KathNiel reveals wedding plans, secrets to 5-year ‘official’ relationship

MANILA, Philippines — Of the six years that the love team KathNiel has been together, more than five years of those have been “official” on- and off-cam, lovebirds Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo revealed at the press conference of their new Star Cinema movie, “The Hows of Us,” in ABS-CBN on Wednesday.

“What made you admit your relationship?” the press asked KathNiel.

“Kayo po,” replied Daniel, referring to the media. “Naubusan na po kami ng dahilan para magtago!” he said while laughing with real-life ladylove Kathryn.

The media began to squeeze the two more about their real relationship status when Daniel himself volunteered to call himself Kathryn’s “boyfriend.”

“Relasyon na pang-FB. Sa lahat ng relasyon, hindi ganun eh. ‘Yung amin ni Kath, it’s a 24/7 job na maging malupit na boyfriend. Kahit ako struggling ako,” he said when asked what their relationship is like.

Their real relationship status, they said, is “happy.” If they are to label it, they would call themselves “students of love” because they are learning about each other day-by-day.

“Sa personal at propesyonal, s’ya lang ang kasama ko. Happy ako ngayon,” Daniel enthused.

The two attested that they came forward to show the world what they really are, and not just for publicity’s sake.

“Ang relasyon dapat seryosohan. Otherwise, rumak-en-roll ka na lang,” said Daniel.

“Kung hindi mo nakikita future mo sa tao, ba’t ka magiistay? Kami ni DJ, kapit-kamay kami kasi we see a future together,” Kathryn echoed.

Because they are in a serious relationship, the two admitted that they have been talking about marriage and family. They said they have come to a point that they are already planning the look of their future home.

They just have one problem: Daniel wants a big church wedding with all their fans waiting outside, while Kath prefers an intimate beach ceremony, with only friends and family in attendance. 

“Mas mahal ‘pag abroad. Dito na lang, marami namang magagandang beaches dito sa’tin. We’ll plan more once we get there,” said Kath.

When asked when they are going to tie the knot, Daniel said: “Basta ‘wag lang masyadong matanda.”

Secrets to lasting relationship

1. Go beyond ‘kilig’ 

“Kath, she makes me a better person. Kesa sa kilig, ‘yun ‘yung kelangan mong hanapin,” Daniel advised.

“Syempre, iba ‘yung kilig namin nun kesa ngayon. Kinikilig pa rin ako kay Kathryn. ‘Yung feeling pa lang na nasa Amsterdam ako for the first time with Kath,” said Daniel, referring to his recent trip to Netherlands with Kath to shoot a scene for “The Hows of Us.”

“Mas may effort na magpa-kilig kasi mahirap ako pakiligin. Pero ‘di ibig sabihin ‘di ko na s’ya mahal. Kasi lang naging normal na sa’min ‘yung para sa iba eh nakakakilig pala. Pero normal in a good way!” added Kath, who went to Amsterdam when she was 18 with her family, and is now planning to return there with DJ for his next birthday.

2. Grow and mature together

Kathryn admitted that it is harder for her to keep the relationship intact when they are together 24/7.

“Sa six years na magkasama kayo, magkakapikunan kayo, mababalingan mo s’ya ng init ng ulo,” she said. “The secret is you grow together. ‘Wag mo man lang isipin na ‘sawa na ko.’ May nabibigay ka ba? Nagmamature ba kayo? Dapat bigyan n’yo ng space, may buhay kayo separately and together with family and friends. Si DJ marami s’yang friends, kaya hinahayaan ko lang siya if he wants to spend time with his friends without me.”

“You grow your love more the more that you’re together,” said DJ.

“S’yempre, dumarating ‘yung time na, ‘Araw-araw na tayo magkasama, Kathryn, ‘no?’ Dumadating ‘yun pero nirerefresh lang namin palagi,” he enthused.

“Actually, ‘di na nga kami sanay magkahiwalay. Noong una, nagkakalabuan kami, nagsimula kasi kaming magkaibigan. Pero ngayon, marami pa kaming gustong gawin na ‘di pa nagagawa lalo na sa personal – maka-byahe, next level of love or relationship.”

3. Get past misunderstandings

The two confessed that their “lovers’ quarrels” in real life are as confrontational as their scenes in their movies.

“'Di pa nga lang po ako sumusugod sa ulan. Kay Direk Cathy na ‘yung ulan,” Kathryn said in a jest, referring to a scene in “The Hows of Us” directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.

Daniel professed that it sometimes irks him because Kathryn does not like saying “sorry” that much, and that he finds himself always the one that makes the first move to reconcile.

“Maraming beses ko na po naitanong sa sarili ko kung gusto ko pa po ba,” he said.

“Pero lagi kami bumabalik sa simula, lagi kong tinatanong sa sarili ko, ‘Bakit ko nga ba s’ya minahal? San nga ba tayo nanggaling?”

Kathryn agreed, saying: “Choice n’yo ‘yung dalawa kung ipipilit o ilalaban n’yo pa. There is no perfect relationship. Basta ang important may natutunan ka and you move on from your disagreements.”

4. Have a solid trust

When asked who he wants to work with as leading lady besides Kath, DJ said: “Naging leading lady ko na ‘yung best leading lady (referring to Kathryn), bakit pa ko maghahanap ng iba?”

“'Di ko pa maisip,” he added. “Gusto ko kahit wala, basta maganda ‘yung proyekto. Leading man para maiba naman!”

When asked if they are willing to do gay roles, Daniel said: “Depende sa proyekto. Depende din sa gising ko nun!”

The two confessed that their trust for each other is so full now that they can have peace of mind, knowing that none of them will fall into temptation, even when they are not together.

“Wala naman kami sa fairytale na kaming dalawa lang. Kailangan namin ng support system saka time away from each other,” said Kathryn, admitting that they have gone through all types of jealousies, involving both fans and fellow actors. “Kasi si Daniel natural s’yang malambing sa lahat ng tao.”

“It’s an accomplishment to find the right person and to protect that relationship,” Daniel stressed with pride.

Director Cathy sees KathNiel as the future Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion or Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III in terms of fame as a love team. If KathNiel indeed walks down the aisle in the future and spend the rest of their lives together, they could be the first reel-and-real love team in the Philippines in years to become a successful love story.