Actress and filmmaker Bela Padilla admitted that she does not share the same political and personal beliefs as her uncle, Sen. Robin Padilla.
In a recent interview with journalist Karen Davila on her YouTube channel, Bela was asked if she agreed with her uncle’s advocacies and ideologies. She answered candidly:
“Actually, I don’t think I agree with 99 percent of the things he has been fighting for recently, or the ideologies he has. But we’re also different people.”
Bela pointed out that their differing religions play a big part in shaping their views.
“Tito Robin is Muslim. First of all, I grew up a Jehovah’s Witness Christian. So, I think, do’n pa lang, the base of our principles is already very different. Religion does play a very big factor in how a person thinks,” she explained.
Despite their differences, Bela was quick to emphasize her respect and affection for the senator.
“He’s so, so nice. Like, very, very generous. He has such a good heart,” she said, adding, “but I would do things differently.”
Her statement echoes remarks by Robin’s daughter, actress Kylie Padilla, who previously admitted that while she does not always agree with her father’s positions, she understands where he is coming from.
Beyond family matters, Bela also shared her frustrations about the Philippines compared to her years living in London.
“Simple pero enggrande because I saw so many things that I wouldn’t see here. I would watch plays that were full-on productions, I got to experience the efficiency of a first-world country that you know, sadly, now that I’m back, I see that we’re still so, so far away from,” she reflected.
Bela stressed how living abroad widened her perspective: “Living in the Philippines really puts you in a bubble, and it makes us stupid. Sorry for the term, but it makes us stupid. We have no interest in anything global, like there’s no interest here in global news, we’re so self-centered here. We only focus on our own problems. That’s something that frustrates me so much, kasi when I stepped out, I realized how there’s so many things happening, both good and bad.”
The actress also admitted she feels both angry and sad over the ongoing corruption issues in the country, adding that she wishes for a more globally aware and accountable society.
