Respect — according to Teodoro Bernardo, Kathryn Bernardo’s father — is what endeared Daniel Padilla to him.

In the “Interview with My Papa” episode of her YouTube channel “Everyday Kath”, which came out today, July 13, Bernardo’s father was asked as to what DJ did to gain his trust and approval to be Kath’s boyfriend.

“Show of respect lang,” came the elder Bernardo’s swift reply. (It’s just the show of respect.)

“Alam niya ‘yung lugar niya. Hindi naman siya matanong, hindi naman mayabang. Suwabe lang, okay lang. At saka ‘yung porma naman niya hindi naman mayabang iyon, natural. ‘Yung iba kapag nakita mo, sasabihin mo mayabang. Hindi naman (siya ganoon). Okay lang siya, suwabe,” the father said.

(He knows his place. He is not nosy, he is not arrogant. His fashion sense is not that of a boastful person, it’s natural. If you see other people, you can tell if they’re arrogant. He is not like that. He’s OK, suave.)

When queried by the younger Bernardo if he had spoken to Daniel about her relationship with him, dad nodded.

“Parang ganon lang. Lagi lang bilin na ‘Oh, baby ko ‘yan, alagaan mo ‘yan. Kasi sabi niya (Kathryn), noong nag-debut na she can go her own na. She, being my baby, in-endorse ko lang siya sa iyo,” Kathryn’s father said.

(It’s like that. I just told him, “That’s my baby, take care of her. When Kathryn debuted, she said she can already go on her own.” She being my baby, it’s like I just endorsed her to him.)

everyday kath papa — Image: YouTube/Kathryn Bernardo

The actress revealed that Daniel didn’t earn her dad’s trust “overnight.”

“Ako naman, hindi naman overnight ay na-gain ni DJ ‘yung trust ni Papa. It took him years,” she said. (It’s not overnight that DJ earned my dad’s trust.)

She stressed that a suitor should always show his interest in a woman in a right way.

“Kailangan talaga ipakita ng lalaki ‘yung intention niya sa babae, na hindi lolokohin, na aalagaan kasi mapi-feel din (iyon) ng magulang and feeling ko kapag naging magulang din ako someday ay ganoon din (ako), protective,” she said.

(The guys should always show their pure intentions to a woman, that they will not fool us, that they will take care of us because parents would feel it, and if I become a parent myself in the future, I would be the same, protective.)

Kathryn later offered this advice to men wooing women:

“So, sa mga boyfriend, trabahuhin lang. Hindi siya mabilis pero iyon ‘yung mga bagay na hindi minamadali kasi kung nasa posisyon ka ng parents isipin mo na ang hirap din mag-let go ng isang anak, pero you have to earn that trust, and respect is very important.”

(To all boyfriends, work on it. It’s not that fast, there are things that you can’t rush because if you’re in the position of the parents, you will also think that it is difficult to let go of your child, you have to earn that trust and respect, which are very important.)

So, what was her dad’s reaction when he was told that her daughter was in a relationship with DJ?

“Sabi ko, pag-isipan muna niyang mabuti. Kilalanin muna niyang mabuti (si Daniel), then kung okay, then go. It’s your feeling,” he mused. (I told her, you think about it first. You have to get to know Daniel first. If it’s okay, then go.)

“Sixteen ako noon,” the actress butted in. (I was sixteen then).

Kathryn then asked her father if he felt afraid when she told him about Daniel.

“Halo. Takot, natuwa. Sabi ko mukhang okay naman siya at mukhang totoo naman. Kasi kapag wala ka namang ginagawa, wala kang magagawa sa kanilang dalawa. It’s all up to them lalo na ngayon na they’re at the right age. Nakita ko na mukhang maganda naman ang relasyon nila,” her dad answered.

(It’s mixed, fear and joy. I said, you look OK and it looks true. You can’t do anything about the two of them. It’s all up to them, more so now that they’re at the right age. I saw that they have a beautiful relationship.) JB

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