No mother wants to see their child hurt, let alone be the target of relentless criticism over matters the public knows little about. Karla Estrada, Daniel Padilla‘s mother, made this clear as she addressed the challenges her son faced following his breakup with Kathryn Bernardo, which was announced on November 30, 2023. It was the end of Daniel and Kathryn’s 11-year relationship.

In an interview with Boy Abunda on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Karla admitted that while she was deeply affected by the split, her pain stemmed more from seeing Daniel endure harsh criticisms and controversies in the aftermath of the breakup.

While she didn’t directly address the reason behind the split or confirm any speculations—including rumors of cheating linking Daniel to other women such as Andrea Brillantes—Karla stressed that the breakup was a private matter between Daniel and Kathryn.

She emphasized that only the two of them truly understand what happened and that any resolution should come from them alone. “Siguro itong mga binatong mga masasakit na salita kay Daniel itong mga nakaraang taon… Yung paghihiwalay kasi, sa kanila ni Kathryn [na] yun. Sila naman ang nakakaalam talaga at sila naman magre-resolve ba kung ano man yung dahilan ng paghihiwalay at dun sa nangyaring hiwalayan,” Karla said.

She went on to express her distress over the nonstop bashing Daniel had received, saying the criticism went too far and that the cruel words thrown at him deeply affected her as well. “Pero yung salita ng tao na halos hindi mo na makain at sobrang kabastusan, medyo yun ang hindi ko na kinakaya. Hindi ko kinakaya na parang ikamamatay ko,” she admitted, describing how overwhelming the backlash had been.

Despite this, Karla maintained that the best course of action was to let Daniel and Kathryn handle the situation in their own way. “Kaya ang pinakamaganda nating ginawa ay ipaubaya doon sa dalawa,” she added.

Daniel and Kathryn officially announced their breakup in separate statements on Instagram on November 2023. The news sent *shocked* their fans and netizens who had followed their journey together for over a decade.

Karla Estrada On Being A Mother To Daniel Padilla

“Meron akong superstar.” Those were the exact words Karla described Daniel when she gave birth to him. Even at that moment, she knew he was destined for something great. However, giving birth to Daniel also meant making a difficult sacrifice—at the peak of her acting career, she had to put everything on hold to focus on her pregnancy and, eventually, on raising him.

Despite the setbacks, the struggles, and even the relationship challenges she faced while raising her children, Karla found her true purpose in being a mother. “Kay Daniel pa lang, natuto na akong… Actually, nag-double time akong buhayin or suportahan yung buong pamilya from Leyte to Manila. Basta lahat ng kamag-anak na lalapit. Nagbago [ako]. Naging mas mabuti akong tao,” Karla shared, recalling how her priorities shifted completely when Daniel came into her life.

She went on to explain that her journey as a mother was never easy, especially as she took on the role of being both a provider and protector for her family. Yet, through it all, she embraced the sacrifices, knowing that every struggle made her a better and stronger person.