Actress-writer-director Bela Padilla is officially back home with ABS-CBN.
On Monday, August 25, Bela signed an exclusive contract with Star Magic, marking her return to the talent management arm of the Kapamilya network after several years of living abroad.
The contract signing was witnessed by ABS-CBN executives, including Chairman Mark Lopez, President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, COO Cory Vidanes, CFO Rick Tan, and Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi. Bela’s managers Deejaye Dela Paz of Star Magic and Pia Campos of W Talent Management also joined the event at the Dolphy Theater in Quezon City.
Bela described her homecoming as a “full-circle” moment, recalling how she first entered showbiz as part of Star Magic Batch 15 in 2007.
“Masaya sa feeling na tinawag nila akong bumalik lalo pa at ngayong lumalakas muli sila,” she shared, adding that she had previously turned down offers from other networks out of loyalty to ABS-CBN.
“Sobrang loyal lang siguro ako kaya hindi ko naisip na magtrabaho sa ibang tao. May natanggap akong offers na magteleserye sa ibang kumpanya pero mas ginusto ko na lang umalis,” she said, recalling her decision to relocate to London during the pandemic and the franchise shutdown.
Under her new contract, Bela hopes to balance her passion projects and advocacy work while strengthening her career as both actress and storyteller.
“Alam ko na makukuha ko ‘yung suporta mula sa Star Magic na magpatuloy bumuo ng kwento. Lalo nitong nakaraang taon mas nag-focus ako sa acting. Mas magkakaroon ng balanse,” she explained.
Though her upcoming projects have yet to be revealed, Bela expressed her wish to reunite with Coco Martin, her former co-star in the hit primetime series ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ (2015).
“Why not? Kapag tapos na siguro ‘yung shooting, why not?” she teased, when asked about the possibility of appearing in ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’, where Coco currently serves as lead actor, director, and writer.
She also revealed she dreams of working again with her best friends and fellow Kapamilya stars Angelica Panganiban and Kim Chiu, collectively known as the Bekis trio.
Bela’s most recent Kapamilya project was a cameo in ‘Pamilya Sagrado’, while she continues to appear as a guest co-host on ‘It’s Showtime’.
In film, Bela has made her mark as both actress and writer, known for works like ‘Camp Sawi’, ‘100 Tula Para Kay Stella’, ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7’, and ‘10,000 Hours’. She also ventured behind the camera as director of ‘366’ (2022). (with reports from Loyd Pino)