How Kim Chiu, Bela Padilla, Angelica Panganiban Became Friends

The celebrity trio, AngBeKi, spread good vibes on everyone’s social media feed as they uploaded a super cute video together. ICYDK, AngBeKi consists of Angelica Panganiban, Bela Padilla, and Kim Chiu—and they are *inseparable* whenever they meet up!

Just over the weekend, the trio brought smiles and laughter to the Internet as they hopped on the viral “Marikit sa Dilim” trend. Bela uploaded it on Instagram with the caption, “#AngBeKi night with Bean on the side. *insert heart emoji*” (Bean is the nickname of Angelica’s firstborn, Amila Sabine.) While Bela and Kim danced, Angelica joined holding a wine glass. #Mood

Netizens couldn’t help but gush over their cute video. A netizen wrote, “‘Pag napapanood ko kayong tatlo parang parte na rin ako ng barkada niyo… Gusto ko ring maki-cheers sa inyo…”

We feel like it’s sooo fun to be around AngBeK or be friends with them IRL! These beautiful ladies are not just talented in their own right as actresses but also the most kalog! Undeniably, because of these traits, they make an upbeat trio. But it is not just laughing and happy moments that bind them together. They’ve been through major life milestones together.

Curious how their friendship stayed strong? Below, let’s get to know more about AngBeKi’s friendship!

AngBeKi: Angelica Panganiban, Bela Padilla, and Kim Chiu’s Friendship Timeline
2017: Kim Chiu explained the start of AngBeKi’s friendship.
Although they all came from the Kapamilya network, it was not work that brought them closer. Their friendship began when the three of them met at a birthday party.

In an interview with Boy Abunda in 2017, Kim shared that they first had the chance to bond at someone’s birthday party—and everything just clicked! She also explained how the “AngBeKi” name was born. A netizen on Twitter coined the barkada name, and they immediately found AngBeKi fitting for them.

“Kami talaga ni Bela, may common friend kami. Tapos parang nag-gatecrash lang kami sa isang birthday party na nandodoon si Angelica. Hanggang sa inumaga na kami, nagkwentuhan na kami and everything. Hanggang sa lagi na kami nagsasama. Nagfa-funny-han naman kami sa isa’t isa, sa kalokohan ng isa’t isa,” Kim recalled.

2017 to present: AngBeKi supporting each other’s milestones.
Since becoming friends, they have expressly shared their love and support for one another. Whether showing up at each other’s movie premieres or just being there through ups and downs, AngBeKi did it all.

When Kim did the movie, The Ghost Bride, Bela and Angelica were present and shared posts praising Kim’s acting chops. The same happened when it was time for Bela’s movie, Meet Me In St. Gallen in 2018. Kim and Bela did not miss to support Angelica’s film, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes.

February 2019: AngBeKi got matching tattoos!
Have you ever thought of getting matching tattoos with your best friends? Take it from Kim, Bela, and Angelica. In February 2019, Kim posted pics of their tattoo session together. The trio chose to have a simple dot tattoo placed on the same spots on their left wrists.

“Miss these 2!! We may not see each other most of the time but we always have each other’s back!!! Lav yeah both!!! #AngBeKi rocks!!!!! Stronger than ever!!!!!” Kim enthusiastically wrote in her caption.

2020: Angelica says Kim and Bela were her refuge after a bad breakup.
The pain from a breakup heals faster when you’re in the company of your good friends. Friends just make everything better, right? That’s how it was for Angelica. She did not specify details about the past relationship, but she emphasized how Kim and Bela gave her so much comfort while she healed from the breakup.

She recounted how their friendship *blossomed* because of that point in her life. “Kim and Bela, sila ‘yung unang taong tinakbuhan ko nung inindiyan ako nung ex ko, doon sa panahon na dapat makikipaghiwalay siya sa akin. Nandoon sila and the friendship blossomed. Mahal na mahal namin ang isa’t isa,” Angelica declared in an online show.

October 2020: AngBeKi marked their third anniversary.

For the first time, Angelica, Bela, and Kim had an out-of-town trip to Subic, Zambales where it was just the three of them together. The trip marked their third anniversary as a trio. What they mostly did was: swim, eat, and chill—vacation goalz!

Angelica Panganiban, Bela Padilla, Kim Chiu

September 2022: AngBeKi had a wonderful reunion!

2022 was when much has happened in the lives and careers of AngBeKi. Bela decided to move to London, while Angelica had gotten pregnant with Amila Sabine. So when Bela decided to come home to Manila, the trio couldn’t help but take the chance to have their much-awaited reunion!

In an Instagram post on September 16, Kim shared photos and a video of their intimate reunion that was joined by Angelica’s husband Gregg Homan. Based on the photos, it looked like the three actresses had a ton of fun together as Kim shared, “Celebrating life with real momsy @iamangelicap and the homecoming [of] momsy @bela.”

Angelica also felt emotional and grateful to Bela and Kim for being *present* and *involved* in her first-ever pregnancy. She wrote on Instagram, “Alam ko may nagawa at ginagawa akong mabuti kaya naging ganito ako kapalad pagdating sa mga kaibigan ko. Salamat at sinamahan ninyo ko sa pinakamasayang siyam na buwan ng buhay ko.”

Angelica Panganiban, Bela Padilla, Kim Chiu

September 2023: Kim visited Bela in between the flurry of her solo travels.

In August 2023, Bela’s father passed away. As she mourned the passing of her dad, several of her friends extended sympathies and mourned with her in London. One of those was Kim who personally flew to London and spent time with Bela.

Bela divulged in an Instagram post that it wasn’t really in Kim’s character to travel alone. It wasn’t her thing. But then, 2023 was a year of changes and new things for Kim. Bela expressed how thankful and proud she was of her best friend.

“It must’ve been daunting for her to go cross country alone…but she did it to spend 24 hours with me…and I’m not only proud of her for doing that and so many other new things […] I’m also extremely grateful. Thank you Kimmy for being so warm and happy. For people who are actually used to being alone or traveling alone…Kim feels like home,” Bela wrote.

December 2023: Kim and Bela attended Angelica’s intimate wedding!

Angelica and Gregg decided to tie the knot exactly on the last day of 2023 in Los Angeles, California. The couple invited their closest friends to celebrate their union. Among those were, of course, Kim and Bela—who also spent the New Year holiday with the Homan family.

As the most expressive of the three, Kim posted a heartfelt message for Angelica and Gregg, following their lovely wedding in L.A. “Witnessed a love that is everlasting, love that comes in perfect timing, love that is unconditional, and love that deserves to be felt by one another,” Kim said in her IG post as she continued to congratulate the couple.

Angelica Panganiban, Bela Padilla, Kim Chiu

She also reminded Gregg to always take care of Angelica. “Thank you, @gregg_homan for loving our momsyAlagaan mo ang momsy namin forever! #ANGBEKI IS EXTRA EXTRA HAPPY!!! Momsy @bela, I am glad to experience this with you!”

Stay strong AngBeKi! We wish you all the best in life!