Daniel Padilla says he can relate to his newest character, Joaquin Manansala.

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='082413-Daniel_Main.jpg' width='305' height='290' align='left' border='0'>With <i>Got to Believe</i> set to premiere on Monday, August 26, Daniel Padilla said he is very excited for his fans to meet his new character. He plays Joaquin Manansala, a rich boy who gets hit by a bullet when he was young and grows up in a protected and lonely environment until he meets the free-spirited and lively Chichay Tampipi (played by Kathryn Bernardo) who turns his world upside-down. “<i>Maganda ito. Kasi parang sa lahat ng teleserye wala pang ganito eh. Wala pang</i> character <i>na ganun eh, bago eh. At saka gusto ko yung ganun, yung hindi laging masayahin na</i> jolly, <i>ayoko ng ganun</i>. <i>Gusto ko ng tahimik na misteryoso</i>,” he admitted to Push.</div><div><br/></div><div>Daniel revealed that his character Joaquin has to overcome a lot of emotional hurdles because of his old injury. “<i>May bala nga siya sa ulo kasi tinamaan siya ng ligaw na bala nung bata siya. Siyempre habang tumatanda, sa sobrang alaga sa kanya ng nanay niya, parang nasasarado na yung mundo niya sa lahat, na hindi na lumalabas kasi sobrang delikado. Hindi siya puwede sa masyadong magulo kahit na sa bahay lang hindi siya puwedeng gumulo</i>,” he explained.</div><div><br/></div><div>The teen heartthrob said he can relate to his role because they have many similarities. “<i>Hindi naman kami malayo. Sa sobrang pagmamahal niya sa ermats niya, sinusunod niya talaga kahit alam niya na ayaw niya. May pagka</i>-mysterious <i>din si</i> Joaquin,” he added.</div><div><br/></div><div>Daniel said his character Joaquin also enjoys basketball. “<i>Ako nagba-</i>basketball. <i>Siya naman</i> virtual basketball. <i>Ako nagba-</i>basketball <i>talaga ako. Yun yung</i> girlfriend<i> ko</i> (laughs). <i>Ngayon pinipilit ko pa rin kahit </i>busy,” he said. </div><div><br/></div><div>Under the guidance of<i> Got to Believe </i>director Cathy Garcia-Molina, Daniel said he has been able to improve on his acting as the show goes on. “<i>Hindi rin naman kasi ako ganun ka-</i>expressive<i> eh. Magbibitw ako minsan pero hindi lahat. Kumbaga hindi rin kami nakapag</i>-workshop<i> dahil ang daming</i> schedule<i> pero ngayon kapag nag-te-</i>take<i> kami, hindi ko agad nakukuha siyempre. Hindi pa ako sanay sa </i>character <i>pero ginagabayan naman ako ng</i> director <i>kung paano ko sasabihin so masasanay din ng masasanay na parang ako na yung</i> character<i> na yun</i>,” he explained.</div><div><br/></div><div>The 18-year-old actor said every new role given to him is always a challenge in acting. <i>“Lahat naman ng </i>character<i> iba-ibang</i> challenge <i>naman dahil hindi naman puwedeng</i> Gino (his character from<i> Princess and I)</i> <i>ako ngayon tapos sa</i> next soap<i> at </i>next next soap<i> puro na lang</i> Gino <i>ang dating di ba</i>? <i>Kaya lahat ng</i> new role challenge <i>yan sa akin</i>,” he said, referring to his role in <i>Princess and I</i> earlier this year.</div><div><br/></div><div>When it comes to his leading lady Kathryn, Daniel said her onscreen character is a bit different from her in real life. “<i>Malayo naman sila. Kasi talagang masa itong</i> character. <i>Si</i> Kathryn<i> naman masa pero itong babaeng ito, si</i> Chichay <i>masang masa talaga</i> (laughs),” he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>One thing Daniel takes pride in is being the owner of one of Kathryn's paintings, something she learned from taking painting lessons because of her character in the show. She gave him the painting on his birthday along with a bass guitar which she personally picked out just for him. “<i>Andun sa bahay, dun sa kuwarto ko naka</i>-display. <i>Magaling siya. At saka ang hirap kaya magpintura. </i>Picture <i>yun nung parang siya yung nag-pe</i>-paint,<i> pine-</i>paint <i>niya ako. Parang ako nasa </i>skateboard <i>tapos siya nag-pe-</i>paint,” he explained.</div><div><br/></div><div>This Sunday, August 25, Daniel joins members of the <i>G2B Army</i> in their first ever Color Fun Run in Paranaque City. The talented singer-actor encouraged his fans to join the youth army. <i>“Masaya ito kasi hindi lang naman yung </i>show y<i>ung kailangan nilang tutukan kasi may mga</i> activities<i> din kami. Parang pamilya talaga</i>. It's the power of the youth!” he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>Watch Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo in<i> Got to Believe</i> weeknights after <i>Juan Dela Cruz</i> on ABS-CBN. For more Kapamilya updates, log on daily to <a href=''>Push.abs-cbn.com</a> and follow <a href='http://www.twitter.com/Push_Mina'>Push_Mina</a> on Twitter.</div><div><br/></div>

Daniel Padilla plays the role of a lonely, rich boy in the new series 'Got to Believe.'

Daniel Padilla says he can relate to his newest character, Joaquin Manansala. | PUSH.COM.PH