Masayang binalikan ni Jodi Sta. Maria ang kanyang naging buhay noon bago pa maging isang artista. Isang simpleng bata lamang daw noon ang aktres “Typical school girl na mahiyain pero sobrang love ko ang pagpe-perform, and then pagdating ko ng high school, we were just having lunch, me and my friends, may lumapit sa aming talent scout. Nagbigay siya ng card, mag-audition daw kami. Pumunta kami ng go-see for commercials. So pumupunta kami nang pumupunta pero wala talaga kaming project na nakukuha. Kasi I think napaka-specific ng hinahanap nila for a commercial. And then I said, ‘Okay na ako, at least na-try ko, baka hindi ako para diyan,” nakangiting kwento ni Jodi.
Hindi natanggap ang dalagita pa lamang noon para sa TV commercials kaya naman naisipang mag-audition sa Star Magic. Manghang-mangha raw si Jodi noong unang beses na nakatuntong sa bakuran ng ABS-CBN. “Tumawag na naman siya, sabi niya na may pa-audition ang ABS-CBN looking for people to audition for the new batch of Star Circle 7. I’m like, ‘Sige try ko.’ Nagpunta kami doon nag-bus kami. Pagdating doon, ‘Oh my gosh, ito na ‘yung ABS-CBN.’ Ito pala itsura niya. Pero noong time na ‘yon, kung hindi man ako matanggap, okay lang. Ang gusto ko lang makakita man lang ako ng artista,” pagdedetalye niya.
Naranasan na din ni Jodi noong kanyang kabataan na magtinda ng popcorn sa kanyang mga kamag-aral. “We were raised singlehandedly by mom pero my lola has always been there na naging supportive kay Mama. So it was just me, my Kuya, lola and my mom. Tapos sa pagiging raketera sa school, nagbebenta kami ng popcorn. Kasi do’n namin kinukuha ‘yung pambaon namin. So 4 AM, gigising si Mama, gagawa siya ng parang butter, ng brown sugar, tapos may candle para pang-close ng plastic tapos ibebenta namin per pack ng twenty pesos. One day, pinatigil ‘yung aming small business kasi nakakakompentensya na namin ‘yung canteen sa school,” pagbabahagi ng aktres.
‘It’s so easy to be kind’ - Belle
Masayang-masaya si Belle Mariano dahil napagsasabay na niya ngayon ang pag-arte at pagkanta. Kama kailan ay naging matagumpay ang Daylight na kauna-unahang concert ng dalaga. “As a singer and actress they’re both connected in a way since they’re both involving emotions. Because when you sing, ang emotions nararamdaman sa boses mo, but when you act it’s spelled sa eyes so that’s really different. So when I’m acting, my eyes communicates but when I sing my mouth communicates,” pahayag ni Belle.
Sikat na sikat ang tambalan ng aktres at Donny Pangilinan na mas kilala sa tawag na Don-Belle. Kahit maraming tagahanga ay nakararanas din umano si Belle ng pamba-bash online mula sa netizens. Sa halip na patulan ay pinapalampas na lamang niya ang mga ito. “Never let the negativity affect you. As long as you know who you are, your core, and as long as you always seek the daylight. Surround yourself with the people you love and the people who love you. Surround yourself with positive people because I feel like the ones around you are the biggest influences in your life. We can’t blame them because we all have different preferences and opinions. It’s just a matter of respect and I feel like there’s just a lot of hate going around. So why don’t we just spread kindness. It’s so easy to be kind,” paliwanag ng aktres. Reports from JCC