Lance Joseph Martinez

A Year of Growth: Donny Pangilinan Opens Up About Maturity, Independence, and Realizations

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<div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764676733026METRO Donny Pangilinan for Roja.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"/>Donny Pangilinan, wearing a suit by Antonina | Photography by Gee Plamenco, Jr. </div><div> </div>This year marked one of Donny Pangilinan’s busiest and most transformative chapters as an actor. Coming from an already strong start with <a href="https://metro.style/people/2025/11/16/metro-digital-cover-meet-greet-and-bye-cast-piolo-joshua-belle-juan-karlos-maricel-1205">Belle Mariano</a> for Viu Original’s How to Spot a Red Flag, Donny pushed himself into new territory as he navigated multiple projects that stretched his artistry and range.“It was a year out of my comfort zone.” That’s how Donny summed up his 2025, a period defined by unexpected opportunities, risks, and growth. Beyond returning to his love-team roots, Donny stepped into the role of judge for the seventh season of ABS-CBN’s long-running reality competition Pilipinas Got Talent, while also taking on an action-drama series, <a href="https://metro.style/people/2025/11/28/metro-artist-spotlight-donny-pangilinan-and-kyle-echarri-for-roja-1800">Roja</a>, a project centered on the trials, loyalty, and survival within an island.“First time ko sumali [as judge] ng Pilipinas Got Talent, and that was really different for me. I did a couple of things that were really new. And then you add Roja, which I didn’t know was coming this year,” he shared in an exclusive interview with Metro.Style.Since 2019, Donny and Belle Mariano have been inseparable in the public eye. Their pairing—fondly dubbed “DonBelle”—officially took shape when they headlined the adaptation of Maxinejiji’s Wattpad hit He’s Into Her. The series became an instant phenomenon, earning a Season 2 just a year later and cementing DonBelle as one of the country’s most bankable love teams.But it was their 2023 Kapamilya series Can’t Buy Me Love, directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, that marked their major mainstream breakthrough. The show exploded across digital platforms, pulling in 454,413 concurrent viewers during its YouTube premiere and immediately topping Netflix Philippines.On television, Can’t Buy Me Love also held its own. Kantar Media recorded an impressive 11.6% rating for its pilot episode—outranking its rival’s 9.7%—while AGB Nielsen noted a strong lead as well, with its debut earning 8.0% over the competitor’s 7.1%.With all these milestones, fans have consistently asked what’s next for DonBelle. But this year, Donny chose to step into unfamiliar ground, taking on a lead role with Kyle Echarri in the action-packed Roja, marking a bold move beyond the comfort of his established love team.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764687744240embed_Donny Pangilinan Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja 2.jpg" style="width:700px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764687811227embed_Donny Pangilinan Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja 12.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Kyle Echarri and Donny Pangilinan, both in GUCCI </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>On doing projects outside of DonBelle </div>Donny admitted that working on separate projects was initially challenging not just for him, but for Belle as well. Yet, it opened a new chapter in their love team—one rooted not just in on-screen chemistry, but in mutual support.“Me and Belle are very open with each other. We talk about everything, basically. So, very transparent kami sa isa’t-isa. I think we’re very clear with our goals, and since we’ve already gone through so much together, we knew that it was also bound to happen. We would also do these types of projects,” Donny explained.While Donny was shooting Roja, Belle was enjoying a successful run for her star-studded movie <a href="https://metro.style/people/2025/11/9/what-cathy-garcia-sampana-found-challenging-in-bringing-the-story-of-meet-greet-and-bye-to-life-1850">Meet, Greet, and Bye, </a>starring alongside Piolo Pascual, Joshua Garcia, Juan Karlos, and Maricel Soriano—now showing in cinemas.Donny said stepping out of their shared comfort zone allowed both of them to experience “immense maturity and growth,” something they wholeheartedly cheer on for each other.“And, the moment we’re able to step out of our comfort zone and reach that level of maturity to accept growth, then, both of us fully support that. So, sobrang ganda rin ng ganoong klaseng rapport kasi we both know that this is for the best, and kumbaga kung may mga project din kami, kami pa rin ‘yung magiging cheerleader, ‘di ba? Kasi alam namin na ito rin ‘yung pinapangarap ng isa’t-isa,” he added.As for what awaits DonBelle fans, Donny teased that a new joint project is already in the works. For now, he’s embracing the “different” experience of working beyond his love-team identity.