Belle, may bagong ‘power’

Matapos bumulusok ang career ni Belle Mariano sa hit series na He’s Into Her habang nasa kalagitnaan ng pandemya at isang malaking transition sa kanyang home network, ABS-CBN, heto at bongga ang career niya.

Pero kung iniisip ng iba na sinuwerte lang si Belle, actually ang totoo, nagsimula siya bilang child star sa Goin’ Bulilit siyam na taon na ang nakararaan. Nagtiyaga siya hanggang ito na, isa na siya sa pinakasikat na young star sa kasalukuyan.

Nagbunga ang lahat ng mga taon ng pagpupursigi niya – in between successes and rejections.

Napansin ng fans   ang sensitivity niya bilang isang aktres at ang nag-uumapaw na chemistry nila ng heartthrob na si Donny Pangilinan na nagbukas ng kaliwa’t kanang oportunidad – lead roles in films, a debut album, and her very own digital concert, among others.

At ang latest starring role ni Bella, siya ang pinakabagong endorser ng ‘Power All’ campaign ng Smart, na nagpapatunay ng kanyang lakas sa masasabing highly competitive industry.

“I have the power to do what I want,” Belle declares sa isang campaign video for Smart released last July 24, na ipinapakita ang adjustment ng karamihan sa hybrid world and powering through a whirlwind of online and offline activities.

Sa isang interview, naikuwento ni Belle kung paano niya nagawang mag-adjust sa mga kasalukuyang pangyayari dahil sa pandemya at gawin ang mga gusto niya.
At higit sa lahat, magpasalamat sa mga nagbibigay sa kanya ng lakas, ang kanyang supporters / fans.

How did connectivity empower you to break barriers, lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya?

“Working amidst the pandemic comes with a lot of challenges, but I’m always grateful for every opportunity to do what I love and showcase my talents. He’s Into Her has been life-changing for many of us in the series. I guess the internet made it a lot easier to get feedback from fans and interact with them, as well as promote the show to a wider audience. We’re also grateful for all the fans who went out of their way to post and share about the series with their friends and families via social media,” pag-amin ni Belle na kasalukuyang nasa Beyond the Stars tour concert sa US kasama si Donny.

Sa tanong naman kung paano niya nakakayanan ang isang busy workday?  “I am a coffee person, so the first thing I do when I wake up is make my 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, listening to music and streaming videos.”

Ano namang masasabi niya sa sinasabing ang smartphone as an ‘extension’ of themselves and therefore can’t do without it. Do you feel the same way?  “Yes, our smartphones are extensions of ourselves. 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 limitation in terms of movement.”

Instagram at Twitter naman ang madalas niyang gamiting apps.

“I often use Instagram and Twitter, along with other social media apps where my fans are active. I also enjoy scrolling through TikTok because I get to see the latest trends there.”

At kung meron siyang power para gawin ang gusto niya, kahit ano, what would you do?  “Meet all my fans physically and connect with them all the time. I know I can’t thank them enough because of all the love and support they have showered me over the past year,” aniya sa nasabing interview.

At ngayong Smart endorser na rin siya, anong nararamdaman niya? “I feel excited and grateful because I’ve always wanted to endorse a brand I really trust and rely on. I am also happy I have the power to do what I want with Smart.”

Sa kasalukuyan, itinuturing ka ng marami na triple threat dahil mahusay ka sa pag-arte, pagkanta, at pagsayaw. “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.”

Most of your supporters rally behind you through social media. What are some of the most memorable comments you’ve read about yourself and how did these empower you?

“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. These comments give me a sense of fulfillment and empower me to work harder.”

Natanong din siya when was the last time you needed to power through a challenging situation? How did you deal with it? “Social media can be challenging at times because of all the bashing and hate comments people deal with on these platforms. What I do is to take all valid criticism in a constructive way, so I can grow and learn from them.”

Like Belle, Smart Prepaid subscribers are empowered to everything they want with the NEW Power All 99, which comes with 8 GB for all apps and sites, Unli TikTok, and Unli Texts to All Networks, valid for 7 days for only P99.