Bela Padilla and Martin Tan. Photo: Instagram/@withjohnnyk
MANILA — Actress, writer and director Bela Padilla and tech executive Martin Tan have confirmed they are in a relationship, ending months of public speculation about their status.
The confirmation came in a street interview posted Sept. 13 by content creator Johnny K. Padilla and Tan were at the Legazpi Sunday Market in Makati when they were asked whether they were a couple. Padilla answered yes.
Tan said they met through a mutual friend and had been together for eight months. Padilla said their shared interest in movies helped them connect. The pair also spoke about what they appreciate in each other, with Tan citing Padilla’s intelligence and humor and Padilla describing him as willing to try new experiences with her.
Tan is chief executive of Tenext.ai, a software company developing artificial-intelligence tools for customer-facing business operations.
The couple had appeared together publicly before confirming the relationship. Tan attended the Sept. 7 premiere of Padilla’s film Life After You, where he was photographed carrying flowers.
Padilla had previously described their status more cautiously. At an Aug. 19 media conference, she said Tan was “not yet” her boyfriend and that they were still getting to know each other.
Padilla was previously in a long-term relationship with Norman Bay, whose breakup with the actress was publicly confirmed by Padilla in August 2025.
