Bela Padilla on personal life: 'I've never been happier'


At a glance

  • Bela has launched fragrances and beauty products for Bela By Bela brand, in collaboration with celebrity Dani Barretto. She describes her brand as "unmindful and intentional."


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Bela Padilla (center) with business partners Lan Ros Tañedo and Dennis Valbuena in Quezon City.

Actress and filmmaker Bela Padilla openly shared her fondness for residing in London, emphasizing that her time there has been both unforgettable and enriching in terms of personal growth and learning.

Bela has been making the most of her time in Manila by applying her entrepreneurial talents to the launch of her own makeup and fragrance product lines. Currently, she was feeling a sense of indecision about whether she would ultimately choose to return to the Philippines and make it her permanent residence once more.

"I'm about to start a teleserye for Amazon Prime and ABS-CBN. So, we will begin taping in November," said Bela during an interview in Quezon City recently.

Bela added: "And then kaka-announce lang ng Viva ng '100 Awit Para Kay Stella.' Akala ko talaga makakauwi ako ng January. Pero sinabihan ako baka February. Pero malamang baka April na ako makabalik sa London.

"It's been a dilemma of mine na parang iniisip ko is it time to return fully. At least kasi napagbigyan ko ang sarili ko na tumira na ako sa ibang bansa. Nag aral ako doon at ang dami kong natutunan. Feeling ko nabuksan ko ang utak ko noong tumira ako sa London.

"My friends have been telling me na napapanood daw nila mga eksena ko sa Pamilya Sagrado. Ibang iba na raw ako at sobrang kalma na raw.

"Dati kasi parang kitang-kita na gustong-gusto ko yung ginagawa ko at yung mga eksena ko raw laban na laban. Kahit hindi dapat umiyak, umiyak daw ako. Ngayon daw timplang timpla ko na yung life ko so. I love that so much and I'm scared that if I say goodbye to my London life that I will lose that. But I'm still thinking about it," said Bela.

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Bela Padilla 

When Bela embarked on a new chapter in her life by starting a new business, she expressed that she had never experienced such overwhelming happiness before.

"I've never been happier than right now na I'm getting scared. Kasi usually kapag sobrang saya mo ang kasunod niyan sobrang lungkot. Ups and downs talaga ang buhay eh.

"I feel happy as a whole. I think 'It's Showtime' has a lot to do with that kasi tawa ako ng tawa. Parang, everything fits whatever puzzle piece of it, including my personal life. I have fulfilled my personal life also," Bela added.

Bela has launched fragrances and beauty products for Bela By Bela brand, in collaboration with celebrity Dani Barretto. She describes her brand as "unmindful and intentional."

Discussing her partnership with Dani, Bela said: “Dani has been my best friend for about 15 years now, and I really support her also in all her endeavors. For her to lend her name to us is such a big deal for the three of us. Marami pa kaming ilalabas.

“For me, sugal lagi eh, when you put your name on something. She’s a very meticulous person. She’s very conscious about what she puts out there. This has been years in the making," she also said.

Bela feels that even though she has started a business, she believes it might be premature to consider herself a legitimate entrepreneur at this point.

"I still need to be more confident in calling myself a legitimate entrepreneur. Parang, I'm still learning the ropes and want to give credit to my business partners. Without them, I really wouldn't know what I'm doing. Hindi ako maglalabas ng makeup line on my own kung wala akong business partners kasi wala akong idea about it talaga. Pero nae-enjoy ko siya because my reach is bigger. I think that's the beauty of having a business.

"Siguro kapag na-invite na ako sa Go! Negosyo! Pero na invite na ako sa Go Negosyo but as a filmmaker. Pagna-invite na kami as owners siguro baka maiyak na ako nun. Si Dani (Barretto) na invite na eh.  Yun ang pamantayan ko. Shucks! Businesswoman na ito," she said.

On her business mantra, Bela commented: “I always really believe like do what you love. You can’t go wrong with that. Kapag tinanong ka, automatic, alam mo ‘yung sagot kasi mahal mo ang ginagawa mo. It’s so easy for you to justify and to explain something that you love.”