by Robbie Pangilinan
Marija Debelic has traveled the world since 2009 as a professional dancer and model. She has been to Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, USA, United Arab Emirates, Macau, China, and Thailand. But now, she has chosen to settle in a place more than 10,000 kilometers away from her home in Croatia.
“I feel so at home here in the Philippines. I love the tropical weather, I love that it’s always summer. My best friends are here, my work is here, and my life is here,” says Marija, who has also been everywhere in the country – from Ilocos Norte, Pagudpud to Davao in Mindanao.
The dancer, model, host and actress has been in Manila for almost five years now. What she calls home here in the Philippines is a studio apartment that she says fits her lifestyle.
“Basically everything is in one place/one room. It’s pretty much like NYC lifestyle, which is perfect for me. I love my bedroom which is at the same time my work room because I love sleeping and working,” shares the lead actress in the movie “Boy Tokwa.”
Marija admits that her life here is very different from what she was used to in Croatia, where she lived in a spacious three-bedroom house.
“In Croatia, we don’t have maids. Here, there are so many cleaners, helpers, yayas, ates. I am used to doing household chores in Croatia, so here when I don’t have time, I get a cleaner or a helper but the funny thing is, I always end up helping them clean and they are usually shocked,” laughs the cum laude in Economics and Business Management graduate.
“Honestly, I love cleaning. I find it relaxing and it’s kind of a meditation for me. Usually I put music on and clean everything by myself from my bed to the bathroom,” she adds.
Marija says she is both a homebody and not a homebody.
“I enjoy everything at home – working, relaxing, reading books, hanging out with my friends and playing the piano. There are days when I choose to stay at home and I literally just rest and even have food delivered to me. This is usually when I’m tired and exhausted. But when I’m on work mode, I am everywhere. Besides work, I go to the pool, the gym, eat outside, hang out with my friends in bars or watch movies,” says Marija, who also starred in the TV drama “Be My Lady” and in the films “Art of Ligaw” and “Beauty and the Bestie.” She released her first single “Syanel” with Brazilian actress-model Daiana Menezes, and has done over 20 TV commercials. She is doing three movies this year.
Catch Marija via Facebook: Marija Debelic, or be one of her thousands of followers on Instagram:@marijadebelic. She’s also on Spotify: Marija Debelic.
