Cesar: Our kids don’t deserve it

MANILA, Philippines - Cesar Montano is back on the Kapuso network via director Laurice Guillen’s first soap opera Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas, which debuts on the primetime block come Sept. 9. The actor’s last project with GMA was Andres de Saya in 2011. What made him accept the new teleserye?

“Redgie Magno (VP for drama productions) suddenly called me up about it and she was with (creative director) Jun Lana at the time. I’ve worked with Jun Lana several times already like in the movies Jose Rizal and Muro Ami. During our first sit-down meeting, he told me about the story and I find it beautiful. Immediately, I liked the project and I grabbed it,” Cesar told the media during the launch of the TV series last Thursday.

According to Cesar, the tapings have been smooth-sailing. “Totoo, naging magaan ang tapings nito… This is not the first time I worked with direk Laurice. The very first film wherein I won Best Supporting Actor, Ang Bukas Ay Akin in 1989 under Seiko Films, was directed by her. That’s why I’m very excited to work with direk Laurice again,” said Cesar who cleared that despite the similar titles, the teleserye is not a remake of the movie.

In Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas, Cesar said his character is a lawyer who works on a child custody case involving a young Lovi Poe (whom he eventually falls for and he becomes her protector).

This character description inevitably prompted questions on his personal life. His marital issue with Sunshine Cruz has been played out in the media for these past weeks following cases filed by Sunshine, including one related to the custody of their three children.

“I’m devastated,” Cesar said when asked on what he feels about the “turn of events.”

He, nevertheless, confirmed reports that the estranged couple have agreed to share custody over their three young daughters. “Nahati yung time ng mga bata sa akin. (They will spend) four days with her, three days with me, then three days with her, four days with me.”

Cesar, however, begged off from discussing the cases any further due to a gag order issued by the court. “As for now, as much as I want to talk about that, because of the gag order na limit yung kami nagsalita about anything that involves the case or issue.”

He added, “This is not (just) an issue between me and my wife. At any angle you see it, this will affect and hurt the kids. The best thing is to be silent and to pray.”

When queried by reporters if he regards himself as “officially single,” “I don’t know. Because in the eyes of law and in the eyes of God, I’m not. If you’re going to read the Bible, God is anti-divorce.”

Would he rather that things don’t end in separation? Cesar replied, hinting at a desire for a reconciliation, “Sa sobrang mahal ko sa anak ko, that’s my intention. That’s my prayer. I just want this to end. Yung mga bata ang kawawa. The kids have nothing to do with the fight. Yung mga batang ito, walang kinalaman sa away. I hate this. I know that the children do not deserve this.”

 â€œOnly God knows,” he said when asked again on what he thinks will be the outcome in the end.

Despite the “troubles” he’s dealing with, Cesar said that “I thank God for whatever I have right now, be it a problem or a blessing. I think God is preparing me for a bigger task, a bigger issue in life. It doesn’t mean that just because you have a problem, you’re not blessed. You’re just being tested for a bigger blessing. It’s up to the person as to how he sees it.”