Belle Mariano Opens Up About Her Career Growth Outside Of The DonBelle Love Team

It's true—we've all had our fair share of kilig over DonBelle. Belle Mariano has spent the past five years growing alongside Donny Pangilinan as one of the country's most beloved love teams, building a strong on-screen dynamic and an even stronger fanbase.

Now, Belle has been reminding everyone that she can hold her own just as well, taking on projects outside the tandem and embracing everything that comes with it.

Going solo after years in a love team came with a fair share of nerves. In an Oh My Gan! interview, Belle admitted, "May kaba nung una, kasi siyempre… alam mo na yung gagawin ng isa," referring to the comfort of working with someone who already knows your rhythm. Still, the experience turned out to be a "much-needed break," giving her the space to grow and approach her work from a different perspective.

Taking on projects outside of DonBelle opened doors she hadn't fully explored before. Belle found herself learning from a whole new set of co-stars, including industry veterans she clearly looks up to. "Like—kay Inay (Maricel Soriano), kay Papa P (Piolo Pascual)—as in grabe talaga yung natutunan ko," she shared. "Parang sabi ko 'Oh okay, this is how it's like pala to work with someone else.'" Her focus now leans toward expanding her range (we love to see it), while still carrying everything she's built with DonBelle.

And in case anyone's tempted to read into it—DonBelle is still very much a duo. Belle makes it clear that she and Donny have stayed solid in showing up for each other, both publicly and privately.

"We don't hide na we genuinely care for each other… We're very vocal about supporting each other," she said. From showing up at each other's premieres to openly cheering one another on, the support is consistent—and their fans have followed that lead.

Of course, a fandom this big comes with some complexities. Belle acknowledges that while most supporters are positive, there are moments where things can cross a line, especially online. "It becomes toxic if nakakatapak na ng ibang tao," she explained, calling out the kind of behavior that involves pitting people against each other.

It's something she doesn't ignore but also doesn't feed into. Belle emphasizes the importance of being mindful online, especially given how influential social media can be.

"We all have the power and the capability to change someone's life through social media," she said. "Everyone's a role model sa social media world… It's important to remind ourselves to put good content out there instead of spreading negativity."

We're still counting down the days for DonBelle's big-screen reunion in Tayo sa Wakas on May 27, 2026. But Belle shows that you can totally shine on your own while keeping the magic of the love team alive, making us just as excited for her solo projects as we are for their next collab.