By Sirri Shayla, InterAksyon.com

Teen heartthrob Daniel Padilla has many reasons to be thankful for, not least of which are the twin successes of “Princess & I”, his recently concluded drama series, and “Must Be Love”, his launching film with screen partner Kathryn Bernardo.

But success always breeds controversy. For every upside, such as his growing array of commercial endorsements, there’s always a downside. In the digital age, the downside comes in the form of online bashers.

For Daniel, the bashers have targeted his mother, actress Karla Estrada, and have hectored her for being a stage parent. The 17-year-old actor was quick to come to her defense, and he did not mince his words.

“Hindi lang sa akin kasi ang pintas nila, tungkol din sa pamilya, iba-iba.
“Pero, ang sa akin naman, nanay ko na ‘yung binabastos, eh. Kumbaga, kaya mong pumatay para sa nanay mo, eh. Lahat kaya mong gawin para sa nanay mo—kahit sino sa pamilya mo,” Daniel said, flashing the kind of chivalry and quick temper that used to be associated with his famous uncle, Robin.

He has undeniably inherited the brash machismo of the Padilla clan. The message is clear: “Don’t mess with my family or you will regret it!”

However, Daniel says he is not prone to violence when unprovoked.

“Tingin lang nila sa akin medyo maangas, mayabang, ganyan. Pero may sari-sarili naman tayong personalidad, di ba? Basta foul—sobrang foul ‘yung sinabi sa ermats ko. Sa Twitter…alam n’yo namang dun lang puwede. Hindi naman nila kayang sabihin sa harap namin, di ba?

“Hindi naman ako ‘yung masama, eh. Hindi naman ako yung nagkakaro’n ng kahit anong kasalanan. Sila din ‘yung nagiging napakabastos ng ugali, di ba? Sobrang bastos lang kasi. Isipin n’yo, ilang taon ka lang, binabastos na ‘yung magulang ng isang tao. Ano ba namang klaseng tao ka? Bad trip, eh. Bakit kailangan mo sabihin sa nanay ko ‘yun?” he seethes.

Daniel has a challenge to all the Twitter hecklers. “Sabihin nila sa harap ko. Wag mo na sabihin kung saan-saan. Sabihin nila mismo sa akin.”

Thankfully, his mother is totally cool about it. In fact, she already told her son to stop venting his anger in public. It is not, after all, good for his image.

“Sinabihan naman na ako ni mama na kailangan pa rin, alam mo ‘yun, kailangan hindi masyadong bastos ang dating. Ako naman, hindi naman ako nagmumura sa iba.

“Alam naman ni mama na pagtatanggol ko sa kanya iyon. Pero may ibang paraan naman daw na ipagtanggol ko siya na hindi dinadaan sa galit. Gusto lang ni mama na mag-ingat din ako sa mga sinasabi ko. Maging humble pa rin. Huwag tayong lalabas na mayabang pa. Naintindihan ko naman iyon. Kaya cool na lang tayo ngayon,” he conceded.