Actress Bela Padilla on Thursday revealed the reason why she broke up with her long-time boyfriend, businessman, and film producer Neil Arce.
Speaking in “Magandang Buhay,” Bela admitted that choosing her career over her former flame was the reason why they had go their separate ways.
The 26-year-old actress confirmed earlier this month that she has broken up with the film producer; however, Bela stressed that she and Neil continue to be good friends and that there is no bad blood between them.
“Parang pinili ko talaga ay work, wala akong ibang pina-prioritize. Naikuwento ko naman yata dati dito na may cancer ang daddy ko, so kailangan kong mag-prepare kaya ako trabaho nang trabaho. Kailangan kong mag-ipon. In case may mangyari, gusto ko lang ready ako (I chose my career, I don’t have anything else to prioritize. I might have shared here before that my dad has cancer and I have to prepare that’s why I work hard. I need to save. Just in case something happens, I’m prepared),” Bela said.
“So for a time, wala na akong pinrioritize kung hindi trabaho na kahit ‘yung araw na walang trabaho na sobrang rare — everyday naman may work — kapag may isang araw na walang trabaho, mag-iisip ako kung ano ang pwede kong gawin para pagbutihin pa ang trabaho ko. So nawalan ako ng oras doon sa ex ko, I guess. Tapos noong kinailangan kong mamili, ang pinili ko ay work talaga (I didn’t prioritize anything except work that even on days when there’s no work which is very rare — there’s work everyday — when there’s a day without work, I will think of what I can do to improve my career. So I was not able to give my ex time, I guess. And when I had to choose, I really chose my career),” she added.
The actress said that Neil understands her busy schedule, but Bela pitied her ex-boyfriend as she can’t give him enough time and attention.
“Ako na ‘yung sumama na ang loob ko para sa kanya. Parang hindi naman ito ‘yung deserve mo, sobrang bait din naman niya talaga (I was the one who felt bad for him. It seems that this isn’t what he deserves. He is a kind-hearted man),” she said.
Bela said that it was her decision to be single, saying she was left with no choice since she accepted a lot of job offers that led her juggling a hundred balls in the air at the same time.
“Ako kasi ‘yung tao na kapag may napagdesisyunan ako eh doon ako mag-fo-focus. So kailangan ko ng taong maiintindihan ‘yon, kayang sabayan (I’m the type of person who will focus on what I have come up with. So I need a person who will understand it and can cope up with it),” the actress explained.
Bela, meanwhile, just flashed a smile when the hosts linked the actress to her former leading man Zanjoe Marudo. Bela said that she and Zanjoe are still talking with each other even after they co-starred in a television series “Dear Heart.”