Rochelle Pangilinan shuts down ‘Team Rochelle vs. Team Jopay’ talk

The group’s leader shuts down division claims, calling the iconic squad a family despite scheduling conflicts.

Rochelle Pangilinan addresses rumored SexBomb factions, says group remains family

Speculation that the SexBomb Girls are divided into two factions, supposedly Team Rochelle and Team Jopay, gained more attention after Jopay Paguia and Sunshine Garcia were notably absent from the music video of the group’s latest single, “Mama Mama.”

When radar Entertainment interviewed Rochelle Pangilinan after the launch of the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival’s official entries at Quantum Skyview, Gateway 2, on Sept. 17, she was asked about the issue.

“Lahat naman ininvite namin, siguro nagkataon lang na ang grupo na ’yon ang available. Ang alam ko, after one day umalis na kami, so kailangan talaga siyang siksikin, pagkasyahin kasi ’di na rin kayang mag-second day kasi mommies na aalis eh,” she began.

“Syempre kailangan rin magbigay ng one day para sa family namin, mag-empake, makipag-bonding sa family namin. Kung ano ’yong isang araw, kumbaga, sinasagad namin sa family namin at sa pag-eempake. Siguro isang araw lang ang kaya naming ibigay para sa shoot ng music video.”

Rochelle had also addressed the issue on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” where she acknowledged that misunderstandings have happened among SexBomb members and said that resolving them depends on the people involved.

As the group’s leader, Rochelle said she sees it as her responsibility to look after the members.

“Ang dami namin, lahat ’yan alpha female at para mag-lead ka sa ganitong klaseng grupo, dapat matatag ka,” she said.

“Mahirap? Oo naman. ’Di madali kasi sa natutunan ko, kasabay nang pagli-lead dapat tagasunod ka rin. Kumbaga personal alalay ka rin, personal assistant ka rin, so naghahatid ka rin. Magkakasabay siya eh. ’Di ka lang nagli-lead. Minsan sinasabi ko sa kanila ’pag nagjo-joke ako, ‘Pagod na pagod na akong maging PA n’yo.’”

When asked if there is really a faction within SexBomb, Rochelle immediately dismissed the idea.

“Walang ganyan,” she told radar Entertainment. “Parang mga tao lang yata ang nagbigay niyan pero from the very start, walang ganyan. Kung anuman, nasagot ko na lahat kay Tito Boy, at least clear na ’yon. Ayaw ko nang dugtungan pa ng kung ano-anong salita. Katulad ng sinabi ko, kung anong tinanong nila, ’yon din ang sasabihin ko.”

She added: “Sa akin lang, sana maging okay. Lagi naman akong umaasa na magiging okay kami kasi katulad ng sinabi ko sa interview, kami ay pamilya, kami ay magkakapatid.”

Rochelle was also asked if she is willing to extend her hand to help resolve any misunderstandings, and whether anyone from the group had reached out to her following her “Fast Talk” appearance.

“Extend, oo naman, sino ba naman ako? ’Di lang siya, marami, marami kaming dapat ayusin. General ’yung sinasabi ko.”

“Wala at ’di naman kailangan. ’Di naman kailangang mag-reach out sa akin. Gano’n ang tingin ko. Para sa akin, ’di siya ganun ka-big deal, normal sa amin ’yong ganito eh.”

For Rochelle, as long as SexBomb members continue to believe in and trust her leadership, that will be enough motivation for her to keep doing her part.

“As long as na marami ang umaasa, nagtitiwala sa akin na mag-lead sa girls, doon ako. Magfo-focus ako sa part ko.”

The SexBomb Girls are also set to share the spotlight with another iconic girl group from their era, Viva Hot Babes, which will hold its reunion concert this October.

Rochelle said she is happy to see more opportunities opening up for artists from their generation.

“Happy kami kasi syempre lahat ng nagawa ng girl groups, nagdo-domino effect, nagkakaroon ng blessings to everyone, bakit hindi? Dumarami ang trabaho nating lahat, bakit hindi?”

Meanwhile, Rochelle is also looking forward to her role as a music teacher in “Apol of My Ai,” one of the full-length entries in the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.

Directed by Thop Nazareno, the film stars Rochelle alongside Zion Cruz and Zanjoe Marudo.

“Isa akong music teacher and first time sa akin na mag-aral ng Kundiman songs. Mapapakanta ako dito, ’di mapapasayaw, iba ito para sa akin.”

“Si Zion sobrang galing na bata, first time ko ring makatrabaho si Zanjoe Marudo at ang napakagaling naming direktor.”

“Sana abangan ninyo kasi ang ganda-ganda rin ng lahat ng istorya ng mga entries ngayong taon na ito. ’Yong ‘Apol of My Ai,’ kakaibang istorya. Noong nabasa ko sabi ko ibang klase kasi ang daming na-tackle, like OFW stories.”

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