STYLEPHILE
No stranger to the spotlight, 18-year old Frankie Pangilinan is an old soul bursting and beaming in her own galaxy
Frankie Pangilinan is your star girl
Her voice came through the night, from the light, from the stars,” writes Jerry Spinelli in his infamous novel Stargirl, a coming-of-age story about a girl who was deemed strange for her crazy antics, elusiveness, and quirks that made people love and hate her all at the same time. Clutching herself, gesticulating in the air, Frankie’s words
tumble out like incantations with her sultry voice as she begins to explain the things she’s passionate about. “More than making music, I’m able to express myself through poetry and writing short stories,” she reveals. “Putting your work out there can seem scary at times, but you just have to be brave about it without the fear of being judged.” This is a mantra she strongly lives by, and her work is well-documented in an Instagram account she created called Kakie Writes, which has already amassed 3276 followers and counting.
“Breathe deep, you are the child of stars and moons from long ago, shattered, broken, then made whole,” one poem reads. At 17, she opened for British band Workshy and also released new singles with her friends soon after—singing about heartbreak, love, and hope. “I’m dropping new music before I leave for university,” she reveals. “I’ve devoted the remaining time to finishing my EP and I was fortunate enough to work closely with one of the musicians I look up to the most, Ely Buendia. I couldn’t sing properly for a good hour cause I was so nervous around him!”
Ever since she was a little girl, she remembers how weird people paid too much attention to her. Most people would probably recall her as the darling who starred alongside her mother in iconic 90s commercials, but Frankie is more than a celebrity offspring. She doesn’t mind the pressure and tittle-tattle that the entertainment industry has to offer. Living up to big names may seem daunting most times but she knows who she is. It’s the same spirit of self-assuredness that made her decide to take up literary studies minor in anthropology in New York. “I have about a month before I move to NYC and it’s crazy how much I’ve grown,” she ponders.
With her otherworldly wisdom and disposition, including talents that go beyond the cosmos and a stellar support system that surrounds her, it is easy to assume she feels like a supernova on hyper drive as she continues to defy gravity. However, she remains grounded and untainted with her identity—unafraid to explore life’s infinite possibilities all on her own.