Daniel John Elago Ford (born April 26, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Padilla, is a Filipino actor and singer. He is a recipient of multiple accolades across television, film, and music, including the FAMAS Award for Best Actor and PMPC Star Award for Movie Actor of the Year, as well as three World Music Awards nominations.
Padilla made his television debut with a supporting role in the soap opera Gimik 2010 (2010), before landing the lead role in Growing Up (2011). He has since starred in the Filipino hit television series Princess and I (2012–2013), Got to Believe (2013–2014), Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015–2016), La Luna Sangre (2017–2018), and 2 Good 2 Be True (2022). In films, he made his debut as a supporting actor in 24/7 in Love and Sisterakas (both 2012), and later starred in the box office hit films Must Be... Love, Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (both 2013), She's Dating the Gangster (2014), Crazy Beautiful You (2015), Barcelona: A Love Untold (2016), Can't Help Falling in Love (2017), and The Hows of Us (2018). Padilla's films have earned a total of ₱3.14 billion in the box office, with the lattermost becoming the highest-grossing Filipino film at the time.
As a recording artist, Padilla has released three double platinum albums in the Philippines including Daniel Padilla (2012), DJP (2013), I Heart You (2014), I Feel Good (2015), and the compilation album DJ' Greatest Hits (2016). He has also held solo concerts including Daniel Live! (2013), DOS (2014), Most Wanted (2015), and DJ Classics: Back at the Araneta (2017).
Early life
Padilla was born as Daniel John Elago Ford on April 26, 1995, in Manila, Philippines. He is the son of actors Rommel Padilla and Carla Ford (screen name: Karla Estrada); he is of quarter White American descent from his mother's side. His mother raised Padilla as a single parent. Padilla is the nephew of action star Robin Padilla and BB Gandanghari, and has seven half-siblings from his father's side, including Matt Raprap Padilla, RJ Padilla, Roanna Padilla, and Red Padilla, and three younger half-siblings from his mother's side, JC Padilla, Margaret Planas, and Carmella Tenorio. Carmela "Leila" celebrated her 18th birthday in a lavish party at Blue Leaf Pavilion, McKinley Hill. Padilla met his siblings from his father's side in 2011 when he turned sixteen.
Padilla lived for a year in Tacloban and studied there (grade 4). In 2014, he registered as an AMA Education System's student. Due to the tight schedule, he reportedly took the home study program of UST Angelicum College years back. Padilla finally shared his plans to go back to school after his mother, Karla Estrada, announced on Magandang Buhay that she wants all her children to finish their studies.
Padilla was discovered by the late talent manager Douglas Quijano who pushed him to audition for Star Magic. He was introduced to the media as a member of the Star Magic Circle 2013. At a press conference in 2013, Padilla said he never imagined ending up in entertainment, but he thinks that he is in show business for a more important reason since his family went through financial difficulties.
Career 2010–2012: Career beginnings and breakthrough Padilla's first acting job was in 2010, in a minor role in Gimik 2010, a remake of the hit 1990s Filipino youth-oriented show, in which he was paired with Julia Montes. When he joined Star Magic, he used the screen name Daniel Padilla, using the surname of his biological father. He was next cast as Patrick Rivero in the youth-oriented show, Growing Up, where he first worked with co-star Kathryn Bernardo. He and Bernardo paired again in the soap opera Princess and I (2012–2013), which became one of the most popular shows on ABS-CBN.
His film debut came in 2012 when he was selected to join Star Magic's 20th anniversary ensemble cast movie as Billy Fernandez in 24/7 In Love (2012) with co-star Bernardo. They also had support roles in the film Sisterakas (2012).
Star Music released Padilla's self-titled debut album, Daniel Padilla on May 28, 2012. The first commercial and digital single released from the album was ‘’Hinahanap-Hanap Kita’’ on April 20, 2012. The album sold more than 10,000 copies in less than a week. The album peaked at the No. 1 on the Odyssey Music & Video's nationwide sales reports (overall). It went on to sell more than 30,000 copies and was certified double platinum on March 14, 2013.
2013–2014: Early success In January 2013, Padilla interpreted a hit song for Himig Handog P-pop Love Songs (2013), "Nasa Iyo Na Ang Lahat". The music video hit No. 1 on the 2013 Pinoy Myx Year-End Countdown, and was listed among the top three Filipino Trending Music Videos of 2013. "Nasa Iyo Na Ang Lahat" won special awards at the Himig Handog finale night, including MOR Listener's Choice, Tambayan 101.9 Listener's Choice, Star Records CD Buyer's Choice, and MYX Choice for Best Video.
On March 18, 2013, Padilla released "Kamusta Ka" as the lead single for his first full-length-studio album, DJP. DJP peaked at number 1 on Odyssey Music & Video's nationwide sales reports (overall). DJP album went platinum in less than 24 hours,"For Real, DJP is Platinum Already". Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. but listed on PARI, September 25, 2013, and went double platinum the next day. Padilla held his first headlining concert, "Daniel: Live!" on April 30, 2013, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It is the first concert to be streamed live via Sky Cable’s pay per view services in the Philippines.
