Dennis Padilla is not throwing in the towel yet in his quest to make it right with his estranged children.
In his Instagram post on August 6, 2024, the celebrity dad once again turns to social media to make his entreaty for a reunion with his grown children—Julia, Claudia, and Leon, who all carry the surname of their mom, Marjorie Barretto.
Dennis uploaded what seemed to be a quote graphic from the Internet with the text (published as is): "Parents don't need your tears when they die.
"They need your Hugs, Laughter, Love and Care while still alive. LIFE IS SHORT!"
Dennis' post was accompanied by three emojis—praying hands, a red heart, and a crying face that communicated a plea for attention.
Read: Get to know Dennis Padilla's seven kids
NETIZENS REACT
Dennis's posts about his children have turned into a saga followed closely by the Philippine showbiz fans.
He frequently puts out quote graphics with messages of longing and emotional appeals, along with birthday greetings to his children.
Each of these posts is accompanied by heartfelt messages that express his desire to reconnect and repair their fractured bond.
In the past, netizens would rally in support of Dennis’s posts, empathizing with his situation and encouraging him as the well-intentioned father he portrays.
Over time, however, the nature of the comments has evolved into an appeal for understanding on Dennis' part.
Many messages now focus on encouraging Dennis to grant his children the necessary time and space to heal.
One of them advised him: "Time heals all wounds sir Dennis. Pwede rin po wala na silang tampo sayo pero gusto muna nila yung peace of mind at heart nila.
"Baka nasa stage parin sila na kakatapos lang nilang mag heal at gusto muna ng tahimik. Malay po natin pag ready na sila, sila pa po mag reach out sayo.
"Wala pong impossible lalo na kung bilang magulang alam po natin na mababait nmn n bata mga anak mo at baka di pa lang sila ready.
"Kung inaalala nyo po na baka maging huli na ang lahat, siguro ngayon po isapuso na lang natin na naiintindihan na lang sila.
"Minsan po kasi ang mga magulang din ang dahilan ng nararamdaman ng mga anak at yung action na nagagawa nila ay resulta lang ng mga nangyari sa kanila [emojis].
"saludo po ako sa inyo sa pag ta-try mo at sana po matupad wishes mo po."
After a commenter tagged the Barreto siblings in an attempt to persuade them to soften their hearts towards their father, an Instagram user came up to the defense of Julia in particular.
The user wrote, "nagpatawad naman na si Julia. Nag reach out naman na yata si Julia sa pagkakaalala ko.
"Baka naman random post lang yan ni Dennis wag nyo agad bigyan ng kulay kaya nag aaway yung mag ama eh."
Read: Dennis Padilla hopes for "healing" with Julia, Claudia, Leon
DENNIS'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS KIDS
On the other hand, Dennis, whose full name is Dennis Esteban Dominguez Baldivia, appears to be in good terms with Diane Gatus and Luis Emmanuel Gatus Baldivia, his children from former partner Monina Gatus.
At the virtual media conference for his movie Pakboys: Takusa on December 2, 2020, he expressed his pride and joy at Diane, who had just gotten married at the time.
Luis, who often makes an appearance on Dennis's social media feed, is known to give his father gifts on special occasions.
Aside from Diane and Luis, most of Dennis's other children appear to have kept some distance from him.
Julia, Dennis's first child with his ex-wife, is undoubtedly the most famous among his children.
Over the years, Dennis and Julia's father-daughter relationship has been publicly marked by both triumphs and challenges.
On February 24, 2024, Dennis proudly shared that Julia greeted him on his 62nd birthday
Choosing to maintain a level of discretion, Dennis refrained from oversharing details about their latest interaction, having learned some lessons from their past encounters.
On November 23, 2022, Leon, the unico hijo and the youngest among the Barreto children, told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at the Awit Awards 2022, that he was all for whatever would bring peace to everyone.
Leon said, "Of course, in God's perfect timing. I'm for peace naman, I really trust in God's timing talaga.
"I keep emphasizing that kasi importante talaga yun. Time lang talaga.
"For me naman, I also miss my Dad but time heals all wounds.
"At the end of the day, ang importante lang talaga, when we reunite peacefully na.
"God's perfect timing but I'm really open to reconciliation and peace with my father."
DENNIS PADILLA-LINDA GORTON SEPARATION
Meanwhile, Dennis is facing another challenge following his split earlier this year from his Filipino-Australian partner, Linda Gorton.
They have a son, Gavin, 12, and a daughter, Madelyn, 7.
He told PEP.ph on February 27, 2024, "Yes, maayos naman, maganda naman yung co-parenting arrangement namin, and regular ko naman silang nakakausap ng video call.
"For the past three and a half years, dun na sila nakatira, so medyo madugo ang labanan, child support. Mahal ang dolyar, e.
"Child support tayo, Australian dollars din.
"Awa ng Diyos, I am able to support and I am able to send their monthly child support."
After some time, Linda countered his statements via an Instagram post on April 28, 2024.
She wrote: "This post is to clarify some things the father of my kids, Gavin and Maddie, said in an interview not long ago and what circulated around social media at that time.
"First of all, consistency in child support wasn't always the case. Through the years there were many lapses in between.
"And many times I had to, and still have to persistently ask for it kasi kung papabayaan ko, matagal at kulang kulang ang padala.
"Because i also work here, Ako ang nagpuno sa mga pagkukulang na iyon.
"I don't know what "madugo" meant in his statement when this is what was more or less the normal expenses for the kids even back then when we were still living together."
Linda also addressed the co-parenting setup Dennis brought up, stating there is no truth to it.
"Secondly, we don't have a co-parenting set up because since we parted ways in July of 2020, we never had a formal conversation about our separation and how we will raise our kids. Basta nakakausap niya lang ang mga bata."