Daniel Padilla thanks Kathryn Bernardo at contract signing with ABS-CBN

Daniel Padilla during his contract signing with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. Image: Screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment

Daniel Padilla is navigating his life and career as a single person, but said that he would never forget the good times that he shared with his ex-girlfriend, Kathryn Bernardo.

At the contract renewal signing ceremony with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic held last Feb. 12, Padilla thanked his family, loved ones, and ABS-CBN’s executives, but his most touching tribute was for Bernardo, who he had been with for 11 years.

Bernardo, too, had her contract renewal with the talent management arm earlier this month.

“Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan si Kathryn. Maraming salamat sa maraming taon na pinagsamahan. Hinding hindi mawawala sa puso ko ang memories at ating adventures at journeys na pinagsamahan. Thank you very much,” he said.

(I will never forget Kathryn. Thank you very much for the many years we spent together. The memories, adventures, and journeys we shared will never be forgotten in my heart. Thank you very much.)

The ex-couple, whose popular love team “KathNiel” spawned a massive fandom all over the country, confirmed their breakup in November 2023.

Padilla also thanked his fans for standing by his side in his 15-year career, while mentioning his fanbase with Bernardo.

“Papasalamatan ko ang KathNiels sa mahabang panahon ng ating pagsasama natin. Hinding hindi ‘yun mawawala sa aking puso, ang masayang pinagsamahanan natin. All good memories. Walang makakatalo sa memories na ‘yun. For me, wala pa ring fans club na tatalo sa KathNiel. Sorry, but it’s true,” he said.

(I want to thank the KathNiels for the years we shared. The memories will never fade from my heart, all the good moments we had. All good memories. No one can beat those memories. For me, no fans club can ever beat KathNiel. Sorry, but it’s true.)

Living the moment

At present, Padilla said he just wants to live in the present, while minding his own business.

“Minsan, hindi mo namamalayan na ang bilis ng panahon (Sometimes, you’re unaware how fast time has passed). And now, I have new goals in life,” he said.

Asked about his immediate plans, he said: “I wanna spend time with my family, enjoying life, and minding our own business. I [also] want to spend time with my friends. I want to enjoy and soak in life. I want to focus on my work and life.”

‘Positive and negative messages’

During his contract signing, Padilla disclosed that he had received “positive and negative” messages while expressing his gratitude for them as it makes him human. He, however, opted to disclose what he was referring to in his statement.

“Lumayo muna ako sa harap ng camera. Everyone knows sa industriya that it’s work. And it’s not my life. Malaki ang mundo ko sa labas ng industriya,” he said. (I took a break from the cameras for a while. Everyone knows in the industry that it’s just work. And it’s not my life. I have a big world outside the industry.)

“I get random messages on my phone kasama ang positive at negative, and I truly appreciate that. It makes me human,” he said. “Hindi natatapos ang learning and experiences in life. It brings you down and it brings you back up. Gan’un talaga ang buhay. Kailangan nating tanggapin. It was bound to happen. Gan’un talaga. Pero nand’un ang Diyos sa lahat ng bagay.”

(I get random positive and negative messages on my phone, and I truly appreciate that. It makes me human. Learning and experiences don’t stop in life. It brings you down and it brings you back up. Life is like that. We have to accept it. It was bound to happen. It’s like that, but the Lord is always there.)

Also present at Padilla’s contract renewal were his mother Karla Estrada, siblings, ABS-CBN’s COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak, and the media giant’s executives.

Padilla is set to star in the upcoming films “The Guest” and “Nang Mapagod Si Kamatayan,” although details about its storyline and premiere dates have yet to be disclosed.

He was supposed to star in a reunion film with Bernardo as well. However, it remains unknown whether the project would push through, or will be shelved for good.