Actress and TV host Bela Padilla has announced her return to the Philippines after over a year of living in London. The decision marks her return to full-time work in the entertainment industry.
Bela shared the news through an emotional Instagram post, reflecting on her time in London since moving there in September 2021. Alongside a video compilation of her experiences, she wrote, “I am temporarily closing this chapter as I prepare to work full time again [red heart emoji].”
In her post, Bela expressed gratitude for the lessons and personal growth she experienced while living abroad. “Because of London, my instincts are now sharper. I stayed as healthy as I could while navigating my autoimmune disorder,” she shared.
She also highlighted the strong friendships she built during her time in the UK. “London gave me the best friends that one could develop in adulthood, abroad. Our shared love for food, pints of Guinness or ciders, homesickness, overpriced takeaway, and complaints about the bitter cold of winter glued me to them in ways that sometimes saved my sanity,” she said.
Bela opened up about facing personal challenges during her stay, including the grief of losing her father. “I had to figure out grief alone in my high ceiling bedroom when I got the call that my dad had passed away…so my first house in London will always be the one I hold dearest to me,” she wrote.
Despite her move, Bela hinted at the possibility of returning to London in the future. “Maybe one day, I will call it home again,” she said, describing the city as “polite but shouts when you’re wrong. Beautiful but rough around the edges. Kind but has a darkness that could scare the tough.”
Bela first relocated to London during the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining that she wanted to find a place where she felt more at home. “During the pandemic, I didn’t feel it anymore in the Philippines, so I felt like I had to leave,” she previously shared in an interview.
She clarified that her move was not an indication of leaving the entertainment industry. “There’s no big explanation or deep meaning. I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m leaving you all.’ It wasn’t like that,” she said.
With her return to the Philippines, Bela is ready to focus on her career and upcoming projects. Fans and colleagues alike are eager to see her back in action as she begins a new chapter, bringing with her the growth and experiences gained during her time in London.
