Actress Sarah Abad. Photo: Handout

MANILA -- Actress Sarah Abad is not looking for love, years after her separation with husband, Kamikazee's frontman Jay Contreras.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News for the upcoming film "Crosspoint,"  Abad quickly added that she is also not closing her doors to a new romance.

"Hindi naman natin sasarhan 'yan. Ngayon, wala pa talaga, hindi ko na rin siya hinahanap kasi I'm really happy and contented with what I have right now. I have my two kids, I have four dogs, parang wala nang space... 'Pag dumating, of course, ayaw ko din naman isara 'yung puso ko. Wala rin namang hatred. Sabi ko nga, lahat naman maayos naman ... at saka it's been years, so, game na," Abad said.

In the interview, Abad also opened up about her life as a single mom and her relationship with Contreras.

"Well, I can say it's hard, siyempre raising two kids. Pero 'yung father naman nila, si Jay, still naman is present with sa life nila. So, hindi din naman talagang sa 'kin na lahat 'yung burden. But siguro, ang difference lang with us, kasi parang hindi naman kami in bad terms. We still talk, we still feel like a family in fact. Ano ba ang feeling? Sorry, ang tagal na kasi kaya parang, hindi ko ito nadi-discuss, never ako na-interview about this. I'm happy, actually," Abad said.  

"I'm happy kasi I have the support of my family. 'Yung dalawang kids ko, they're grown up now. Hindi na rin ako nahirapan na explain everything. And, yun nga, siguro it's easier for me kasi nga ah, hindi kami naghiwalay ni Jay na magkaaway," she added.

The actress said she and Contreras have a good co-parenting setup.

"Ang key is just communication. Talagang pag-usapan ang lahat. And, I feel like siyempre maraming struggle 'yan, co-parenting hindi 'yan madali for everyone. We found out na parang 'yung key talaga is just to talk and mas lawakan 'yung pag-iisip mo sa mga mga bagay... We feel like we have the same priorities, like, ang priority namin dalawa ay yung mga bata. So, parang mas easier mag-compromise," she added.

Asked if she and Contreras are planning to make their separation legal via annulment, Abad replied: "Hindi ko na 'yan idi-discuss dito. Huwag na natin i-discuss 'yan. ...Yes, naka, ano 'yan, naka-file na po."

Abad stressed she and Contreras have a better relationship now compared to when they were still together.

"Sobra po. Actually, mas, 'pag pinag-uusapan namin, mas maayos kami ngayon kaysa sa when we were together. So, 'yun nga as I've said for us, kasi pareho kami talaga ng priorities, mas priority talaga namin 'yung mga bata. So, despite the differences, like sa decision-making, sa whatever kailangan namin pag-usapan kasi priority namin 'yung dalawa, kung ano ang makakabuti sa dalawa," Abad said.

In 2020, Abad and Contreras shocked their fans by heavily hinting that they may have decided to go their separate ways. The two got married in January 2009.

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New film, working with Carlo Aquino

Abad who returned to acting a few years back, expressed her excitement in promoting her film "Crosspoint" with Carlo Aquino and Emmy-nominated actor Takehiro Hira as lead stars.

"Medyo matagal din akong hindi gumawa ng  project. So, I'm very excited for the release. Kasi finally, oh my God, after two years maipapalabas na. Two years 'yung hinintay para mapalabas na," Abad said.

In the film, Abad plays Melanie Hidalgo, the wife of Aquino's character Manuel.

"Importante 'yung character ni Melanie dito kasi parang siya 'yung naging inspiration, 'yung wife and the baby kasi pregnant ako doon. So, sila 'yung naging inspiration ni Manuel, played by Carlo, na talagang magpursige sa buhay. Kasi nga dito sa Philippines, parang struggling actor siya. Wala siyang masyadong project. So, kaya siya pumunta ng Japan. Kumbaga lahat gagawin niya for the family. So, parang  ganun siya naging kadeterminado na kumita and makauwi ng maayos sa Pilipinas ulit para makita ulit yung family niya," Abad said.

She admitted that she also felt nervous working with Aquino, a fellow "Ang TV" star, whom she described as very welcoming and a great actor.

"Parang ngayon lang ulit kami nagkita ni Carlo. Kasi nakatrabaho ko na siya before eh, with 'Ang TV.'  At saka, since sa 'Ang TV,' parang small community lang, so kahit hanggang ngayon magkataibigan pa rin kami kumbaga. Kahit di kami nagkakatrabaho, naka-follow pa rin kami sa isa't isa. So, hindi naman nawala yung contact," she said.

"But still, parang ngayon ko lang ulit siya makikita after so long na may anak. But, pagdating sa set, very welcoming lahat ng staff kasi. Pati si Carlo. Tapos alam naman natin lahat magaling na artista si Carlo. So, ang daling maka-adjust with the scenes. 'Yung una parang kinabahan ako kasi, oh my God, mag-asawa kami dito. So, kailangan, hindi pwedeng, para kaming mag-tropa. Alam mo yun? But 'yun nga, since alam nating lahat na magaling si Carlo, hindi ako nahihirapan," she added.

In 2018, Abad marked her return to showbiz as she signed a contract with VIVA. She did several TV projects and was also part of "Deleter," which starred Nadine Lustre.

"Parang ito 'yung medyo kahit papano markado 'yung role. So, hindi ako, hindi ako nahihirapan....  Kasi, actually hindi naman talaga ako completely nag-stop. Parang nag-lay low lang ako since nagtapos ako mag-aral. And then, I had two kids. So, every now and then, I still accept projects. Pero, parang, ito ulit 'yung big project kasi nga siyempre, surrounded with the best in the industry. Alam mo 'yun, parang nakaka-pressure din. Pero, acting wise kaya ko naman. ... Kasi, siguro, kumbaga, kung nasa dugo mo na 'yon, hindi na yata maaalis 'yon. Parang, minsan, dito, kahit sa salamin, umarte-arte na lang ako," she said.

Asked what makes "Crosspoint" special, Abad said: "Trailer pa lang it's action-packed, talaga. It's a very special project kasi it's  collaboration -- Philippines and Japan. Tapos, ayun nga, I'm surrounded with the best in the industry."

Directed by Japan-based writer-filmmaker Donie Ordiales, "Crosspoint" will hit Philippine cinemas on October 16.

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