Donny Pangilinan is grateful to have learned how to manage his finances early on, crediting his parents, actress Maricel Laxa and entrepreneur-host Anthony Pangilinan, for guiding him throughout his financial journey
Donny shared this during Sun Life’s event held on July 4, 2026, at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City
The 28-year-old actor said building a strong financial foundation and having a clear plan for the future were among the first lessons he learned
He said: “My journey, it really started with siguro creating the right foundation in terms of where you wanna, where you want to put your funds for, for the future and, like, thinking about what you want to happen when you reach a certain age
“So when I started in the industry, siyempre, I’d have my parents teaching me these things or mentors guiding me.”
WHERE DONNY PANGILINAN PUTS HIS MONEY
From the moment he started earning, he already had a clear plan for his money
“And I always say this, there are so many places na kasi that the money goes to na it’s almost like a system
“So when funds come in, I already know how much will go to savings, will go to investments, will go to the insurance, will go to my personal, yung baon ko, will go to giving, will go to all these, all these ano, areas
“Para pag na, nakapasok na sa mismong bangko, alam ko na yun yung parang malinis na.”
Donny went on to explain that knowing how to allocate his earnings has helped him stay organized and make better financial decisions, whether it’s growing his investments, launching new ventures, or securing additional insurance policies
He continued: “Because of that, I was able to organize where I want to develop certain investments, where I want to start certain businesses, if I want to enter a new policy, insurance policy
“And there are specific accounts also that I never look at anymore. Para in 20 years, 30 years, magugulat ka na lang din, di ba, kung ano yung nangyari
“So that’s also something that was taught to me. And I wouldn’t have been able to do that if it wasn’t for the people advising me
“So that’s why I’m very, very big on talking to someone who’s a professional and someone who knows what the policies are, someone who knows the possibilities of having this figure, di ba? And it can be any amount.”
Photo/s: Joriel Elizaga
NOOD KA MUNA!
DONNY PANGILINAN: Starting his own business
Outside of showbiz, Donny has also been busy building his portfolio as an entrepreneur
In a previous interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Donny revealed that he has invested in “a lot of real estate.”
In September 2023, he proudly inaugurated his own fuel station
In 2025, he also explored opportunities in the local coffee industry, particularly through a potential Pickup Coffee franchise
Earlier this year, in January 2026, Donny teased his latest business venture, a café-bar called Analog, which is set to open soon
It’s the first time he’s building a business entirely from the ground up based on his own original concept
He shared: “I have been a part of different business ventures, but I am starting my first one ground up na concept ko, na ako yung founder talaga, yung mga ganun
“So it’s something that I’m still starting, so it’s still something I would have to start small in because I don’t have expertise in.”
For Donny, one of the most important lessons he has learned from his mentors is choosing the right business partners
He emphasized that finding people you trust is a crucial first step when starting any business venture
Explaining why, he said: “What I did was call one of my mentors to ask for his advice and then call or contact a team you trust. Kasi sobrang importante yun e
“‘Cause you can do what business you want, but if it’s not with the right team, it’s never gonna turn out right
“So these are the people you’re gonna journey with, the people that you’ll go through ups and downs with
“And, siyempre, gusto mo yung mga taong may trust ka and siyempre may taong na… lahat kayo aligned sa gustong mangyari doon sa business niyo.”
DONNY PANGILINAN’S FINANCIAL ADVICE
If there’s one piece of advice Donny wants to share when it comes to handling finances—whether it’s starting a business, investing, or getting insurance—it’s the importance of simply taking the first step
For the actor, obstacles are inevitable, but making progress toward a goal is always better than staying in the same place out of fear or uncertainty
Using a road trip as an analogy, Donny said people should expect challenges along the way and not let setbacks stop them from pursuing their goals
He said: “When you get into a car and you go to a specific destination, you don’t… you don’t go there thinking that all stoplights will be green
“So like for example, nasa Makati, di ba ang daming stoplight or saka BGC. So, sasakay ka ng kotse knowing na may maging red lights
“But the fact that you started walking to the car, the fact that you entered the car, the fact that you chose to go to this destination, alam mo that there will be obstacles along the way or there will be stop signs
“But that doesn’t mean you won’t end up in the destination… you’re supposed to be in. So that’s just how it is in life and starting without knowing what’s gonna happen, di ba?
“Sometimes you just have to do it and learn along the way. Um, of course, you have to plan. I’m not saying don’t be prepared
“You have to also do your, your own thing. You have to make sure that you show up, make sure that you do the work. But nothing in life is guaranteed, di ba, 100%
“So just showing up and being there.”
Donny also encouraged people not to fear making mistakes, saying that every experience—whether a success or a setback—is an opportunity to learn and grow
“Just start because if it fails, then at least it teaches you something. And if it doesn’t, if it keeps going, then that’s also another lesson, di ba?”
The actor further pointed out that comparing oneself to others often prevents people from pursuing their own goals
For Donny, focusing on one’s own journey is far more productive than constantly measuring success against other people’s achievements
He shared: “So yeah, it, it’s really important that in this day and age, when wanting to be perfect is such a big thing or overthinking about, ‘Ito kasi yung nga may ganyan, so kailangan ganyan din ako,’ or parang kino-consider mo na yung mga achievements ng iba bago mo yung sa sarili mo
“Nag-o-overthink ka na kasi baka yung bagay na ‘to ‘di maging successful. E, all of those things contribute to why you’re not able to start in the first place
“But if you just put that aside and just say, ‘Hey, I’m gonna take a leap of faith and let’s see what happens,’ you’ll be surprised, di ba, what can happen… what the outcome can be of that.”
For Donny, financial success, entrepreneurship, and personal growth all begin with the same mindset: taking action, learning from mistakes, and staying focused on one’s own path rather than comparing it with others
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