MANILA -- "Lagi pong bukas ang puso ko."
These were the 51-year-old actor's candid words on Thursday when asked if he is ready to love again after his controversial separation from actress Sunshine Cruz, his wife of 13 years.
"Lagi pong bukas ang puso ko. Pangit pong sinasara ang puso, sapagkat narito po ang puso natin, dinesign ng Diyos 'yan para i-share ang ating pagmamahal," a smiling Montano told reporters.
"Anuman ang makikita natin sa landasin natin, madilim man o maliwanag, malungkot man o hindi, dapat we're always willing to love," he said.
The "Muro Ami" star laughed when asked for his reaction to Cruz's recent statement, supposedly saying she now prefers to be in a relationship with someone who is not "moreno" like Montano.
"Masaya ako kung saan siya masaya," the actor said, of Cruz moving on possibly with a new man. "Masaya ako para sa kanya, sapagkat siya'y magulang ng aking mga anak."
'We need prayers'
Cruz and Montano separated in January this year over his alleged affair with model-actress Krista Miller.
Before the controversial breakup involving Miller, the celebrity couple, by Cruz's admission, went through several rough patches due to Montano's "questionable" relationships with his co-workers.
In August, the couple's spat was taken to court, with Cruz accusing her husband of marital rape. This was denied by Montano, saying the incident in question was consensual.
The actress also accused Montano of keeping her from seeing their three daughters, who, according to the actor's camp, chose to stay with him following the couple's separation.
Both camps have since agreed to share custody of the children.
Asked on his arrangement with Cruz concerning their kids, Montano on Thursday said, "Ayokong magbanggit patungkol diyan."
"I'm not going to use this interview para ibaba ang tingin sa kanya, sapagkat siya po ay nanay parin ng aking mga anak. At hindi ko rin po gagamitin ang interview na 'to to praise myself at gamitin pa ang aking mga anak. Hindi ko po gagawin 'yon.
"Basta you know that we have an issue and we need prayers. Kung anuman po ang mangyayari dito, ang adhikain ko po ay sa kapakanan ng aking mga anak na maging maganda ang future parin nila sa kabila ng mga nangyayari," Montano said.
