[Editor’s note: This story, first published on October 26, 2020 and updated today, is brought to you from our Star Cinema Archives.]
So much has happened from the time when Belle Mariano played the teenage Gabbie Salazar in the 2020 film “Four Sisters Before the Wedding”, the prequel to the 2013 classic “Four Sisters and a Wedding”. As we cheer for her birthday on June 10, let’s look back to that time when she was overwhelmed with delight upon learning that she was chosen to play one of the iconic sisters.
In an exclusive interview with Star Cinema on Oct. 21 2020, the actress shared how she auditioned for the role, and how she connected with her colleagues and sisters in the film, Charlie Dizon (Teddie), Alexa Ilacad (Bobbie), and Gillian Vicencio (Alex).
"Nag go-see ako for my role, tatlong beses. Tapos the third time I went there, kami ng apat ‘yun,” she said. “Hindi pa nga po ako makapaniwala na ako ‘yung nakuhang Gabbie. Noong nalaman kong sila ‘yung magiging ate ko, iba talaga ‘yung naging jive namin. Ramdam na ramdam ko na."
In the original film, Gabbie was played by Shaina Magdayao. Her sisters Teddie, Bobbie, and Alex were portrayed by Toni Gonzaga, Bea Alonzo, and Angel Locsin, respectively.
In real life, Belle is the eldest sister in her family. But on the set of “Four Sisters Before the Wedding,” she enjoyed being treated like the bunso by Charlie, Alex, and Gillian.
"Para ko silang naging ate. Hindi po ko kasi naramdaman magkaroon ng ate since ako ‘yung panganay [sa pamilya],” she recalled. “Sa kanila ko nararamdaman ‘yung may ate ako, and grabe, para talaga akong bunso, grabe nila ako alagaan."
"Kunwari may hair ako sa mukha ‘pag nagshu-shoot kami, pupunasan talaga nila, kung may pawis ako. Para ko talaga silang ate, iba talaga ‘yung bond namin,” she added. “Minsan nakakalimutan ko mag-take ng medicine ko, si Ate Alexa pinapaalalahanan niya ako, ‘O Belle, drink your meds ha.’ Ganoon sila ka-sweet sa akin."
Belle observed that she has a lot of similarities with her character Gabbie. In the family drama, Gabbie is a very caring sister who, as Bobbie described, has a killer “maternal instinct.”
"Since ako nga po ‘yung panganay sa magkakapatid sa family ko, feel ko in that way nakaka-relate ako, since may mga bunso akong kapatid. Maalagain rin ako sa kanila. Inaasikaso ko rin po sila," she explained.
“Four Sisters Before the Wedding”, directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, takes us back to 2003, when the Salazar sisters were still teenagers. As described by Direk Mae, “[This movie will show] what the Salazar family looked like when they still had a father, when they were all still living together, when they are all experiencing their young and first loves."
Catch more of Belle and her Salazar sisters via their exclusive videos on Star Cinema’s official YouTube channel!
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