Daniel Padilla to focus on family, work following breakup with Kathryn Bernardo; thanks her for the memories
Daniel Padilla said he wishes to spend more time with his loved ones and focus on work—weeks after his high-profile breakup with longtime partner Kathryn Bernardo.
“I have new goals in life now. I wanna spend time with my family, my friends,” said Padilla during his contract renewal with Star Magic on Feb. 12, amid speculation that he was leaving the agency.
“‘Yun lang. I wanna sulk in life, enjoy life to the fullest. Yun muna ang focus ko. Work, family,” he added, while giving a shout-out to his siblings Magui, JC, Carmella, and mother Karla Estrada.
Padilla also thanked ABS-CBN executives, industry colleagues, and his fans, including KathNiels.
"Hinding-hindi mawawala sa puso ko at sa aking memories ang ating masasayang pinagsamahan,” Padilla told KathNiels. “And for me, wala pa ring fans club na makakatalo sa KathNiel. Sorry, but it's true."
On the heels of his breakup with Bernardo, Padilla said he’s receiving positive and negative messages alike.
“I truly appreciate that. It makes me human,” he said. “Ang dami ko ring natututunan sa inyo.”
“I thought ‘yung experiences ko sa buhay marami na. Pero talagang hindi natatapos ang learning, ang knowledge.”
Padilla said he’s leaving everything to God at the moment.
“Planado ng Diyos ang lahat,” he said.
Just as the program was about to wrap up, Padilla gave a shout-out to his old flame.
“Siyempre, di ko pwedeng kalimutan si Kathryn,” he said. “Maraming taon na pinagsamahan. You know, hinding-hindi mawawala sa puso ko ang mga magaganda nating memories at ating mga adventures at journeys na pinagsamahan. Thank you very much.”
Padilla joined showbiz in 2010 when he was 15 years old.
He rose to fame in 2011 when he got paired with Bernardo for the teleserye Growing Up. They have since starred in more shows and movies, becoming a “reel to real” couple in the process.
Padilla and Bernardo confirmed their relationship in 2018.
But as 2023 was ending, there were rumors that their relationship was on the rocks.
Talent manager Ogie Diaz initially disclosed the breakup between Bernardo and Padilla, citing information from an unnamed source. Diaz also mentioned the name of Andrea Brillantes, who’s supposedly secretly meeting with Padilla.
The breakup rumors intensified when Brillantes apparently unfollowed Bernardo on Instagram amid the issue. In turn, Bernardo and her celebrity friends Loisa Andalio and Miles Ocampo had also cut the communication lines with Brillantes.
On Nov. 30, Padilla and Bernardo made separate announcements about the end of their relationship after 11 years.
But on Dec. 13, the ex-couple surprised fans when they appeared together on the ABS-CBN Christmas Special stage.