After 14 years of growing up under the spotlight, Belle Mariano officially signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. The contract signing event, held Monday, was more than just a renewal of ties — it was a celebration of her growth and commitment as a Kapamilya actress.
“It’s really something that I’ve been looking forward to after fourteen years,” she shared. “Nakakatuwa kasi these amazing bosses, my fellow ABS-CBN artists — I saw their messages — talagang nakakataba ng puso kasi they’re all very supportive,” Belle shared.
When asked to sum up her journey as a Kapamilya in one word, Belle paused for a moment before saying, “Growth. Because all throughout the years, what I really went through… like, there were times na magiging mahirap talaga. There were times na you will fall, and may times talaga na panghinaan ka ng loob. But then you rise above it. So it makes you a stronger person. And I think those experiences molded me into who I am today. Being a Kapamilya, for me, is growth, and I’m so grateful to be in this family.”
She acknowledged the pressure that naturally comes with her continuous growth, but approached it with gratitude. “I’m just enjoying. As in the moment talaga. Kasi it’s something that I look forward to,” she said. “Syempre kasama na rin ‘yun… pressure, ‘di ba? … Expectations are high.”
The 23-year-old excitedly reveals she is already working on new projects on screen and in the recording studio. She can’t reveal them yet though. “I’m currently shooting but I don’t know if I can say ‘yung iba. Yes, I’m gonna be releasing an album. So abangan niyo po ’yan. I won’t get into details kasi kilala niyo naman po ako, lagi po akong nagspo-spoil kapag nagsasalita ako.”
A birthday concert — just like last year — might just be is in the works.
Though acting is where she started, Belle said she’s equally passionate about music and is slowly exploring other creative avenues. “There’s still a lot that I wanna do. I wanna learn more. I would say ang dami ko pang gustong gawing roles… like something na bida-kontrabida, horror — something na I’ve never done. I don’t want to limit myself. I want to learn talaga and grow. I want to challenge myself.”
She’s also becoming more curious about work behind the camera. “I appreciate what we do in front of the camera, but also what happens behind the camera. That’s one thing that I also wanna venture into — hopefully in the future, if I’m equipped with the right tools. Syempre iba naman ‘yung stress doon. We have to equip ourselves with the right tools. Even on set, we learn from them — from Direk, from the people behind the camera. What they do is something I really appreciate. It takes a village to create something so beautiful.”
In music, Belle admits she’s still developing her skills as a songwriter. “I’m good at starting songs, pero napapansin ko, I struggle with how to end it,” she laughed. “But I’m so happy kasi I encounter so many amazing composers, so many amazing writers, and I take advice from them and apply it to what I’m doing.”
Belle’s latest film, the family drama “Meet, Greet and Bye” allows her to pit talent against Piolo Pascual, Joshua Garcia, JK Labajo and Maricel Soriano. It’s her first major work outside of her love team with Donny Pangilinan. “Sobrang saya ng set namin. Para talaga kaming naging pamilya. Even on and off cam, alam mong hindi kami mapaghiwalay. When we first met, of course kinakabahan ako. I mean, it’s the Diamond Star, it’s Papa P, it’s Joshua and JK — they’re so good at what they do. And they inspire me to want to do better at what I do.”
She shared a moment with Maricel that left a deep impression on her. “Sabi niya, ‘Anak, hinga ka ng malalim. I-deliver mo ’yung line mo. Tingnan mo, mas tatagos.’ That advice stuck with me. Ganun pala. It’s so nice to be able to work with these amazing actors.”
Of course, Belle acknowledged the shift in dynamics now that she’s venturing into solo projects apart from Donny Pangilinan. “Of course, may kaba. I’m so used to working with Donny, and I love working with Donny. We started ‘DonBelle’ five years ago, and now he’s doing a project with Kyle [Echarri], and I’m doing this one with Papa P. Nakakatuwa. I will always treasure what we do together.”
When asked where she sees herself two years from now, Belle said, “Siguro, I’ll be doing more roles that really challenge me as an actress. Maybe that time I may have written a couple of songs.”
And would she shave her head for a role? “I think the beauty of acting is that you get to portray different roles. And even if it takes you to that level, you really have to submit to it. ‘Yun nga ‘yung challenge na sinasabi ko. Pero hindi ko ata kaya…. I love my hair.”
