Working with Maricel Soriano helped rekindle Bela Padilla's love for acting

MANILA, August 20 ------ Working with Maricel Soriano in the upcoming film "Life After You" helped rekindle Bela Padilla's passion for acting, after a difficult period that stemmed largely from work-related matters.

Padilla on Wednesday admitted that she had become fearful of returning to any set, after hearing and reading things about herself that left her feeling "attacked." But Soriano — the "Diamond Star" — made her remember why she loved her job.

"She made me realize it is not always sunshine and rainbows in our profession. My whole life I treated this profession and job that way—and then it got challenging for a bit," said Padilla. "But she made me realize why I came here, why acting is important to us, why we love it so much, and why being a storyteller is important. "She brought that back to me," she added. Their project also proved "cathartic," said Padilla. "It helped me learn a lot about myself and the people I worked with. Kasi I am not gonna lie, napaso talaga ako. I felt scared to be on set again," she added.

According to Padilla, she could have easily debunked claims that were made against her. However, she instead chose not to respond publicly because she was still part of the unnamed production at the time. "I did not want to do anything. I lost my fight. Parang, I felt this was so unfair, I did not want to say anything," she explained. "Everything was easily refutable—even as simple as being late. I came on set even before prod [the production]." "I was late once dahil kinagat ako ng aso and I had to go to the hospital, and they knew that," she added.

The experience, however, made Padilla question who she could trust, and even forced her to second-guess herself. "It was so unnerving. You can make up so many things, and you read about yourself in such a different light. I started questioning myself, 'Did I do something wrong?'" she said. "I reached out to people mentioned—'Did I do this? Did I make you feel this way? They said they didn't know where it was coming from," she added.

The emotional and mental toll eventually impacted Padilla's physical health, forcing her to go in and out of the hospital. "It really affected me a lot. I had to see so many doctors because it was affecting me on a physical level. I felt I could not defend myself. I was so stressed out, I couldn't sleep, and I lost weight—I dropped to 48 kilos. It was affecting me physically," she revealed.

Despite the painful ordeal, Padilla expressed gratitude for the support she ultimately received from those around her. "Siguro dahil I always look out for others, 'nung ako naman ang mahina, naghintay ako that someone would help me in that moment. And a lot of people did it. It might not be how I do it—they don't have the same platform as I do and may not be as vocal as I am—but I got the support I needed," she said.

"Life After You," the first film collaboration between Padilla and Soriano, will open in cinemas nationwide beginning September 9.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com