Bela Padilla’s solution to heal her broken heart

Bela Padilla

Bela Padilla, who called it quits with businessman Neil Arce in January, is giving her heart a break from love for now.

The 26-year-old actress said that, as a way to help speed up the healing process, she kept herself busy with activities that interested and challenged her. “I submerged myself in work,” said the cast member of the ABS-CBN drama series “My Dear Heart,” which will air its finale tonight.

“While doing the show, I also did two movies (‘Luck at First Sight’ and ‘100 Tula Para Kay Stella’). I would often have only an hour’s sleep before going to my other commitments,” she said. “This was why I didn’t have time for other things. I’d rather sleep than spend time exchanging text messages or talking on the phone with some guy.”

Bela denied she was playing sweet music with costar Zanjoe Marudo, who was rumored to have accompanied her in several out-of-town trips recently. Rather than go out on dates, Bela said she would instead pursue her other interests, like scriptwriting and directing.

Bela’s first full-length script is now in production with Joyce Bernal at the helm. She cowrote with Neil the comedy flick “Camp Sawi” by Irene Villamor and the romantic-comedy “Luck at First Sight” by Dan Villegas.

“I was surprised that it got approved on its first draft. I’m very proud of this project and happy that it was given to Direk Joyce,” she shared with the Inquirer. “I find satisfaction in the thought that I was able to create something out of nothing, that everything came from my mind and heart. It’s like giving birth to my own baby, I guess. It’s so special. To be able to see it come alive on screen is such a blessing.”

Bela is also hell-bent on studying directing. “I will take up apprenticeship under Direk Dan. I will shadow him until he packs up his set. I will study everything on the set, not just directing. I prefer to learn through experience rather than go to a formal school for directing,” she pointed out.

With “My Dear Heart” ending, Bela said she would miss everyone she had worked with on the show, especially its lead child actors Nayomi Ramos (who plays Heart) and Enzo Pelojero (Bingo). “I love kids. I’m the youngest in the family so I didn’t have anyone to play with growing up,” she said.

“My Dear Heart” also features Joey Marquez, Rio Locsin, Eric Quizon, Susan Africa and Robert Arevalo.