I’ve crossed paths with Belinda Panelo-Lizardo—that’s VJ Belinda to her starstruck followers on MTV Asia—long before she became a household name in the entertainment biz. In fact, I was there when she took her first crack at acting by way of Nestor U. Torre’s stage adaptation of Jullie Yap-Daza’s “Etiquette for Mistresses,” staged at the Music Museum many moons ago.
I wasn’t really part of the cast, but that show gathered a stellar acting ensemble that included, among others, Marco Sison, Jenine Desiderio, Robert Seña, Bo Cerrudo, the reliable comedic tandem of Andy Bais and Arlene Borja, Christine Carlos, the ridiculously talented Bituin Escalante (who first acted in Nestor’s original staging of Musical Theater Philippines’ “Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal?”) and, hold your breath, former screen nymphet Priscilla Almeda.
I initially resisted participating in that production that was run like clockwork by production manager Alita Divino because Nestor (NUT) tapped me to choreograph one dance number. “Me? Choreograph?” I thought.
I wanted to beg off, but when you’re young and new in the theater industry, you don’t really say no to an industry titan like Nestor. Moreover, a full-time theater practitioner needs to do everything “to grow roots” into the industry: You don’t just sing, act and dance to prove how formidable of a triple threat you are. You also sometimes sell tickets, write scripts, translate dialogue, make props, buy costumes, produce, promote and direct. But I’m digressing.
One of the biggest “discoveries” in that production was the discovery of a statuesque looker named Belinda Panelo, who ended up becoming one of Nestor’s favorite actresses after a, well, “testy” start. NUT was dazzled by the lovely newbie’s scorching combo of beauty, brains, versatility and good attitude.
After that, NUT wanted to cast Belinda in all of his productions. He asked us to play Jose Rizal in the Bayanihan Dance Company’s first-ever musical-theater production “Sa Ibayong Dagat,” starring pop singer Roselle Nava (“Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita”), but he created a role for Belinda just because he enjoyed working with her.
He then cooked comedy-musical revue, “Beauty and the Best,” topbilled by Belinda and another Nestor favorite, Andy Bais, the OPM Fe S. Panlilio singing champ who would years later romp off with a best supporting actor plum at the Cinema One fest for his portrayal in “Violator.”
Then came her big break, as VJ Belinda, with MTV Asia—and the rest is history.
Belinda Panelo-Lizardo
At special get-togethers, when we would be reminiscing about the countless theater shows we’ve done and performed in all over the country, NUT would fondly look back at his rehearsals with Belinda, describing the beautiful actress-host as “the musical theater star who doesn’t sing.”
Actually, Belinda can carry a tune—it’s just not the type of voice that is snug fit for stadium songs that would bring the house down.
Later, I crossed paths with Belinda again when she performed in New Voice’s various incarnations of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues”—and she didn’t disappoint. She even performed in a touring production of “TVM” around Asia.
These days, Belinda, now married to tennis ace Joseph Lizardo, is busy juggling schoolwork and homelife in Los Angeles.
Last weekend, I was thrilled to quickly catch up with her and ask how she was enjoying life as a mother to Devon, 15, and Salma, 9. Then, I asked her to snap a picture of her with her kids.
“Who said I enjoy it?” Belinda quipped in jest, then told me how she was managing during the pandemic. “Currently, naloloka ako being in lockdown, so I’ll have to think about the joys of motherhood—preferably with a drink in hand (laughs).” When I told her I was “growing roots” in isolation, she shot back, “These roots are no joke. For real!”
But when she was finally able to sit down and think about what she found satisfying and enjoyable about motherhood, Belinda sent me a haiku to vivify her feelings about the topic.
“A haiku, if I may,” she said. “Because I’m maarte, you see.”
Let’s call it, “Motherhood”—and here is how it goes:
Love captured. Laughter.
Heartache eclipsed by lightness.Fervent. Never dull.
As you can see, dear readers, even Belinda’s mind, not just her beauty, is aging like wine.