(From left) Dennis Padilla, Julia Barretto. Images: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net, Instagram/@viva_films
Julia Barretto gave her father Dennis Padilla a small but pleasant surprise when she greeted him on his 62nd birthday last February 9.
Dennis Padilla confirmed receiving a “short message” from Baretto during an ambush interview with reporters on the sidelines of his new film “When Magic Hurts,” saying he was overjoyed to waking up to the greetings of his estranged daughter with former partner Marjorie Barretto.
“Noong birthday ko, nagulat din ako noong gabi na, na-receive ko ‘yung text [galing kay Julia Barretto]. Naisip ko, number pa pala niya ‘to. Hindi [ko inaasahan] makatanggap kasi ilang years na rin,” he said.
(When it was my birthday, I was surprised that I received a text message from Julia Barretto at night. I thought that was still her number. I didn’t expect to receive a message from her because it’s been years since then.)
WATCH: A visibly overjoyed Dennis Padilla shared that he received a text message from his daughter Julia Barretto on his 62nd birthday last Feb. 9. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/DG2xXe4FVh
— Hannah Mallorca (@HMallorcaINQ) February 25, 2024
Despite the small gesture, the actor bared he was overjoyed upon receiving Barretto’s text message that he initially opted not to disclose any details about it. And while their conversation was brief, it made him emotional nonetheless.
“Nag-text lang siya, may short message siya d’un tas sumagot ako t’as meron din akong short message. Tapos ang sinagot niya sa’kin ay heart [emoji] so ang sinagot ko ay heart din,” he said. “Actually, hindi ko alam, bigla na lang tumulo ang luha ko.”
(She texted me with a short message, then I responded with a short message as well. She replied with a heart emoji and I sent a heart too. I didn’t know what I felt at the time, but my tears fell.)
When asked if he thought Claudia and Leon, his two other children with Marjorie, could have known that their sister would be texting him, Padilla admitted it’s likely that they, too, were aware of their sister’s deed.
“I’m sure naman nalaman nila (Claudia and Leon) na Ate texted Papa. Si Leon ang huli kong nakausap [nang face to face]. Talagang namimiss ko sila,” he said. (I’m sure Claudia and Leon knew that Ate texted their dad. Leon was the one whom I talked to last. I really miss them.)
Padilla also admitted that he’s “not sure” if he’s allowed to disclose the details of his brief exchange with Barretto, but said her message was the “best birthday gift” that he received.
“Tinatanong ko sa sarili ko kung sabihin ko ba sa mga press na nagtext siya. Sabi ko, hindi ko alam kung tama pero ‘yun ang nararamdaman ko na okay lang na malaman ng mga tao,” he said.
(I asked myself if I could tell the press that she texted me. I don’t know if this is right for me to do, but I felt that it’s okay for people to know.)
Despite this, the actor-comedian noted that he should learn how to interact with them “privately” while hoping that his children would respond to their messages.
“I think I should talk to her more privately kasi hindi ko alam kung ang mga numbers nila ay existing pa… Sana kapag nagge-greet ako kapag special occassion, sana sumagot,” he said. (I think I should talk to her more privately because I don’t know if their numbers are still the same. But I hope when I greet them during special occasions, they will answer.)
Barretto has yet to comment on her brief encounter with Padilla, as of this writing.
On the first day of February, Padilla expressed on his Instagram page that he hoped to see and talk to his daughter again. Barretto, on the other hand, said in a September 2022 interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila that she was not yet “ready” to forgive her father. She had since remained tightlipped on matters concerning her family.