How Kylie Padilla balances acting & mothering

“Challenging!”

That one word sums up the struggle of showbiz moms (or any mom for that matter) in keeping a balance between working and mothering.

“But if you are praised for your work,” said Kylie Padilla, star of TODA One I Love, the month-old comedy show on the GMA Telebabad, “the sacrifice is worth it.”

In TODA, Kylie as Gelay makes a living by driving the tricycle of her father who was mysteriously murdered. It marks her reunion with Ruru Madrid with whom she worked on Encantadia when they were barely out of their teens.

“I’m still adjusting between working and minding home,” added Kylie whose son (Alas) with husband Aljur Abrenica is turning two in November. “In the beginning, I thought it would be a breeze to be a working mom. But I try to make up for it on the days when there’s no taping. The show is getting good rating and the atmosphere on the set is comfortable, masaya kami, so these are nice rewards.”

Kylie brought Alas to the TODA set only once.

Kylie Padilla with son Alas.

“He’s more independent now, di na siya naka-latch on sa akin the whole day.”

When Aljur is working, Kylie stays home — and vice versa.

“He’s the perfect father,” said Kylie who got married to Aljur in civil rites several months after her father, Robin Padilla, finally gave her his blessing. “I never thought that he would embrace fatherhood the way he has. When I’m at work, sobrang hands-on siya in taking care of Alas. I’m amazed to see how they bond as soon as I get home. Si Alas naka-cling lang sa tatay niya, so nakakatuwa ‘yun. They have bonded as father and son and I’m happy for that.”

It’s easy for Kylie to portray Gelay because she said she’s boyish in real life.

“I’m not as tomboyish as Gelay, but like her I also have a ‘macho’ side. It comes naturally, although I have to work on my lines because I’m not good in speaking Tagalog. Kailangan sobrang angas. I take note of how my co-stars deliver their lines especially Buboy (Villar). He’s my peg. On the set, I carefully listen to how he talks, natural na natural. ‘Yung sa movement naman, kumuha ako ng kaunti kay Papa. I get in character once I wear my hat.”

She and Ruru are credible as a loveteam. Before they shoot a romantic scene, does Kylie have to ask Aljur’s permission?

“No naman. Actually, before I accept a show, I tell him about it na and we discuss the details to avoid any disagreement. Ganoon din siya sa akin. He would tell me if he had any kissing scene pero all the other scenes okay na ‘yun.”

Kylie wiith TODA leading man Ruru Madrid.

How does she think she and Ruru have matured since their Encantadia days?

“Hmmmm, medyo weird. Encantadia was a serious program. We were cast as parents; it was not comedy. In TODA, we can loosen up a bit so I get to know Ruru better. So if we ever work in a serious show again, we will come out better because I know him more now.”

According to Kylie, as long as a project wouldn’t take too much of her time away from her family, she would take it at all costs.

“Ipaglalaban ko,” she stressed. “I would fight for it. But family is still my priority especially since I want to watch Alas grow up and share every moment of his growing up. We could never turn back the hands of time so I don’t want to miss the wonderful experience of a mom and her child growing up together.

“As I’ve said, the project has to be worth my time. Ayaw ko naman lagyan ng restrictions kasi after I gave birth because after I gave birth, I told myself that as an actress I didn’t want to be half-cooked. I have to give 100 percent to everything that I choose to do.”

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