[2] She is a two-time Filipino record holder, a four-time Ivy League champion (2005, 2006, and 2008) in the 100 and 200 m breaststroke, and a multiple-time medalist at the Southeast Asian Games (2005 and 2007).

[1] Born to a Filipino father, and an American mother, Pangilinan holds a dual citizenship to compete collegiately and internationally in swimming.

[3] Pangilinan qualified for two swimming events, as a member of the Philippine team, at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, by achieving FINA B-standard entry times of 1:12.82 (100 m breaststroke) and 2:35.01 (200 m breaststroke) from the USA National Championships in College Park, Maryland (2003) and in Orlando, Florida.

[3][4][5] In the 100 m breaststroke, Pangilinan challenged seven other swimmers on the third heat, including Singapore's Nicolette Teo, who later rivaled her at the Southeast Asian Games.

[6][7] In the 200 m breaststroke, Pangilinan blasted a new Filipino record of 2:33.38 to lead the first heat against Teo and Finland's Eeva Saarinen.