By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
Comedian-turned-director Dennis Padilla has said that he has no problem with actor Joshua Garcia who is currently being linked to his daughter Julia Barretto.
“Noong una po, ino-observe ko mga Instagram posts nila, tapos nakita ko ‘yung sa airport magka-holding hands sila, papasok ng airport. Tapos sabi ko, syota na yata nito yung anak ko,” said Padilla, when asked if his daughter Julia and Garcia were in a relationship, during an interview on “Tonight With Boy Abunda” on ABS CBN.
“Pagparada nya nakita ko, may kasama to ah? Tapos bumaba si Joshua. Sabi ko, ‘ah, ipapakilala sa akin.’ Kwento-kwento muna. Tapos sabi ko kay Julia, ‘nanliligaw ba sayo ‘to?’
“Tapos sabi ni Julia, ‘tanong mo sa kanya.’ Nung nag CR si Julia, sabi ko ‘nililigawan mo ba yung anak ko?’ Sabi nya ‘tanungin nyo na lang po si Julia.’
“Sabi ko sa kanya (Joshua), ‘wala naman akong problema sa’yo. Kahit ngayon lang kita nakilala, pinagtanung-tanong na kita. And you are a very good man.
“Pero sabi ko sa kanya (Joshua), wag mo lang sasaktan o lolokohin ‘yung anak ko. Comedian naman ako eh pero pag ginawa mo ‘yun, magiging action star ako.
“Pero mabait There was one time tinext pa n’ya ako. Sabi nya, ‘Tito, where are you?’ Sabi ko nagbabantay ako ng editing ng ‘The Barker.’ Tapos sabi nya ‘I will send you something.’ Tapos yun pinadalhan nya ako ng alak. Marunong din,” said Padilla.
Asked what kind of father he is, Padilla said: “Hindi rin ako masyadong mahigpit at hindi rin ako masyadong maluwag.
“Pwede mo rin naman akong i-consider na barkada mo pero darating yung time na lalagyan ko ng limitation ‘yun. ‘Anak barkada mo ako pero hanggang dito lang.’
“I was a good provider pero dumating dun sa point ng buhay ko na minsan wala kang trabaho. There was one time talaga nung hindi ako makapag provide ng maayos kila Julia.’
“Kung ano man yung mga pagkukulang ko sa kanila, e hiningi ko na rin ng tawad yun sa kanila. At hiningi ko na rin ng tawad yun sa Panginoon na patawarin nyo ako kung ano yung mga pagkukulang ko.
Padilla, 55, said that his relationship with his four children, including Julia, is now smooth. He was previously married to Marjorie Barretto.
“Ngayon mas ok na sila dahil kung ano man yung mga naging problema nung 2014 or 2013, hindi na namin pinag uusapan. That’s why the first time I saw them again, wala lang naiyak ko na lang. I said ‘I love you, I miss you.’ Pagnag te text ako sa kanila, tinatanong ko na lang lagi, kelan ba kayo available at mag dinner na lang tayo?
“Pag sinasabi nilang I’m busy this week, hindi na ako masyadong aggressive at parang gusto kong nakawin yung oras. Pero ngayon hindi na. Hindi pala pwede. Dapat dahan-dahan din yung paglapit mo sa kanila,” said Padilla who makes his directorial debut in the movie “The Barker’ starring Empoy Marquez and Shy Carlos.
