The Philippine Star

BELLE MARIANO DRAWS INSPIRATIO­N FROM MOM AND FANS FOR SHOWBIZ DREAMS

- By JERRY DONATO

THERE ARE MANY BELLES in showbiz. Belle Mariano is one, who has made a name for herself in the “new normal.”

Her TV series, He’s Into Her, with onscreen partner Donny Pangilinan; digital concert Daylight; singles Kung Ako Nalang and Sigurado, plus an album and movies, are a significan­t testament to it.

She stands out in a way, given her knack for acting, singing and dancing. The former child star and Goin’ Bulilit mainstay knows that versatilit­y makes a talent stay relevant and succeed in the world of entertainm­ent.

“It’s really important for me to be versatile because performing is my passion,” said Belle in an interview furnished to this paper through Smart. “I’m lucky to start early as a child actor because, in a way, I got to grow, explore, and hone my talents within the industry. My journey is filled with learning experience­s and I’m happy that I get to inspire and entertain people by doing the things I love.”

Aside from her network that has paved the way for the artist’s career in entertainm­ent, the newest endorser of Smart Prepaid (for its new Power All campaign) acknowledg­es the support of her mom, whom she considers her role model.

“I’ve always been grateful for the love and support she has shown me as I continue to pursue my dreams. I can easily say I draw my power from her,” said the 20-year-old Kapamilya star, whose fans also support her in any showbiz work she embarks on. They also express it on social media.

Belle said she finds time to read fan messages, which empower and inspire her.

“I really appreciate it when I read comments or tweets about how my character in a project touches them or inspires people because of my performanc­e,” she shared. “These comments give me a sense of fulfillmen­t and empower me to work harder.” One can say that Belle draws her inspiratio­n from mom and followers to pursue her showbiz dreams and further her career.

With her success story, Belle remains humble.

“Being on the receiving end of all this love and support has really been a humbling experience for me,” said the actress, who begins her day by having a coffee “to power through a busy workday.”

“Like everyone else, I rely on my smartphone all the time — for scripts and shoot schedules and to fill in the breaks via social media, to interact with my supporters online, (listen) to music and (stream) videos,” she added.

So, Belle enjoys the advantages of technologi­es in her profession­al and personal lives.

“Yes, our smartphone­s are extensions of ourselves,” she said. “In a way, our most used apps reflect the passions and hobbies that are important to us. I can’t do without my smartphone because it’s my way to connect with loved ones, especially since we’re still in a pandemic and therefore have a lot of limitation­s in terms of movement.”

Her go-to apps are Instagram and Twitter, aside from other social media platforms. “I also enjoy scrolling through TikTok because

I get to see the latest trends there,” she said.

Belle is the face for the Smart’s new campaign about the connectivi­ty that technologi­es provide in doing what one wishes like playing, watching, sharing and streaming content and keeping in touch with people.

“I feel excited and grateful because I’ve always wanted to endorse a brand I really trust and rely on,” said Belle.

The campaign video showed her “fluidly adapting to a hybrid world and powering through a whirlwind of online and offline activities, representa­tive of today’s youth,” according to the statement from the telco company. The new Power All 99 allows Belle and Smart Prepaid subscriber­s to enjoy more data, unlimited calls and texts and TikTok. (More details on https://smart.com.ph/Prepaid/PowerAll.)

Meanwhile, as a personalit­y with a strong social media presence, Belle is also aware of its challenges by saying, “(The platforms) can be challengin­g at times because of all the bashing and hate comments people deal with on these. What I do is to take all valid criticism in a constructi­ve way, so I can grow and learn from them.” She, however, again appreciate­s the advantages that such convergenc­e of technologi­es and the Internet have created for everyone.

“He’s Into Her has been lifechangi­ng for many of us in the series,” said Belle. “I guess the Internet made it a lot easier (for us) to get feedback from fans and interact with them, as well as promote the show to a wider audience.”

She added that fans also “went out of their way” in sharing informatio­n about her series on social media.

 ?? ?? Belle, who headlines the Smart’s new Power All campaign, says, ‘I’ve always been grateful for the love and support (my mom) has shown me as I continue to pursue my dreams. I can easily say I draw my power from her… I really appreciate it when I read comments or tweets about how my character in a project touches (my fans) or inspires people. Their comments give me a sense of fulfillmen­t and empower me to work harder.’
Belle, who headlines the Smart’s new Power All campaign, says, ‘I’ve always been grateful for the love and support (my mom) has shown me as I continue to pursue my dreams. I can easily say I draw my power from her… I really appreciate it when I read comments or tweets about how my character in a project touches (my fans) or inspires people. Their comments give me a sense of fulfillmen­t and empower me to work harder.’
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