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'The Comeback Kid'
It's been barely 2 years since the news of her getting impregnated by then love team partner/ boyfriend (now husband) Daniel Padilla created huge buzz on Pinoy showbiz. The what seemed to be perfect and happy life of the debutante Kathryn Bernardo (now Bernardo- Ford) was doubted if will fall into pits of hopelessness. She had a very successful career back then and the future seemed to be bright for her as well.
Fortunately, with the help of her family, DJ (and the rest of the Ford/ Padilla), and the inclusion of her first baby Juan Danilo, she was able to gather herself up after more than a year of hiatus from the limelight.
The blooming wife and mother will now share everything what was so confidentially kept as secret that she wasn't able to divulge at that time when she thought that 'Everything just ended.'
***Text by Charmaine Ortiz
Photography by Mark Nicdao
Additional photos from Kathryn's own photo archive
She walks into the set, bare faced, her little tot in her arms. She greets everyone with that usual big, warm smile whom she was known for. And from then on, we clearly understood what the 'Kath Bernardo effect' really means. It had done us wonders as we just breezed through the shoot the whole day, stopping just now and then whenever she checks her husband's little carbon copy whom she rocked till asleep inside her make up room. At times, her PA would call her attention so she can answer some calls, most of which are from Daniel who is busy doing a teleserye with John Lloyd Cruz (where they play as brothers with supernatural abilities). We watch how her face reacts. It contorts beautifully as she draws a smile, her laughter infectious. But when she was asked to look fierce in front of Mark's camera, she roars effortlessly.
'That time, tinanggap ko na talaga. As in with open arms na in-accept ko na kailangan kong mag-slow down.' She says frankly, recalling that time when she learned that she's going to be a mother. 'May fear, oo. May regrets, syempre. Pero sabi nga ni DJ, alam namin at tanggap namin na mali yung nagawa namin. And kailangan naming itama yun.'
It wasn't a walk in the park though, as she and Daniel pursued to continue their relationship, come hell or high water, come what may. 'Hindi talaga naging madali.' And she confessed those times that she nearly gave up. 'Pero si DJ talaga, hindi nya talaga ako iniwan. Hindi nya ako pinabayaan. Andyan yung halos mamatay sya pero talagang matindi pa rin ang kapit namin sa isa't isa. Super thankful talaga ako sa kanya. If there was one thing na natutunan ko with my pregnancy other than huwag magpadalos-dalos sa mga bagay is kung gaano ako kamahal ni DJ. Of course, you shouldn't measure how much love a guy could give you pero kung paano at gaano ibinigay sa akin yun ni DJ, talagang: WOW.'
Kathryn blinks away as she stopped her voice from cracking.
'Kaya sabi ko talaga sa sarili ko: Ang swerte swerte ko. Super swerte ko at si DJ yung first love ko.'
And Daniel Padilla was also Kathryn's last.
'6:00 AM! Can you imagine that?! Alas sais ng umaga!' She exclaims, recalling that time when she woke to a very special day that she won't be able to forget. 'Pagmulat ng mata ko, andami nyang notes (with his messy handwriting) na nakakalat sa room ko, para akong nagt-treasure hunt. And then, my glam team came. That time, wala pa rin talaga akong idea. I thought it was just a photoshoot for my pregnancy. Diba, uso yon?'
Her eyes turned dreamy, as if she's reliving every bit of it.
'Tapos nilagyan nila ako ng blindfold. Pagtanggal nila, hala! Yun na! Nung nakita ko na sina Papa at Mama papalapit sa akin pagkalagay sa akin ng veil at pagkaabot sa akin ng bouquet, dun na ako humagulgol. As in makasira mascarang hagulgol.' Indeed, that wedding was one for the books. 'Grabe talaga. Alam mo yung feeling na super overwhelmed ka tapos parang sasabog yung puso mo sa sobrang saya? Dun ko napatunayan na totoo pala talaga yon.' And she smiles that toothy smile as she giggles.
