MANILA — Karla Estrada urged followers of her son Daniel Padilla and the actor’s long-term girlfriend, actress Kathryn Bernardo, not to intrude on the high-profile relationship following a recent string of rumors, from a hidden engagement to the romance being on the rocks.
The “Familia Blondina” star was asked about the “KathNiel” tandem Sunday after a press conference for the film, which is scheduled for release on February 27.
Estrada stressed she remains on good terms with Bernardo, a week after the young actress clarified that she had accidentally blocked the Instagram account of Padilla, causing them to un-follow each other.
What appeared to be a momentary rift, just basing on the stars’ Instagram following, alarmed some fans, and set off speculation that the two were going through a rough patch.
“I never had any issues with Kathryn, she knows that, her family. I’m good about her relationship with Daniel, because I’ve seen my son mature. Actually, both of them, they both pulled each other up. I can’t say anything bad,” Estrada said.
Padilla, 23, and Bernardo, 22, have been a couple for nearly six years, roughly the same amount of the time since their love team was formed.
Over the years, the relationship has weathered intrigues and controversies, even prior to their first confirmation of being official in mid-2018.
Both Estrada and Bernardo’s mother, Min, have been visible figures in the couple’s shared lives, as they openly expressed admiration for their respective child’s partner.
“Of course, as a mother,” Estrada continued, “before I tell people my grievances or whatever I have to say about Kathryn and then Daniel, it comes first at home, to my son.”
“We can’t wash our dirty laundry on social media, because they can’t help at all. Otherwise, they’ll just wash their dirty laundry,” she added.
Asked about the alarmed reactions to Bernardo and Padilla appearing to un-follow each other, Estrada said: “I, nothing, I just laughed. These things really happen to people in relationships.
“That’s good, Kathryn explained that, of course, it wasn’t Daniel who unfollowed. We were just laughing. Those things aren’t that big of a deal. He doesn’t really care, right, she was saying.”
“Let’s not interfere with that, let’s just leave them to their own devices. As long as, the important thing is, my son is delivering well in his love life, in his family life, and especially in his work life.”
In the same interview, Estrada also denied rumors that Padilla and Bernardo were recently secretly engaged — an example of the supposed intrustion into their private lives.
“We just assumed, those of us who watched. Actually, it’s not really a big deal. There are serious things that will happen to my son when the time comes and I will be the first to know,” she said.
