In final film together, DonBelle dares to test bounds of love, ambition

MANILA, Philippines, June 6 ------ In 2019, Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano were introduced as the lead stars of the television adaptation of the hit Wattpad novel He’s Into Her. The project launched one of the country’s most popular love teams and eventually earned the tandem its now iconic ship name: DonBelle.

Since then, the pair has headlined several films and television series that captured the sweetness of first love and the innocence of young romance. Through projects such as Love is Color Blind (2021) and An Inconvenient Love (2022), DonBelle cemented its place as one of the most influential on-screen partnerships in Philippine entertainment.

Now, as more mature artists, Pangilinan and Mariano face a new chapter in their careers — one that allows them to move beyond the identity of DonBelle. Their final film together, Tayo sa Wakas, serves as both a culmination of their journey as a love team and a testament to their artistic evolution.

Directed by acclaimed box-office filmmaker Cathy Garcia-Sampana and written by Vanessa Valdez, the film explores a more nuanced and emotionally complex portrait of love. At its core is a compelling question: What happens when the person you love becomes your competitor?

The story follows Cisco (Pangilinan) and Chesca (Mariano), a couple embarking on a promised “breakup trip” after struggling to keep their relationship afloat while pursuing careers in the same field. As professional ambitions force them into direct competition with one another, tensions begin to strain the bond they once believed was unbreakable.

Valdez, who also wrote the pair’s first series together, revealed the story had existed long before DonBelle was formed. It was simply waiting for the right actors to bring it to life. The result was a film that not only brings the DonBelle era to a fitting close but also sets the pair up for bigger roles as they continue to build their individual identities as artists. Having grown from portraying youthful romance, they are now taking on roles that reflect the complexities of adulthood, ambition, and a deeper sense of romantic commitment.

Mariano and Pangilinan have always been open to the possibility of growing beyond their love team and working independently, but only when the timing felt right. “Donny and I have been vocal about how we don’t want to be just DonBelle, we also want to be Donny and Belle. So I feel like this project is the perfect project for it since it shows so much growth and maturity, and it requires so much authenticity from both of us,” Mariano said in a media con.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of finding the right material to signify both a conclusion and a new chapter in their careers. “When we were presented with this material, we told each other that maybe this is the best time. It’s very timely and it’s also one that will showcase different sides of us,” the actor said. “It is the mixture of all our characters and more.” As the two young actors found comfort in the film, they also found themselves deeply immersed in the story. Though Valdez didn’t originally write the film with the pair in mind, Pangilinan and Mariano eventually embedded parts of themselves into Cisco and Chesca’s long-term relationship.

Source: rappler.com