The Transition Playbook, uploaded on May 9, 2026.
During their conversation, Alyssa brings up Angelica's memorable line from the 2013 film Beauty in a Bottle: “Come back to the young and beautiful you.”
Asked what the line means to her now, Angelica responds candidly as she reflects on aging, motherhood, and the physical challenges she has gone through over the years.
The actress admits that while she once had the figure often considered ideal in showbiz, she has already come to terms with the fact that version of herself no longer exists.
“After giving birth, parang minahal mo yung sarili mo sa capacity niya, at kung ano yung capabilities niya.
“Of course, dumaan ka dun sa stage na parang ang ganda ng katawan ko noon. Makekemback ko ba yun?
“Gaya mo, kung katulad ka nung iba na to begin with, athletic ka or talagang ganun yung lifestyle mo,” Angelica tells the Creamline Cool Smashers team captain and outside hitter.
“E, ako, hindi naman talaga ako ganun.”
Read: Angelica Panganiban chronicles hip replacement surgery
Angelica reflects on surviving major health battle
The actress also looks back on the difficult medical condition she battled in 2024.
Angelica underwent three surgeries after being diagnosed with avascular necrosis or AVN, a serious condition wherein bone tissue dies due to lack of blood supply.
Her first operation was a seven-hour hip core decompression surgery in July 2024. Months later, she underwent hip replacement surgery in October 2024 after her hip joints deteriorated further.
Looking back, Angelica says she became more appreciative of her body because of everything it survived.
“Parang since hindi rin naman sikreto sa mga tao na tatlong surgeries ang pinagdaanan ko, so parang doon ako na-surprise na kung ano yung kayang gawin ng katawan ko, ng katawan ng isang babae.”
She adds: “Nakagawa ka ng isang buhay dun, tapos dinudugtungan niya yung quality of life mo dahil nga na-hip replacement ako.”
Instead of longing for her former appearance, Angelica says she now embraces her body more deeply because of its strength and resilience.
“Mas gugustuhin ko kung ano yung katawan ko ngayon. Mas i-embrace ko siya, dahil ito ang pinagdaanan niya.
“Ia-admire mo kung ano yung pinagdaanan niya kasi ang strong niya,” she says.
She also explains why she no longer wishes to return to her old self physically.
“Hindi ko gugustuhin na babalikan ko yun. Kasi kung babalikan ko yun, babalikan ko yung sarili ko na mas mahina,” Angelica reasons.
“Mas gugustuhin ko yung katawan ko ngayon na nakapagbigay ng buhay. At nalagpasan ko yung isang pinakamalaking struggle ng buhay ko.
“At 36, nagkaroon ako ng bone death. For two years, nahirapan ako, nag-struggle akong labanan yung disease ko. Then, nag-survive ako, di ba?” she concludes.
Angelica is currently 39 years old, married to businessman Gregg Homan, and a mother to their daughter Amila “Bean” Sabine Homan.
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