Daniel Padilla on ‘adulting,’ marriage and loyalty to ABS-CBN

Padilla (right) with girlfriend Kathryn Bernardo

The COVID-19 pandemic, the ABS-CBN shutdown and all the other curveballs this year threw at us have Daniel Padilla thinking that he truly has entered the “adulting stage.”

“I feel it, especially now that we’re in lockdown—I’m getting old!” the 25-year-old star said in a recent videoconference for his virtual concert, “Apollo: A Daniel Padilla Digital Experience,” which will be streamed on the online content service KTX.ph today.

“The responsibilities are mounting. The bills, which my mom (Karla Estrada) usually handled, I take care of now. We’re in charge of everything now,” he related.

And going hand-in-hand with “adulting” are talks about his future.

In spite of the challenges, Daniel said he’s determined to continue working hard, so he could save up for his future family. “You have to be ready, so you’re not always chasing after work and juggling all sorts of things; so you can feel steady and still have time for your family,” he pointed out.

Speaking of future family, Daniel reiterated what he had said in his previous interviews that he would like to get married on a beach, and preferably, before he hits 30.

“Perhaps in three or four years—as long as it’s before 30. I don’t want to wait until I reach that age range, because once you’re there, time will pass by even faster … So, I hope everything’s smooth-sailing by then,” said Daniel, who has been in a relationship with Kathryn Bernardo for eight years now.

Would he want to start a family that early, too? “We will try!” he quipped, laughing. “But seriously, if our situation is OK, then why wait? At least you won’t be too old and still play with your kids.”

Although he seemed to be his usual chill and easygoing self during the interview, Daniel admitted it hasn’t been always the case this year. It’s important, he stressed, to keep our mental health in check.

“I know the feeling. Early on during the pandemic, I was mentally stressed. I wasn’t used to the situation. What are we going to do? There’s a pandemic happening. ABS-CBN was having troubles. It seemed as if negative stuff were taking over,” he told the Inquirer.

“So what I did was I looked up what things I should focus on, things I can do to take care of myself, and things that can inspire and help people,” added Daniel, who has been actively involved in different relief efforts for those affected by the pandemic and his fellow Kapamilyas who lost their jobs. “I felt like we should counter the negativity with positivity.”

In times of difficulty, Daniel said he and Kathryn draw strength from their families.

“Yes, you can talk to your friends. But when you’re at home and you need someone to turn to who’s always there for you? Who are the people closest to you?” he said, adding that he has been taking advantage of his free time by strengthening his bond with his loved ones even more. “You’re given a chance to be with your family, and do all the things you couldn’t do before. You get to revisit your happy times and reflect on how much you have grown.”

While he can choose to seek work in other stations, Daniel is opting to wait for ABS-CBN to rebuild. In fact, in a meeting with the network’s bosses, he and Kathryn asked: What can we do to help?

“We owe a big debt of gratitude to ABS-CBN. Personally, my life made a 180 turn—nag-iba talaga. My family can sleep more, soundly, thanks to the projects they have given me, which I also worked hard for. It’s a give and take,” he said. “I can wait until ABS-CBN recovers and rises again, because I believe in that. I’m now with them (fellow artists and employees who lost their jobs), waiting.”

Daniel Padilla

Recently, ABS-CBN announced that some of its shows will soon make its debut on the free-to-air channel Zoe TV 11, which has been renamed to A2Z.

“That’s good. Let’s conti­nue working to keep ABS-CBN alive. They trusted in us; it’s the least I can do for them,” said Daniel, who’s open to doing a new soap for A2Z, after he and Kathryn are done with their Star Cinema digital series “The House Arrest of Us.”

“Apollo” is Daniel’s first major show since “D4” in 2018 (visit www.facebook.com/starmusicph for more info). Joining him this time around is the Jose Carlito band, which is led by his brother JC Padilla. “I hope to bring cheer to people as they continue to fight and recover from the pandemic and the shutdown,” he added.

The repertoire, as always, will be a mix of pop, rock and roll, jazz standards, new wave and many more genres.

“This is different because there won’t be a live audience to draw energy from,” he said. “It’s going to be laid-back; nothing grand. It’s just like we’re jamming at home.”

If there’s one song that would encapsulate his thoughts and sentiments at the moment, it would be “One” by U2.

“It goes perfectly with what’s happening now. We can’t be too divided that we end up losing sight of the issues that need to be addressed and the things we fight for,” he said. “Let’s use what we have to inspire and help other people.”