Korean fans and international audiences witnessed another proud moment for Philippine entertainment as Daniel Padilla bagged the Outstanding Asian Star Award at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) held Thursday, October 2, at the KBS Hall in Seoul, South Korea.
The award recognized Daniel’s standout performance in the ABS-CBN/Star Creatives thriller ‘Incognito’, which has been lauded for its action, suspense, and stellar ensemble cast.
In his acceptance speech, Daniel humbly credited his win to God, his creative team, his co-stars, and most especially his family and fans.
“First and foremost, thank you, Lord. I am truly honored to be here tonight to receive this award. Thank you so much, Seoul International Drama Awards, for this recognition,” Daniel began.
He then acknowledged his ‘Incognito’ family, thanking directors Lester Pimentel Ong, Ian Loreños, and Wang Yan Bin, creative head Des de Guzman, and his co-stars Ian Veneracion, Richard Gutierrez, Baron Geisler, Anthony Jennings, Maris Racal, and Kaila Estrada, who is also being linked to him romantically.
Closing his speech, Daniel turned emotional as he gave a heartfelt shout-out to his mom, actress-host Karla Estrada:
“I just want to thank my friends and my family for their endless support and unconditional love. Mama, I made it!
And to all my fans and supporters, thank you for your continued support and unwavering love. Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito. Maraming salamat.”
From the audience, Karla Estrada was visibly emotional and couldn’t contain her joy when her son mentioned her onstage. She even shared her overflowing pride on Instagram, writing: “Congratulations anak for receiving the Outstanding Asian Star Award! I cannot express enough how proud I am of you. All your hard work, sleepless nights, and dedication have truly paid off. You are not only talented, but also determined and passionate in everything you do.
As your mother, my heart is overflowing with joy seeing you achieve your dreams. Always remember, this is just the beginning of many more successes ahead. I will always be here, your number one supporter, cheering for you every step of the way. I love you, anak. Special thanks to all the fans who supported and voted.”
Daniel joined a roster of top Asian actors honored with the same award this year, including Kim Seon Ho (The Tyrant) and Jisoo (Newtopia) from South Korea, Sakaguchi Kentaro (What Comes After Love) from Japan, Bai Yu (Bank on Me) from China, Film Rachanun Mahawan (Pluto) from Thailand, and Anna Jobling (Dear Love) from Malaysia.
Daniel’s Outstanding Asian Star Award is a landmark recognition in his career as he continues to transition from teen heartthrob to a leading man admired across Asia.
