Bela Padilla and ex-bf agree to compromise

From left: Zanjoe Marudo, Nayomi Ramos, Bela Padilla

Bela Padilla said she has ended her four-year romantic relationship with businessman Neil Arce, but not their “artistic/creative partnership.”

“I would like to think that I’m quite mature for my age,” the 25-year-old actress said during the press conference of “My Dear Heart,” ABS-CBN’s newest drama program to premiere on Jan. 25. “That’s why Neil and I were able to come up with a compromise. We’ve agreed to still work together.”

“We jive where new and interesting concepts are concerned. In fact, we are currently working on a movie,” Bela pointed out.

She was referring to Dan Villegas’ “Luck at First Sight,” starring Jericho Rosales. She cowrote the script with Neil. The ex-couple also conceptualized Irene Villamor’s comedy flick, “Camp Sawi.”

She insisted that there was no bad blood between them. She said: “I can see us being friends for a long time. We will work on more concepts in the future.  When it comes to these things, I still value his opinion more than anybody else’s.”

Mutual decision

Bela refused to reveal the reason for the split, but insisted that it was “a mutual decision.”

She then pleaded with show biz reporters to “please be nice to him. You can criticize me all you want, just spare him. I don’t want him to read writeups that could make him feel bad. He has no control over this. I’m the only one present at this press con, and it was just my side of the story that you heard.”

She claimed that the break-up was still so fresh that “it hasn’t sunk in yet. I guess it’s because I’m busy with work. I tape for our teleserye every Monday, Wednesday and Friday; study (scriptwriting under Ricky Lee) every Sunday; and work on the film during the remaining days. Besides, I’m here to talk about the show and not about my personal issues.”

In “My Dear Heart,” Bela plays Clara de Jesus, the mother of child heroine Heart (Nayomi Ramos), and wife to Jude (Zanjoe Marudo).

The child, who has always been the source of strength and happiness of her parents, gets diagnosed with a congenital heart disease.

Desperate to find a cure for their daughter’s illness, Jude and Clara turn to Dr. Margaret Divinagracia (Connie Reyes), considered the best heart surgeon in the country. However, the latter is unable to cure Heart’s illness, leaving the child hovering between life and death.

Bela said she doesn’t mind portraying mother roles. This was her second since she transferred to ABS-CBN. The first was in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”

“First and foremost, I’m an actress. My character’s personality and status in life are not always similar to mine. That’s what actually makes it challenging,” she pointed out, adding that she fell in love with Nayomi on Day One of taping.

“I’m very patient with kids. On the set, I treat Nayomi as my little sister. I don’t see myself having my own kid just yet. I don’t think I’m ready to take on that responsibility at this point.”

“My Dear Heart” also features Joey Marquez, Rio Locsin, Eric Quizon, Susan Africa, Ria Atayde, Jameson Blake, Mark Oblea, Hyubs Azarcon, Sandino Martin and Robert Arevalo.—MARINEL R. CRUZ INQ