In 2013 he took on the role of Joaquin and Ryan Manansala on his second prime time soap opera with Bernardo, Got To Believe. The series finale holds the record as the highest rating final episode in 2014." Padilla had finally made a breakthrough in feature films with Must Be... Love. In the same year Padilla also starred in his first horror film, Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (2013). Both film made the Top 10 List of highest-grossing Filipino films in 2013.
In 2014, Padilla interpreted a song for the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs (2014), "Simpleng Tulad Mo". He was one of the youngest interpreters in the competition."‘Himig Handog’ Sunday". Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. The music video debuted at number 2 and the next week hit No.1 for five weeks.Pinoy MYX Countdown: "6 September – 12 September 2014". Archived from the original on "14 September – 19 September 2014". Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. "20 September – 26 September 2014". Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. "27 September – 3 October 2014". Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. "4 October – 10 October 2014". Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. "October 11 – October 17, 2014”. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017.The most-streamed OPM track on Spotify is...". Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Padilla and Yeng Constantino held a multi-national tour, Daniel Padilla Rocks with Yeng Constantino. It began in Dubai on April 10, 2014, continued to London and Rome, and ended in Milan on April 20, 2014, with four legs and shows in total.Llata, Seyyed de la (April 13, 2014). "Daniel Padilla thrills teen fans in Dubai". Archived from the original on February 14, 2017."Daniel Padilla and Yeng Constantino's "first" happens in Dubai today". Archived from the original on January 20, 2016."Daniel Padilla leaves Kathryn Bernardo for Yeng Constantino?". Archived from the original on December 7, 2014."Daniel Padilla leaves Kathryn Bernardo again for Yeng Constantino". Archived from the original on January 29, 2017.Daniel Padilla’s ‘last’ with Yeng Constantino in Milan!". Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. While his second studio album, I Heart You was released on April 14, 2014. The digital album peaked at No. 1 on the iTunes Philippines chart, the physical album reached the No. 1 spot on Odyssey Music & Video's nationwide sales reports."Daniel Padilla, No. 1 overall – PressReader" .Philippine Daily Inquirer (June 24, 2014)-via PressReader."Daniel Padilla Beats One Direction And Mariah Carey In Astrovision/Astroplus Top-Selling Albums" . Showbiznest. Retrieved February 14, 2017. Less than a month after its release, I Heart You achieved platinum record status and was certified double platinum on May 8, 2015.Anarcon, James Patrick (July 15, 2015). "Topselling OPM Artists of 2015 (January–May)" . Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved January 17, 2017."Daniel Padilla gets double platinum award for 'I Heart You' album" . Coconuts Manila. April 19, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2016.Allan Balbin, Sherwin "Daniel Padilla Receives Double Platinum Award For DJP & Platinum For I Heart You" . Philippine Edition. Retrieved January 17, 2017Valisno, Jeffrey O. (September 5, 2014). "‘Dahan-Dahan’: The changing worth of music sales" . Business World. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
Padilla marked his 19th birthday with a second sold-out concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 30, 2014. "DOS" was another event at the Araneta Coliseum. It was streamed live on SkyCable Pay-Per-View. The concert also featured his own band Parking 5 before they disbanded in July 2014. He recorded single, "Unlimited And Free" as the theme song of ABS-CBN Mobile in 2014."Meet underrated producer-songwriter Rox Santos". Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. On December 1, 2014, Padilla was given his own stars on the country's version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Eastwood Walk of Fame, located at Eastwood City, Quezon City.Umbao, Ed (December 2, 2014). "Daniel, Kathryn & Vice Ganda Newest Stars on the Eastwood Walk of Fame" . Pilpippines News. Retrieved January 17, 2017Orosa, Rosalinda L. (December 6, 2014). "Spotify names top artists, hits of 2014". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017
In 2014, Padilla made three films: the action film Sa Ngalan ng Ama Ina at mga Anak with the Padilla clan, his first historical, action drama; Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo; and the box office success, She's Dating the Gangster, with his co-star Bernardo.
2015–present: Transition to adult roles and continued success
Padilla, along with Bernardo, dubbed as "KathNiel", visited Dubai to hold a concert titled "Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo Live in Dubai" on January 1, 2015.Godinez, Ferdinand (December 30, 2014). "The rise of Filipino stars Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo". The National. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. In February, Padilla was named Nickelodeon's Global Slime Star at the 2015 Kids' Choice Awards, making him the first Filipino to receive such an award. He was also in the Favorite Asian Act category but lost to Indonesian group JKT48.Red, Isah V. (February 28, 2015). "Daniel Padilla among nominees in Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards". Manila Standard Today Archived from the original on February 14, 2017
Padilla's film with Bernardo in 2015 titled Crazy Beautiful You set three records, with P32 million, making it the first Filipino movie to register such a box office gross on its first day. The film passed the P300million mark, and was the second film to earn $2 million in international screenings. It was listed in the Top ten grossing films of 2015 ."'Crazy Beautiful You' earns USD2M from int'l screenings". Archived from the original on February 7, 2017.
Padilla returned to television on May 25, 2015, for the remake of the 90s soap opera Pangako Sa 'Yo as Angelo Buenavista. The finale episode raked in a 44.5% rating. The show also top ABS-CBN's top selling international distribution programs.