Fans of the DonBelle pairing were surprised after Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano revealed that their upcoming film ‘Tayo sa Wakas’ will be their last project together—for now.
The announcement was made during their guest appearance on Bianca Gonzalez’s podcast ‘Paano Ba ‘To?!,’ where Pangilinan confirmed that the decision was mutual.
“We’ve done so many projects throughout the years but me and Belle decided that for this specific project, it will be our last DonBelle project for now,” he said.
Mariano echoed the sentiment, explaining that the move is part of their desire to grow individually as artists.
“But you know, it’s a mutual decision. This is why this project required so much growth from him and I and time apart, which allowed us to grow, find what we want, find who we are, and come back as better people,” she shared.
Despite the uncertainty that comes with stepping away from their long-running partnership, both admitted that the transition is both emotional and exciting.
“It’s hard because we’re going through it sa shoot na hindi namin alam when we’re going to shoot this kind of scene again, reminiscing the times we’ll be on set. We’re just glad that we get to go through this together,” Pangilinan said.
He added, “We’ve been working together for quite a while. Since ‘He’s Into Her,’ it’s been every year, project after project, and it’s something that we’re very proud of. We’re grateful that we went through that, which is why we decided this would be the best route for now, and this movie would be perfect for that.”
Mariano, meanwhile, expressed optimism about what lies ahead for both of them.
“It’s scary, yes, but it’s exciting knowing that parang we’re really so dedicated to doing this project really, really well. We’re just so excited what’s ahead for the both of us, there’s so much we’re going to go through. It’s scary but it’s okay,” she said.
‘Tayo sa Wakas,’ directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, is set to hit cinemas on May 27. The film is expected to explore themes of identity and individuality—mirroring the actors’ real-life journey as they step back from their love team to pursue solo growth.
“Because sometimes, it’s not about falling in love with your partner. It’s about falling in love with yourself,” Pangilinan concluded.
