Bela Padilla On Having One Project After Another: "My Patience And Prayers Pay Off"

WE SAW Bela Padilla in three consecutive presscons. First was for the movie she’s doing with Jackie Woo, “Tomodachi”, for Global Japan Productions. Then at the presscon of “Ang Probinsyano” at ABS-CBN, and last at the “Felix Manalo” presscon of Viva Entertainment. She didn’t have much to do last year. But this year seems to be a bumper crop for her.

“Yes, and I thank the Lord for all the blessings,” she says. “Nagbunga rin ang aking paghihintay, pagdarasal at perseverance na may darating na magagandang projects for me. And I’m so happy puro leads ang ginagampanan ko in all these projects. I’m the wife of Dennis Trillo in ‘Felix Manalo’, definitely one of the biggest budgeted movies of the year, at tatanda kami diyan pareho. I’m also the wife of Coco Martin in ‘Ang Probinsyano’. At sa ‘Tomodachi’, ako yung Filipina girlfriend ni Jackie Woo with whom I have a forbidden love affair kasi Japanese officer siya during the Second World War.”

Joel Lamangan is the director of both “Felix Manalo” and “Tomodachi”. He says he found out Bela is a competent actress while they were shooting “Felix Manalo”, so he got her again as Jackie Woo’s love interest in “Tomodachi”.

“After working with her in ‘Felix Manalo’, alam kong hindi ako mapapahiya kay Jacky sa rekomendasyon kong si Bela ang kunin niyang kapareha sa ‘Tomodachi’ as she’s really a good actress,” says Direk Joel.
How does Bela feel about this? “I’m honored, and also humbled, coming from Direk Joel. Utang na loob ko sa kanyang napasama ako sa ‘Tomodachi’. Working with him has really opened new doors for me. Next year, may isa pa akong project with a top singer-actress, but bawal pang i-reveal ang details.”

She’s also elated to work with Coco in “Ang Probinsyano”. “Napakagaan niyang katrabaho. He plays dual roles here as Ador and Kardo. Ako yung misis ni Ador. Si Maja Salvador naman ang kapareha ni Kardo. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa ABS-CBN dahil kalilipat ko lang uli sa kanila, ganito na kaagad kalaking ang project ang ibinigay nila sa akin. ‘Ang Probinsyano’ will start airing on Monday night.”

Her BF Neil Arce was with her at the “Tomodachi” presscon but he just patiently waited for her while the presscon was going on. Bela thanked him for being very supportive, especially now that she has one project coming up after another. Because of this, any plans of settling down will have to be on hold as she has to make hay while the sun shines.