INAH de Belen
Even before her launching television series, “Oh, My Mama!,” premiered on GMA 7 last Sept. 19, the newbie celebrity Inah de Belen had already gotten a taste of internet bile: She was given a lead role, critics assumed, only because she is Janice de Belen and John Estrada’s daughter.
“But I didn’t respond to them; I figured I would just prove them wrong,” she told a group of reporters at a recent press conference, adding that she has long known that intrigues will always be part of show biz, having seen her parents deal with them all their lives.
“I don’t mind being bashed,” the actress said. “I try to see the negativity as something that could motivate me.”
Prior to being an official Kapuso talent, Inah did small acting and hosting gigs here and there. It was her father who convinced her to pursue a career in acting, despite her initial misgivings. “I’m grateful to my father for pushing me because, at first, I didn’t know if I could actually do it,” she said.
But through a series of workshops, coupled with her family’s unwavering support, Inah began to believe that she was ready to take the next step. “They tell me that if I believe in myself, everything else will follow,” said Inah, who turned emotional upon being shown a video message from her mother during the event.
“My mom isn’t always this vocal, so seeing her being very supportive of what I chose to do means a lot,” Inah said. “I look up to her, not only because she’s a good actress, but also for being a strong woman.”
In “Oh, My Mama!,” which is based on a 1981 drama of the same title, Inah is Mama Cel, a teenager who runs into a child kidnapping syndicate in her search for her father. The character was originally played by Maricel Soriano.
To be anywhere near what Janice and John have achieved would be a dream come true, she said. But she knows that the shoes she needs to fill are huge: “To have parents who are good actors is a big pressure. I want to make them proud.”
While her parents are generous with encouraging words, they were never coddling, she pointed out. “They do watch my performances and give me pointers… Sometimes, I’d catch my mom watching my appearances on television,” she related. “My dad, on the other hand, is more detailed—he notices even my mouth movements.”
Inah insisted that John sees no issue about her using Janice’s surname, instead of his. “I explained to him why I had to do it. When people find out that I’m an Estrada, they sometimes think I’m related to the Estrada clan or even Gary Estrada,” Inah said, laughing.
“But when I tell people I’m Inah de Belen, they know right away that, ‘Ah, anak ni Janice!’”
E-mail apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph