Parenthood changes Zanjoe and Angelica’s portrayals in ‘The Silent Noise’
After reuniting in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025 entry “UnMarry,” actors Zanjoe Marudo and Angelica Panganiban are working together again in the upcoming Prime Video and ABS-CBN Studios series “The Silent Noise.” They play a married couple, raising a deaf child portrayed by KD Omalin.
Noted for their natural on-screen chemistry — prior to “UnMarry,” they played husband and wife in the daytime program “Play House” — Zanjoe and Angelica shared at a press conference that they no longer had to make adjustments in that aspect, as they were already comfortable alongside each other.
“It’s really different (from ‘UnMarry’),” said the actress, who played in the film a woman working on her annulment and falling for Zanjoe’s character, who was also going through the same thing. “Zanjoe and I are comfortable with each other that we no longer have to discuss kung ano yung magiging atake namin dito. I trust his understanding of his craft and he feels the same way about me, so we don’t need to go into detail about our approach or how our dynamics will work.”
“Isang tinginan lang, isang read lang ng lines, parang OK, nandun yung tono. And of course, with the help of direk Onat (Diaz). I don’t think the chemistry is something we still need to work on as an onscreen couple. Once you watch it, you’ll understand why. What we really focused on was developing our individual characters.”
For Zanjoe, what’s more important is the chemistry within the entire family. “Because the audience will feel the love for each other (of the family members) and will make the themes of the series resonate more with the audience.”
“The Silent Noise” follows a family unraveling under the weight of secrets where silence offers no protection. When tragedy strikes, suspicions resurface and relationships are tested, forcing each member to confront truths they’ve avoided for years. As the mystery deepens, the story reveals how love, loyalty and silence can shape destinies in unexpected ways.
It premiered exclusively on Prime Video, with two new episodes released each subsequent week in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Joining Angelica and Zanjoe at the blue carpet celebrity premiere and grand media conference at Gateway Mall 2 were direk Onat, cast members Ralph Malibunas, Kakki Teodoro, Joel Saracho, Junjun Quintana, Monching Gutierrez, Karina Bautista, Tommy Alejandrino, Joem Bascon, Mutya Orquia and Zaijian Jaranilla.
The Filipino Sign Language (FSL) community was also present at the event in recognition of KD’s role as a deaf child in the series.
After learning and using FSL for the series, Zanjoe and Angelica developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for the deaf community.
“Honestly before, hindi naman ako ganun ka-sensitive when it comes to it because I wasn’t part of the community,” expressed Zanjoe. “But after doing this project, my understanding deepened and I became more sensitive. I became aware of what to do and what not to do, when communicating or interacting with someone like KD’s character. I learned a lot and the experience has been very humbling for me.”
Angelica added that it’s rewarding to be part of something that represents the community. “You give a voice to them, you show their struggles and sometimes, they feel that life isn’t fair, and sometimes may mga bagay na hindi patas yung pakiramdam sa society natin,” she stressed.
“Ang sarap na na-emphasize yun through arts and to use this platform for them. I’m very, very proud to be part of it.”
Since taking on the roles of parents and a married couple in real life, with their respective partners, Zanjoe and Angelica find it easier to portray similar roles onscreen, applying their real-life experiences to the series.
Angelica is married to businessman Gregg Homan and they have a three-year-old daughter, Amila Sabine, who is nicknamed Bean.
Zanjoe and his wife, Ria Atayde, welcomed their son, Sabino, in September 2024.
“The realness (of portraying the role) is on another level,” shared Angelica. “Before kasi ang parang kaya ko lang gawin is just imagine anong level yung meron if you’re a mother or a father. You just do it and apply it.
“But this time, we had a debate. ‘Wait, direk, pag ganyan yung anak ko, ito ang mangayayari.’ It’s that kind of conversation because this reflects a level of love you truly understand. So alam mo na kung paano makipag-patayan pala kapag yung anak mo yung ina-agrabyado or yung anak mo yung pwedeng malagay sa pahamak.”
When it comes to being a partner, Angelica shared that “UnMarry” taught her the importance of taking care of your marriage. “Because that’s what can happen (annulment) to a family if something breaks or could be broken.”
Zanjoe agreed, saying, “In ‘UnMarry,’ as a husband, those were the lessons I learned, and it allowed us to portray things more authentically. We don’t guess in scenes when it comes to being a partner because we already know how it’s done.
“In ‘The Silent Noise, it has become deeper, mas alam ko na kung tama lang o sobra yung binibigay ko na emotions. I’m more sure dahil hindi lang ako nag-research o hindi ako nag-base sa kung papano ako inaalagaan ng magulang ko o kung papano ako naka-experience o nakita yung ibang magulang kung paano sila sa anak nila. It’s different kung na-experience mo yung puyat, yung pagod, lahat.”
Zanjoe no longer had to immerse himself in portraying the role of a father, since he has obviously experienced it himself. “Ngayon na alam ko na yung patience na kailangan mo talagang pahabain,” he mused, adding that his experiences in real life have taught him how to approach the scenes in the series, especially because of his son.
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