EXCLUSIVE: Dennis Padilla reacts to Julia Barretto’s decision to keep her Baldivia surname

Actor Dennis Padilla beamed with happiness upon learning that his daughter Julia Barretto will no longer be pushing through with her petition to legally change her real surname Baldivia to Barretto.

“Sabi ko mabuti naman na iwi-withdraw na niya ‘yung petition na tanggalin ang family name ko,” he said in an exclusive interview with Push.com.

Dennis expressed his certainty that he wasn’t the only one who was rejoicing over Julia’s recent decision.

“I’m sure hindi lang kami ang magiging masaya. Lahat din ng humahanga sa kanya na mga anak. Lahat na mga humahanga sa kanya na mga parents eh siyempre ma-go-good shot rin siya dahil alam mo naman tayong mga Pilipino pagdating sa parents ‘di ba,” he said.

It was in the middle of last year when Dennis broke his silence on the surname issue and emotionally recounted his plan to fight the move.

Julia and Dennis’s reconciliation recently made headlines since it marked the end of months of estrangement between the father and daughter.

While many were happy about the fact that they had made up, there were those who felt that it was only a publicity stunt pulled by Julia’s camp because her debut is happening in a few days. This was however belied by the Mirabella actress herself saying that her reaching out to her father was supposed to be a surprise and not for anything else.

Dennis, for his part, just shrugged off the issue and said, “It’s a blessing na nagkaroon kami ng time na makapagusap and time na para ako nakapag-sorry kung ano man ‘yung nagawa ko.”

The comedian is hoping that this will pave the way for a better father-and-daughter relationship to eventually blossom between them.

“Natutuwa naman ako kasi siya pa ang personal na nag-send ng invitation and I was able to talk to her about the things that I haven’t said to her for the past seven years. I hope ito ‘yung big step towards sa reconciliation namin. I want to bond with her more sa mga darating na araw,” he stressed.

If given the chance, Dennis said he would like to bring back the good ol’ days with his children. He even became sentimental when he recalled, “Well, noong maliliit pa sila Julia madalas kaming mag-bisikleta together.

“So, ngayon pwede na siyang mag-mountain bike kasi ang tangkad na niya eh. If we have a chance to bike together or magpasyal together or manood ng sine together. Gusto ko ‘yung dati naming ginagawa, gawin namin ulit,” he said.

Dennis expressed his desire to spend time with Julia and her siblings and that he’s willing to sacrifice his schedule for them.

“Basta may time siya [Julia]. Ako naman willing ako to adjust eh kahit na mag-cancel pa ako ng taping kung makakasama ko ang mga anak ko eh walang problema doon. Basta ang importante sa akin ‘yung future niya and ‘yung showbiz career niya lalo pang umangat,“ he said.

Now that things are starting to get better between them, Dennis readily gave a heartfelt message to Julia even though he’s going to be her first dance come her debut celebration next week.

“Julia, I love you. Happy birthday. Dalaga ka na, parati kang mag-iingat. Kapag may problema ka isang text mo lang nandiyan na ako. Enjoy the debut anak and you deserve it and I hope na mas marami pang blessings ang dumating sa buhay mo after your debut,” he ended.