The first international acting award is always close to the heart.
That is what actress Janice de Belen felt after she bagged the Best Actress trophy in the International Film Festival Manhattan Autumn 2021 for her portrayal of a mom of an AIDS victim in Sugat sa Dugo (Wounded Blood). It’s her first international acting award.
The dramatic film also took home the Independent Film Award for Producing for first-time producers Bambbi Fuentes (executive producer) and Cristine Areola (associate producer) of Dragon Entertainment productions, who bankrolled their maiden project.
Tapping Janice to portray the mom in Sugat sa Dugo was a no-brainer for celebrity hairdresser and make-up artist Bambbi Fuentes. The actress is one of her early clients even back in the ‘90s, along with younger sister, Gelli.
“Bambbi called me up and simply asked me, ‘Pwede ka bang mag-cameo?’,” Janice shared. “I only had to devote one whole day to shoot around five sequences. Even after I said yes, we couldn’t shoot right away because I was doing It’s Showtime then.”
When the news reached Janice that she got an international award for Sugat sa Dugo, that left her wondering for a long time. “After a while, I still wasn’t sure at that time whether or not I won,” she said. “It was unexpected. I was still asking why I won.”
The same thing happened when she bagged the Best Supporting Actress award from FAMAS last year for Jun Lana’s comedy-drama, Big Night. “I only did three sequences in that film,” she offered.
Throughout her four decades of acting on screen, Janice emphasized she never worked for an award. “For me, do your best and always give your best,” she said. “Whenever I do anything, I don’t think of an award.
“If you keep on working for an award, what will happen if the film was not entered into a competition where it had to be judged by a jury. Expect nothing. If you win an award or are given an accolade, then that’s just a bonus.”
Although she worked very briefly with her young co-stars — Khai Flores, Christa Jocson and Shira Tweg, who play her children in Sugat sa Dugo — Janice couldn’t deny their potential in snagging challenging roles in their future projects and building their respective names for themselves.
“Sila na ang bahalang mag-enhance whatever potentials they have,” she said. “I’m sure they will have other breaks in the future. I worked with them very briefly. They can get more projects.”
Starting in showbiz in 1978, Janice is looking forward to her golden year in the business six years from now (2028). She got her first award in 1991 for Chito Roño’s Kailan Ka Magiging Akin, where she starred opposite Gabby Concepcion.
“When you’re younger, you think of a dream role which will showcase your talent,” she admitted. “That’s where you’ll know whether or not you’re really a good performer. But after a while, you realize as an actress, no matter how big or small your role is, it’s your job to make it shine.
“There are roles that are impossible for me to do at this point. Hindi na ako bagets. Age wise hindi na. Body wise, definitely hindi na. I’m realistic. Whatever roles that come to me, if they are in my gain, I will do it. Contravida, hindi contravida, mayaman, mahirap. Basta maganda siya sa pandinig ko, I think I can do it.”
After 14 years of being separated from John Estrada, the father of her four children, Janice remains happily single to this day. She stays in her Parañaque home with her dad, Philip de Belen, her children and eight dogs, two of which sleep inside her bedroom.
“Maybe my love life is the last of my priorities,” said Janice. “What else do I need to prove? I have five children (including her eldest Luigi Muhlach). I was already married. I had failed relationships. I got separated. I had a relationship after that. I don’t want to get married again.
“I don’t look for a relationship. I might have initially worried thinking that I might grow old alone. Even if you have someone, when he dies, you will also be alone. I don’t want that to be an issue. When I started working and working, I stopped thinking about it. I don’t think I can still adjust to being with a partner.
“I forgot about it already. You’ll snap out of it. I don’t get lonely. I have enjoyed my independence for a long time now. Weirdly, I enjoy being alone. This pandemic, all my kids are with me. My worry was to stay healthy and how to survive the pandemic because I was busy cooking for the kids. They were eating non-stop.”
The K-drama fan admittedly stopped idolizing South Korean actor Lee Min-ho. “Break na kami ni Lee Min-ho,” Janice smilingly said, as she displayed the new wallpaper on her mobile phone showing Descendants of the Sun actor. “Song Joong-ki na ang love ko.”