Kaye Abad on stars settling down in Cebu: “We’re waiting for Sarah G. next”

CEBU, Philippines — After starring in the hit ABS-CBN primetime drama “Two Wives” four years ago, Kaye Abad is back on the small screen via the daytime series “Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit,” which will premiere on Monday, March 25, before “It’s Showtime.”

The actress took a showbiz hiatus after marrying Paul Jake Castillo, a former PBB housemate who hails from Cebu. She has since left her life in Manila to settle down in Cebu with her husband of two years. Their firstborn, Pio Joaquin, is now more than a year old.

Kaye was asked during the recent media conference of “Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit” if she had already bumped into her “Tabing Ilog” co-star and ex-boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz, who has reportedly shacked up in Cebu with his Cebuana sweetheart Ellen Adarna and their son Elias Modesto.

“Hindi pa naman kami nagkikita,” Kaye told Pep.ph and other reporters.

“Hindi ko alam, palagi naman akong nasa labas, pero hindi ko talaga siya nakikita. Ang daming nagtatanong niyan, pero hindi pa talaga kami nagkikita. Baka ayaw na ng tadhana na magkita kami. Kasi maayos na ang mga buhay namin.”

Told by the press that she and John Lloyd seemed to share the same fate of marrying Cebuanos and settling down in their partner’s hometowns, Kaye quipped with a laugh, “Pinili naman niya yung kapalaran niya na yun! The same time na pinili ko rin yun. Pero ang liit-liit ng Cebu, pero hindi talaga kami nagkikita.”

She said that while Paul Jake and Ellen are friends, there has been no effort between her and John Lloyd to meet up or communicate.

“Wala rin,” she said, before adding in jest,  “Si Sarah Geronimo na nga lang ang hinihintay namin! Chos!”

Sarah, the girlfriend of Cebuano actor Matteo Guidicelli, has also starred in movies with John Lloyd.

Kaye added that she has no regrets moving to Cebu. “Masaya, kuntento. Palagi nila akong tinatanong and, kung tutuusin, mas gusto ko dun. Kasi, very laid back. It’s a combination of province and city life. Na kung gusto mong mag-beach, mag-farm, ang lapit lang lahat. Kung gusto mo ng city, nandoon na rin naman ang mga malls, nandoon na rin naman lahat. Mas relaxed ako ngayon.”

Another “Tabing Ilog” alumna, Baron Geisler, has called Cebu his second home after receiving months-long treatment from a rehabilitation center in Banilad, Cebu City. He has since partnered with the center’s owner to put up a barber shop in Gaisano Country Mall and is currently dating a Cebuana.

In 1998, Donna Cruz also left showbiz at the height of her career to live in Cebu after marrying Cebuano ophthalmologist Yong Larrazabal.