BELA PADILLA is so fortunate. On the big screen, she plays the wife of Dennis Trillo in “Felix Manalo”. On TV, she plays the wife of Coco Martin in “Ang Probinsiyano”. “I really can’t complain,” she says. “I feel so blessed. Not everyone is given the chance to work opposite two of the best and most awarded young actors in the business today. Yung isa, top actor sa ABS at yung isa, sa GMA, what more can any actress ask for, di ba? Pareho silang magaling umarte kaya nakaka-inspire na katrabaho. But when the year started, I didn’t know what’s in store for me at kung ano ang magiging projects ko. Then dumating ang ‘Felix Manalo’ na akala ko, maliit lang ang role ko. Yun pala, as Honorata the wife of Dennis, kasama ako mula start in 1910 hanggang sa ending na, at patatandain pa ako.”
Off cam, she’s on a relationship with producer Neil Arce. How does Neil feel when she has romantic scenes with both Dennis and Coco? “Three years na kami and he’s always been very supportive. Sobrang happy siya sa nangyayari sa career ko ngayon and with the good projects I’m getting. Hindi siya nagseselos dahil he’s not like that. And he knows he can trust me kasi I tell him everything that’s happening on the set.”Do they intend to walk down the aisle soon? “Ay, naku, wala sa immediate plans namin yan. Matagal pa yan kasi ang dami ko pang dreams na gusto kong mag-achieve. Ngayon ko pa lang napi-feel na parang nagkakaroon ito ng katuparan with the projects I have now, so definitely, malayo pa yung settling down. Neil and I are just enjoying each other’s company as boyfriend-girlfriend as of now. Gusto ko munang makitang maging success sa box office ang ‘Felix Manalo’ at maging toprater naman on primetime ‘Ang Probinsiyano’. Dun muna ang focus ko.”
