Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network; Instagram/@supremo_dp

Kathryn Bernardo stressed that she doesn’t regret anything in her 11-year romance with Daniel Padilla, noting that their breakup made her realize how “pretty strong” she is.

The actress opened up about her previous relationship in a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview on Monday, Oct. 28, after show host Abunda asked what she knows about love at 28 years old.

Bernardo visited the show to promote her upcoming film with Alden Richards, “Hello, Love, Again.”

“I’ve only been into one relationship that lasted for 11 years… Lumaki ako sa 11 years na relationship na ‘yon (There was growth in that 11-year relationship),” she said. “When the breakup happened, ang dami ko ring natutunan sa sarili ko and sa lahat ng nangyayari.”

(When the breakup happened, I also learned a lot about myself and all that transpired.)

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“I’m still a work in progress but I’m—I still don’t know the real definition of love, but I think love can be found anywhere. It can be from your family, friends, boyfriend or girlfriend, and now I feel like I’m so surrounded with so much love,” she continued.

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As she spoke about her “discoveries” on herself after the split, Bernardo admitted she was in awe of the faith and strength she didn’t know she had in her.
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“I think it’s safe to say [that] I’m pretty strong. I didn’t expect — I think all the people here didn’t expect na I will handle it that way; me, too,” she added.

Abunda then asked the actress what advice she would give to the young Kathryn who was just beginning her relationship with Padilla, to which Bernardo answered, “Nothing.”

“I don’t regret anything so ayoko siyang pangunahan,” she explained. “I want her to experience all the happiness, all the pain… Alam kong maraming magkwe-question do’n, but it was 11 beautiful years. Kung ano ‘yung nakikita niyo ngayon, ang laking part nung 11 years na ‘yon.”

(I don’t regret anything so I wouldn’t decide for her. I want her to experience all the happiness, all the pain… I know that a lot of people would question this, but it was 11 beautiful years. Those 11 years are a big part of the Kathryn you see now.)

Moving forward

Bernardo also opened up on how she was able to forgive by putting herself first and letting herself feel all the emotions she had to feel.

“Una kong napatawad ‘yung sarili ko tsaka ako natutong magpatawad ng ibang tao. I had to gauge everything that was happening last year and when I was ready, do’n ko inayos lahat,” she said.

(I forgave myself first then later learned how to forgive others. I had to gauge everything that was happening last year and when I was ready, that was when I faced everything.)

“[I told myself] ‘this is the time for me to be selfish, and I want to give this time to myself,’” she further recalled.

During the interview, Bernardo took on the “fast talk challenge” where she rated the happiness in her heart with 9/10, and revealed that her ideal age to get married has changed from 28 to 34.