SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Usually when an international star with millions of fans worldwide arrives in your city, everyone wants to get to know the celebrity and learn more about them.
However, in the case of Filipina actress Belle Mariano’s appearance in San Francisco on Wednesday, she wanted to get to know her fans and audience.
Inside the Marina Theater was where an intimate conversation was had between Mariano and the local community, mostly Filipino Americans. Mariano was supposed to be in town promoting her upcoming film “Meet, Greet & Bye,” a film highlighting a Filipino family story, but it ended up being more than that.
The panel discussion, which happened to fall during Filipino American History Month, was a two-sided affair in which Mariano even shared some of her personal family stories — with her mother, who flew in from the Philippines, in attendance. Moderator Mark Labella made sure every member of the audience spoke to make the event interactive.
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Both Mariano and audience members shared their perspectives on growing up Filipino in the United States, the former having grown up in the homeland. Some members of the mostly American crowd opened up about juggling the two cultures in a tug-of-war identity crisis.
“It’s such a delight for me to hear your stories,” Mariano tells KRON4. “I rarely get this opportunity to just interact with you (Filipino Americans) since you guys are so far away.
“I want to know how it’s like for you guys to grow up and relate to you guys as well. It’s so nice how eager you are to learn about your culture, our culture — to see the love we share for one another.”
The 23-year-old actress truly cherishes getting to know her overseas audience, and that is manifested in her curiosity to learn about the Filipino-American experience.
Even including where they grocery shop. KRON4 asked what Mariano wants to do during her short time in the SF Bay Area.
“Well, a lot of you guys have been mentioning Seafood City,” Mariano said with a chuckle. “I never been, but I want to go.”
Mariano added that a visit to the Filipino American grocery chain would “immerse” herself in the culture.
Watch KRON4’s full interview with Mariano in the video player above.
It wasn’t just Mariano interested in the Fil-Am way of life.
Some attendees aren’t Filipino or Filipino-American but still could relate to the culture and film’s themes, including San Francisco resident Cynthia Huang.
“Being Taiwanese American and Filipino American is similar in the sense that a lot of relatives and family are so far away, so I really connected with that desire for more connection, community,” Huang said. “Family is everything — that’s something Filipinos really really showcase. I feel like all of my Filipino friends, they always talk about family. That’s something in my culture too that I really relate to.”
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The open-to-the-public event also gave the panel participants a sneak peek of the movie, which also features Philippine film stars Piolo Pascual, Joshua Garcia and Marciel Soriano. They were asked by film producers for their feedback and what they would like to see in the next film.
San Francisco was one of Mariano’s three North American tour stops for the community panel discussion. She was previously in Vancouver and Los Angeles.
“Even if regardless where you grew up, it’s the values we hold on to. It’s the love that we share. I think that’s what makes us all Filipino,” Mariano said.
“Meet, Greet & Bye” premieres in North America on Nov. 14. How to watch the movie in Bay Area theaters near you will be detailed closer to the date. Stay tuned on KRON4 for local showtimes.