Donny Pangilinan has sent “DonBelle” fans into a frenzy after revealing that he previously courted his long-time on-screen partner, Belle Mariano.
The revelation came during the blockbuster tandem’s guest appearance on Vice Ganda’s latest vlog.
When the comedian directly questioned him about the true nature of their romance, Pangilinan confirmed his past romantic pursuit of Mariano, though both stars stopped short of defining their current relationship status.
“Huy pero grabe yung effort ko nun diba?,” Pangilinan recalled during the interview. “Tsaka nae-enjoy mong gawin kasi alam mong mapapangiti mo yung tao.”
Mariano fondly recounted the lengths the actor went to during that time, highlighting the massive distance he regularly traveled just to be with her.
“Ang layo niya kasi diba? Laguna, ako Antipolo. He drives all the way from Laguna to Antipolo,” Mariano shared. “So ang layo ng dina-drive niya tapos pagdating pa dun susunduin niya ako, magda drive pa kami somewhere. Sabi ko grabe this guy, spends more than 5 hours in the road just to see me. Wow!”
The highly talked-about vlog appearance coincides with the nationwide cinematic release of their new romantic-drama film, Tayo Sa Wakas.
The real-life chemistry is translated into massive theatrical success. In a press statement released on May 28, Star Cinema announced that the movie raked in ₱12 million on its opening day alone.
This impressive debut officially crowns Tayo Sa Wakas as the highest-grossing opening day for any local film this year, eclipsing the previous record held by VIVA Films’ The Loved One, which stars Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis.
Driven by stellar box-office momentum and glowing audience reviews, Star Cinema has expanded the film’s release to approximately 250 theaters nationwide, with more screens being added to accommodate the high demand.