Belle Mariano describes Donny Pangilinan as a blessing: ‘He is really someone special to me’’

April 6 ------ Several years since their on-screen partnership began, Belle Mariano opened up about how her relationship with Donny Pangilinan has evolved both on and off screen.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News podcast Oh My Gan!, the Kapamilya star expressed how her relationship with Donny became closer and deeper throughout the years. “I would say he is a person I can call whenever I'm feeling down. Talagang, he is a blessing, not just to me but also to our supporters,” Belle expressed.

She then expressed how Donny became a big part of where she is right now, adding, “Noong una, nahihiya akong kausapin siya (but) we are so close now. He is the person I can confide in. He is someone accountable. He is a blessing in a way, na I wouldn't be here without him, too, and our supporters, too. DonBelle is not DonBelle without Donny. So, he really is a blessing. With our connection, we are really close. Ano naman kami, open naman. He is really someone special to me.”

Belle also revealed her willingness to continue working with Donny in the future, stating that she enjoys seeing Donny grow not only as an artist but as a person as well. “Of course, I want to, and I'm always open to working with Donny,” she said. “It’s such a pleasure (to be with him). Like nakakatuwa, I can see him grow too. Five years ago, ibang-iba pa itsura namin, and now we are here. Nakakatuwa na I see him grow too. Sabi ko para akong fan niya rin na I can see him and witness him grow.”

The popular on-screen pair is set to reunite in their upcoming film Tayo sa Wakas, marking their comeback project after focusing on individual careers over the past year. The Kapamilya actress praised Donny’s creativity, especially during the filming of their teaser announcement. “The most recent, when we shot the teaser announcement, kasi syempre iba-iba ‘yung looks namin noon. May phase na mahaba ‘yung hair niya, tapos inaasar ko siya na kamukha ni Justin Bieber. Naka-wig siya. Ano pa ba… ang dami din naman kasi. He is the most spontaneous guy, na parang ‘let’s do this’. He never runs out of ideas. That guy, grabe yung utak niya,” she said.

Describing their upcoming project, Belle teased a more mature and emotionally grounded story for their characters. “Emotionally wise, mas mature, mas may paninindigan. Ayoko kasi magspoil, and we haven't actually started shooting, but I would say it's very challenging,” she stated. Belle also admitted that she felt pressure to do the role in her new film as she wanted to give something different for their fans who have waited for them to work on a project together again.

“Actually, we never spoke about it. Parang siguro, the pressure is more on our role, the movie, how can we make it different? Even the project of the announcement of Tayo sa Wakas, it was actually Donny’s idea. He was the one who conceptualized the whole thing. We are very hands-on ‘cause we want to put good content out there that our supporters would enjoy,” Belle said. Despite the pressure, Belle views it as something positive: “It's good pressure ‘cause we are happy that we are making other people happy, most especially our supporters.”

Source: news.abs-cbn.com