Life after separation, it turned out, came with unexpected conversations.
In a recent interview, Kylie Padilla shared that her estranged husband, Aljur Abrenica, once offered advice about her suitors. The moment happened last August during what was meant to be a simple family outing, when they brought sons Alas and Axl to a circus show.
“It happened last August when we brought our children, Alas and Axl, to a circus show. I can’t remember if it was he who asked about the topic or I brought it up,” Kylie said.
Aljur’s message was direct and protective. “He just told me to be careful with my suitors. He knows that at present, I’m single. Then, I mentioned a suitor of mine, and he gave his opinion,” she shared.
Despite their separation, Kylie said their relationship has settled into a peaceful rhythm.
“Actually, even if we’re already separated, our co-parenting setup is okay. We are at peace with each other,” she said.
That peace, however, followed some of the most difficult conversations of her life. Kylie admitted the hardest part was explaining their situation to Alas. “There was a point when I had difficulty explaining things to Alas regarding our situation,” she said. One question, in particular, stayed with her. “He asked me, ‘Does Papa not love you? ’Of course, it broke my heart during that time.”
Kylie said she chose reassurance over emotion.
“I just told Alas that, despite what happened between his dad and me, we deeply love and care for him still. After that, I didn’t show any emotion anymore. I don’t want to make it appear as if it’s a heavy issue.” She later asked Aljur to step in.
“Then, I talked directly to Aljur and told him what Alas said. I told him to explain things to our son. It’s better if it would come from him first and not me,” Kylie added.
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For Piolo Pascual, calm has become a conscious choice. As lead star and co-producer of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Manila’s Finest, the actor said stress was something he preferred to keep at bay.
“For one, we can’t do anything about my double role in the project as actor and producer. I just enjoyed the shooting of the film,” Piolo said.
He spoke about the importance of staying present. “You need to enjoy it…the experience, and I’m always at my happiest when I’m on the set. I feel like I’m always present when I’m on the set,” he said.
Manila’s Finest marked Piolo’s third straight MMFF entry since 2023, following the box-office success of Mallari and last year’s The Kingdom. Asked if he felt pressure to keep the streak going, Piolo shrugged it off. “Well, pressure will always be there. As for me, I just don’t think much about it. I just work continuously. I always hope and pray for the best!”
For Piolo, the formula remained unchanged: stay calm, keep working, and let the rest follow.
