Photo by Jonathan Cellona
MANILA -- Actress-screenwriter-director Bela Padilla has returned home to her Kapamilya as she signed a network and management contract with ABS-CBN on Monday, August 25.
Present during the contract signing were ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, chairman Mark Lopez, COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes, CFO Rick Tan, and Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi. Padilla's Star Magic manager Deejaye dela Paz and co-manager Pia Campos were also present.
"I'm so excited I got here so early. .. Thank you to everybody who's here today. I am so happy to be here. I think everyone on this table knows like it wasn't an easy process but now that it's here I feel like everything has been worth it," Padilla said.
Padilla was only 16 when she joined showbiz, starting out as a teen actress under Star Magic. She was part of Star Magic's Batch 15 in 2007. After years in the industry, she made a name not only as an actress but also a writer, producer and director. She was 24 when she became part of hit "Ang Probinsyano" as Carmen.
Padilla moved to London in 2021 but has since returned to resume working here full-time.
Photo by Jonathan Cellona
In the media conference after the contract signing, Padilla expressed excitement to do a project with Star Magic.
"I feel like the direction of the agency is quite different and I have to say that it's very in line with what I do as an artist. I also can't compare what I could do before and I could do now because I was 16 back then and I'm older now. ... I'm definitely different now also as an artist and as a person. So I feel like this will be a new experience again for me as well," Padilla said.
As a Kapamilya, Padilla expressed her dream to work with her close friends Angelica Panganiban and Kim Chiu.
"I would like to work and Angelica and Kim. They are two of my best friends here in the industry," said Padilla who shared it would really be fun to do project with the two actresses.
Right now, Padilla said she's slowly going back into television but is not closing her doors to doing theater like what Panganiban did.
Padilla also said she will continue writing, noting that it's a therapeutic for her.
Asked if she's open to join "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," Padilla replied: "Why not? Kapag tapos na siguro 'yung shooting, why not?"
Padilla said that she have two movies that are about to come out -- "100 Awit Para Kay Stela" will be coming out on September 10., and she is also currently filming a reunion project with Carlo Aquino.
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