MANILA, Philippines — Actress Bela Padilla has confirmed her breakup with tech CEO Martin Tan after several months of dating.
Padilla announced their separation in an Instagram post on Sunday, September 27, describing it as a “quick life update” and thanking those who had supported their relationship.
“This was the first relationship where I was truly swept off my feet,” Padilla wrote.
The actress said she and Tan bonded over their shared love for films, food markets and their respective work. She also chose to keep their relationship private because of how personal it was to her.
The couple first drew public attention after appearing together at Legazpi Market, with Padilla later confirming that Tan was her boyfriend.
While they appeared happy together publicly, Padilla revealed that they had also been going through difficult times privately.
“We all saw a new couple, a bit shy and awkward. But what you never got a glimpse of is us having the best and also hardest days for a couple of months now,” she said.
Padilla said they ultimately decided to go their separate ways to preserve the good they still saw in each other.
“I think sometimes, loving someone also means knowing when to let go, before you lose the good things you saw in each other,” she wrote.
Despite their split, Padilla spoke warmly of Tan, calling him “one of the most fun, smartest, and definitely most charming people I've ever met.”
“I will always be grateful for what we shared, and I genuinely wish him nothing but the best,” she added.
Padilla also thanked their supporters for rooting for them and respecting their privacy.
Tan is the CEO of software development company Tenext.ai, which has offices in the Philippines and Singapore.
