Kapamilya stars Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano shared how their characters in the hit series Can’t Buy Me Love helped them grow as artists.
“I’ve been doing Caroline for how many months and marami ko rin nadiscover sa kaniya and like every time I’m with the cast, whether it’s the Tiu or the Binondo side, I could really say na they are my family outside of the show na and that’s something I’ll carry even after this,” Belle said during the finale media conference of the series on Thursday, April 11 at Seda Hotel in Quezon City.
Belle also revealed what her initial thoughts were towards her character, Caroline or Ling.
“Actually, to be frank and to be upfront, I told this to Direk (Mae Cruz Alviar), I didn’t like Caroline noong una kasi ang hirap niyang mahalin. Sobrang closed niyang person. Sobrang taas ng walls niya,” she expressed.
She went on: “But when she went to Binondo and met Bingo, she started warming up and it gave me, now, it gave me so many reasons to love Caroline. It’s so hard to (un)love her now.. I love her daily.”
On the other hand, Donny Pangilinan also shared how he experienced a lot of his first times through his character Bingo.
“Sobrang daming first din para sa akin and actually sa aming dalawa ni Belle.kasi yung teleserye ibang usapan na iyon,” he remarked.
“Ito kasi we live and breathe our characters at times talaga hindi namin nakakalimutan na minsan may Donny pa rin, may Belle pa rin kasi minsan every day na kami nagsho-shoot.”
He also revealed that he knew that their show had become a hit when people started to call him by his character name rather than his real name.
“First time ko rin maranasan na ang daming tumatawag sa akin na Bingo na talaga and doon ko nakikita na okay marami ngang nanonood ng show… It’s (also) nice kasi we got to highlight Chinese-Filipinos out to this world sa Binondo,” he stated.
Donny also shared how he sees the black and white side of his character.
“Yung white side ng character ko gagawin niya ang lahat para sa iba, para sa pamilya niya, para sa mga mahal niya sa buhay. Pero nagiging black din yun kasi sometimes too full na nakakalimutan niya yung sarili niya.”
Can’t Buy Me Love is the first major television series of Donny and Belle or DonBelle, as their fans called their pairing.
Besides the intriguing storyline of the series, fans and viewers also praised the improvement of the two lead stars in their acting skills, showing how they grew throughout their time portraying Bingo and Ling.
“First of all, like Direk said, hindi pwedeng kami lang yung sasagot kasi behind us, it really took a village for all of us to come up with our characters and to be able to carry around throughout the show. To be honest, unang salang pa lang, hindi ko talaga alam kung paano ko gagawin yung role ni Bingo kasi sobrang iba talaga siya kung sino ako in real life,” Donny said.
He went on: “Sobra kasing naging group effort lang talaga ito yung pagkabuo ng isang character and I know I still have so much to learn and I’m so excited for that journey as well.”
The young actor also shared he is grateful for his character.
“Sobrang happy ako kasi si Bingo sobrang naging malapit din sa akin. Hindi ko inaaasahan na magiging close kami ni Bingo na minsan ayaw ko na rin siyang bitiwan kasi parang may nakilala akong bagong kaibigan, bagong tao sa buhay ko,” he expressed.
Belle also expressed gratitude to the directors and cast of the show who helped her work things out for her character and view Caroline from a different perspective.
“When I make project po, I try to see a reason on how I can learn from her or through the characters. Like what Donny said, it takes a village. Without the help of all directors, kasi hinding hindi mabubuo si Caroline kung wala kayo and sa lahat ng cast na nandito, thank you so much!” she said.
She ended her message with: “Caroline Tiu wouldn’t be Caroline Tiu without you.”
The hit Kapamilya series is down to its last few weeks, unfolding the real story of how Caroline’s mother died and if Bingo and Caroline will defy the hindrances of their happily ever after.
