MANILA, Philippines?Two young actresses talk about bouncing back from a romance gone bad. Karylle, whose three-year old romance with Dingdong Dantes ended recently, says she?s has happily arrived at the ?acceptance stage.? Heart Evangelista, formerly with Jericho Rosales, is one step ahead: She?s found a new love.

Amid the drama that erupted after her breakup with Dingdong, singer-actress Karylle went on a two-day retreat at the Assumption House in Baguio.

The retreat proved crucial in her healing, she told Inquirer Entertainment in an exclusive interview. While there, she dabbled in painting?which she had long wanted to do.

?I painted a rainbow [and it turned out] one of the exercises in the retreat was to think of seven things you are grateful for, one for each color of the rainbow.? Her realization: ?How can I stay depressed, when blessings are coming my way?"

She has a new CD and a digital movie (Lore Reyes? ?Lechonero?) in the works. She is singing the National Anthem at the Manny Pacquiao boxing match with Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas on Dec. 6. On Dec. 14, she moves to ABS-CBN. This, manager Audie Gemora said, marks a new chapter in her life.

How are you feeling now?

I?m getting a lot of love from family, friends, even strangers.

Your cousin Iza Calzado said you?re blooming.

I?m happy na.

You said you went through denial, hurt, anger, bargaining, acceptance. What was the hardest stage?
Anger. I couldn?t accept that I was angry. But that?s part of the journey. Funny thing was, other people also got angry for me. I ended up comforting them.

How are you and Dong now?

When I said I didn?t love him anymore ? I meant the romantic kind of love. But I still care about his welfare and I pray for him.

Can you still be friends?

Maybe in time.

What will happen to your businesses?

Our shares [in the Centerstage videoke joint and Mey Lin restaurant] are separate. The businesses are doing well.

There?s a rumor that Marian Rivera [who?s being linked to Dingdong] approached you, and you turned away.

That?s not true. We had an exchange of words pa raw. My reaction was: I don?t talk like that.

How have you changed in the last month?

I feel stronger as a person. I?ve also become more open to outside help.

Your mom [Zsazsa Padilla] is in the United States. Does she know what happened?

Yes, we?re in touch.

What?s the best piece of advice from your mom regarding the break-up?

She said I should focus on love that?s constant ? family, friends. Just having her on the phone was more than enough. She didn?t have to say much. All she had to do was listen. Bayani San Diego Jr.

?I love myself more now?

Her breakup with Jericho Rosales in June was also highly publicized. Now, Heart Evangelista told the Inquirer during the launch of her new Kapuso teleserye, ?Luna Mystika,? she?s ?happy for the first time in a long while.?

She said this was because of Francisco ?Kiko? Delgado, 34, scion of a shipping family, whom Heart, 23, has been dating for five months now.

The couple was spotted vacationing on Boracay Island during the Halloween break. Their photos were posted on www.pinoyparazzi.com.

?He?s very low-key. That?s what I like about him,? said Heart. ?He?s hardworking and is focused on his goals. We?re alike in that sense.?

When she announced the end of her three-year relationship with Echo, Heart hinted at a ?third party.? Jericho denied cheating on her.

?Things are going well in my life right now,? Heart said. ?I never thought I could bounce back. I gave up everything for my previous relationship. I will not commit the same mistake again. I?ve learned to love myself more.?

For her first Kapuso project, she played leading lady to Richard Gutierrez on the action-adventure series ?Codename: Asero.?

?Luna Mystika? is her first lead role for the network. It airs weekdays, right after ?24 Oras.? Marinel R. Cruz