“I don’t think it’s more &#x27;enjoying,&#x27; I think it’s just different. And again, it’s nice to do something that you’ve not experienced before. Because that creates new lessons, new memories, and it adds to your character as a person and to your craft. So yeah, it’s really fulfilling when that happens because parang may nalalaman kami sa sarili namin na hindi namin alam dati,” he explained.For Donny, this process of discovering new layers of himself is essential to his purpose. “And to me, finding more of yourself, I think, is also a big part of why we’re here, right? That’s part of our purpose—to get to know what we’re meant to do and to know what else we’re supposed to fulfill.”He added, “And I think getting better at what you’re doing, getting better at your craft, being eager to learn is all part of that. And that literally goes hand in hand with stepping out and going above your comfort zone.”<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764687824707embed_Donny Pangilinan Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja A.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>On Being in a Locked-In Taping </div>Part of Donny’s transformative year was the lock-in taping setup of Roja, which required him and the cast to fully immerse themselves on the island where the series was shot.“I think there’s so much also that comes into doing a lock-in, though that when we’re in a lock-in, dun talaga ‘yung focus namin eh. So, of course, we have all these hobbies and all these things we’re doing that we try to juggle.”For Donny, the setup had both advantages and limitations. The isolation allowed him to deeply inhabit his character, yet it also restricted his usual hobbies and routines.“You get into character talaga, and you really feel that you’re in that environment. But at the same time, that’s really your life for the next month. So, yes, there are so many other things that we are getting into. And we wish we could do more.”He shared some of the activities he hopes to spend more time on—scuba diving, riding, golf, running, cycling, and even sailing. “I also want to learn how to sail talaga.”<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764687841489embed_Donny Pangilinan Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja B.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>On His Recent Realization as a Filipino </div>Beyond acting, Donny has consistently used his voice for sociopolitical issues, especially when they directly affect Filipino communities. This year, he said, was a major wake-up call for many Filipinos.“This year has also been a realization for us Filipinos about where we are as a country. And I think, as bad as it is, the good thing about it is that there are more eyes on it. There are more eyes on it, and people are more aware of the situation our country is in,” he noted.Referring to recent headlines involving corruption within flood control projects, Donny expressed his disappointment but emphasized the importance of awareness and collective vigilance.“So I think that’s also one of the things that really was a highlight, siguro. Is that we are more aware of the things happening in our country, especially with all the flood control things happening and all the corruption happening in the government. Or just the way that things aren’t done well. That’s it. At the end of the day, that’s the general statement to it.”Still, he remains hopeful.“Yeah, there’s a lot going on, right? And I think we just always have to have hope and know that things can and will get better, and we still have a voice, right?” he concluded.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764687863408embed_Donny Pangilinan Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja C.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><div>Roja airs at 8:45 PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5, with episodes released 72 hours early on Netflix and 48 hours ahead on iWant.</div><div style="text-align:center"> </div>Photographs by Gee Plamenco, Jr. Sittings Editor: Grace Libero-CruzManaging Editor: Rick FormalejoVideo Producer: Tricia MatiasLayout Artist: Alfred AmadoStylists: John Lozano Grooming: Jam Pareño Editorial Assistant: Naiah MendozaSpecial thanks to Dreamscape, Star Magic, Cornerstone, and Mi Cocina

Donny Pangilinan admitted that working on separate projects was initially challenging not just for him, but for Belle Mariano as well. Yet, it opened a new chapter in their love team—one rooted not just in on-screen chemistry, but in mutual support.

Donny Pangilinan admitted that working on separate projects was initially challenging not just for him, but for Belle Mariano as well. Yet, it opened a new chapter in their love team—one rooted not just in on-screen chemistry, but in mutual support.

A Year of Growth: Donny Pangilinan Opens Up About Maturity, Independence, and Recent Realizations

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A Year of Growth: Donny Pangilinan Opens Up About Maturity, Independence, and Recent Realizations

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published December 11, 2025 08:00 PM PHT

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Donny Pangilinan

Kyle Echarri

Roja

Belle Mariano

DonBelle

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