Actress Bela Padilla candidly shared a painful yet eye-opening experience during the press conference of her upcoming film A Special Memory.
According to Bela, she once reached a point of extreme burnout while juggling multiple demanding roles in a single week.
“I have 3 projects na sabay sabay. Sa isang linggo, I was playing sniper shooter, lawyer na may sakit na schizophrenia at isang alcoholic na actress, so 3 characters in 1 week, Monday to Sunday, so nakakalimutan ko na kung sino ako.”
She then recalled a particular incident while filming ‘Mananita’. It was nearly 6 a.m., and she was already about to be late for another taping.
“Naalala ko, may isang shooting kami ng Man̈anita, pa 6 AM na noon… naka-prosthetic na ‘yung kalahati ng mukha ko kasi kunwari sunog.”
While waiting for the bus setup along EDSA near the Victory Liner station, she decided to sit on the gutter.
“Umupo na lang ako sa gutter ng EDSA habang nakasuot ako ng prosthetics tapos may dumaan, may nagbato ng piso sa akin. Awang-awa ako sa sarili ko.”
Half-laughing at the memory, she added: “Sabi ko, ano bang nangyayari sa akin today, binato ako ng piso, sabi ko sa nambato may cellphone ako, noh.”
Bela admitted that the moment made her fully feel the exhaustion she had been suppressing.
“Parang ‘yung moment na ‘yun ramdam na ramdam ko ‘yung pagod noong linggong ‘yun.”
She said she promised herself that once she got a proper day off, she would leave — far away.
During Holy Week, she traveled to London.
“When I went to London sabi ko I have to move here. That’s the reason why I move to London during pandemic, that’s the result of my burned out.”
However, two close friends reached out to her during the pandemic: Piolo Pascual and Kim Chiu.
“They told me na tama na ‘yan umuwi ka na dito. It woke me up na parang tama nga, I’m hiding from my reality and in what I’m suppose to do.”
She admitted that tough love works better for her personality.
“Oo nga noh anong ginagawa ko rito. Aral ako nang aral eh yung inaaral ko trabaho ko na sa Pilipinas, ginagawa ko na siya dati pa, so umuwi na ako.”
This 2026, Viva Films brings ‘A Special Memory’, directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng and written by National Artist Ricky Lee.
The film stars Bela Padilla and Carlo Aquino in a Philippine adaptation of the acclaimed Japanese series Pure Soul.
Bela plays Sandra, a fashion designer diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, opposite Carlo’s Dindo, a construction foreman who remains devoted even as Sandra chooses to distance herself to spare him pain.
The film also features an ensemble cast including Lotlot de Leon, Joel Torre, Yayo Aguila, Jaime Fabregas, Phoebe Walker, and Paolo Gumabao.
From their memorable pairing in ‘Meet Me in St. Gallen’ (2018), Bela and Carlo reunite in what promises to be another emotionally charged romance.
‘A Special Memory’ opens in cinemas nationwide on March 11, 2026.
