Appreciation Post for Belle Mariano on Her 20th Birthday

 No doubt, Belle Mariano’s star is on the rise, and set to conquer new heights.

Some would wonder how a child actress who never had a lead role in her 9 years in showbiz would suddenly become the hottest star. That she is talented is a given. Her body of work can attest to that from the young version of the lead stars to her regular gig in the weekly kiddy gag show Going Bulilit. That she was versatile is of no question as she can swing from drama to comedy.

Going through years of auditions and workshops, she patiently grabbed opportunities to learn acting. She stayed on without any big breaks unlike some of her peers. It could be pointless to some, but she knew she was just bidding her time to get a chance to showcase her talents and what she had learned. Once she was given the chance, she surprised us with more than just her acting chops. It turned out she can carry a tune enough to have an album and a concert. More than her talent, her perseverance and persistence are nothing short of inspiring.

Apparently, it is more than the talent that has propelled her to the top. What placed her on people’s radar was the announcement of her being the lead role in “He’s Into Her” in 2019. Majority of the people started commenting that the role did not fit her. There are actresses that people want to be cast as Maxpein Zin Del Valle opposite Donny Pangilinan’s Deib Lohr Enrile. People just threw so much hate on her with unbelievable venom that one would wonder where all that is coming from.

This was where she showed her mettle. While others would have felt bad and shrunk away, she used the hate she had received to fuel her work. Instead of firing back at bashers as more people are wont to do, she kept her silence. She was affected as we could see from her interviews recently as tears would fall when that harrowing bashing experience comes to fore. Most likely, she tried to use the experience to be her “bubog” to portray her roles. Her strength despite rocks being thrown at her made her admirable.

The fans suddenly felt bad for her. She has become an underdog. Everyone who had been belittled found a champion. Everyone who felt overlooked for a long time and suddenly had a break realized they can rally behind her. Everyone who had been doubted and hated found someone to protect. Mommies, Titas, and Ates came to her defense and decided to stay on and become supporters.

Her popularity surge happened in the midst of a worldwide pandemic that has crippled industries and norms. The franchise of her own network was also revoked that they needed to explore different platforms to continue giving projects to their stars. Overall, it all seemed like an uphill climb for any actress to flourish, but not our Belle.

Her rise to stardom is nothing short of mythical. It was more than her talent but her character that endeared her to the hearts of a lot of Filipinos and international fans, alike. If her fans love her dearly, it is because she is more than just a star, she is the role model for her generation.

Happy 20th Birthday,  Belle! You have a special place in the hearts of all of us here in DonBelle Daily and the DB Engagement Patrol. Continue to make the years count!

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Photos from: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBelindaMariano