Bela Padilla made the bold decision to relocate to London almost two years ago. Although the adjustment period was initially challenging, the actress is now finding her footing and feeling happy about it. In a recent press launch as the newest endorser of the beauty and wellness brand Dear Face, she shared, “I felt like a 7-year-old, trying to relearn things. I had to figure out where it was safe to walk at night and other things like that. But now, I’m starting to establish my routines and find my favorite places like libraries, gyms, and cafes.”
Luckily, Bela has found comfort in the fact that Filipinos are everywhere in the world, including in her neighborhood in London. She’s even discovered three Filipino groceries nearby and frequently visits them. “I’m always in the Pinoy supermarkets, and the owners already know my usual purchases. The Filipinos there are incredibly kind. Everyone has been nice,” she shared.
Living in London, which has a high cost of living, hasn’t been a financial burden for Bela because she has been mindful of her spending habits. She said, “I worked hard every day and didn’t have time to spend my money. I didn’t even have time to go to the mall and shop for myself, so I was able to save up. I’m happy about that.” Besides her acting and movie projects, Bela also has investments in food businesses, ensuring that she doesn’t rely solely on one source of income.
One of the main reasons behind Bela’s decision to move to the UK was the nonrenewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise. With uncertainties looming, she felt it was essential to find a place where she could feel secure once again. Plus, being a dual citizen (Filipino and British) made the UK the logical choice. She explained, “I was affected… It didn’t feel safe when people could make decisions without meeting the individuals whose lives they were forever changing. I wanted to find a place where I could truly feel safe, where they wouldn’t suddenly take away your job.”
Currently, Bela only travels to the Philippines when there are new acting projects or product endorsements. She has made her health a top priority due to her struggles with PCOS and hypothyroidism. “I work out every day, eat clean, don’t smoke, and no longer drink. However, I’ve noticed it’s been harder for me to lose weight. It turns out, I have hypothyroidism… As we grow older, we must be more mindful of our intake. I’m careful with my diet not only for aesthetic reasons but also to enhance the quality of my life,” she revealed.
Self-care is another crucial aspect of Bela’s life. She believes in taking care of yourself to be able to care for others. Bela emphasized, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” In addition to her acting career, Bela is also involved in writing and directing films. She plans to stay in the Philippines to finish a script she’s collaborating on and to shoot a movie. While she has been offered soap opera roles, she hasn’t found material that resonates with her yet. Bela explained, “I don’t want to invest time in a project that won’t benefit anyone or that I can’t learn from.”
Managing her life in the UK and her career in the Philippines hasn’t been too challenging for Bela, thanks to technology. She realizes that the world has become more interconnected, and one doesn’t have to be confined to a single location. She mentioned, “The pandemic made me realize that the world is small, and we don’t have to be locked in one place. You can be based anywhere and still function somewhere else.”
As for how long she plans to stay in London, Bela isn’t sure. For now, the most important thing is that she’s enjoying her life. She said, “I enjoy what I’m doing and the company of the people around me. Even though there are challenges here and there, I try to overcome them the best way I can. I strive to stay positive despite everything.”
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
