Romnick on ‘KathNiel’ breakup: Don’t echo speculations, allegations
As someone who treated Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla like his own kids, Romnick Sarmenta couldn’t help but feel “hurt” when he learned that the real- and reel-life partners of 11 years had broken up.
But as much as he loves them both, he acknowledged that he’s not really in a position to take sides or give advice.
“I don’t know the real story, the entire story. And I don’t think I want to know. Pareho nila akong kakampi. I can just sit by his or her side without the need to talk, tell stories or explain. I would still be the same person I have always been for them,” he told reporters at a recent press conference for the upcoming comedy flick “Becky and Badette.”
For Romnick, who worked with Kathryn and Daniel on the hit romantic comedy series “2 Good 2 be True,” the best thing people can give the former couple at the moment is space.
“Let them go through what they have to go through. What happened could be a hump or something life-changing. Nalubak lang ba o naghiwalay ng landas. We can’t really say, we don’t really know,” said the 51-year-old actor, who played Daniel’s father in the said Kapamilya Channel show.
And this applies, he pointed out, not only to “KathNiel,” but to other love teams as well. He cautioned fans and show biz kibitzers from making or spreading speculations that only add to the noise and could end up hurting more people.
“It’s their relationship. You don’t know the story. They don’t know you personally. You weren’t in the thick of things. So, let’s not echo speculations and allegations. We may not realize that, by doing so, we end up hurting people who aren’t really part of the story. Let’s avoid that,” Romnick said.
Instead, he urged everyone to continue praying for Kathryn and Daniel. “Let’s support them … and wish them the best,” he said. “They’re wonderful people.”
Fans most affected
All the talk about show biz couples and love teams splitting up brought up memories of the aftermath of Romnick and Sheryl Cruz’s popular 1990s love team. And in such instances, it’s the fans, he said, who are the most affected.
“There was a conscious effort on our part to talk to the fan club presidents and members we were close to or knew personally. And we were able to explain to them that we couldn’t force the issue, that if they really loved and respected us, they would respect the fact that the partnership didn’t work out,” he related.
“We were OK with it, so they should be OK with it, too,” he said, adding that they were lucky social media didn’t exist back in the day. “I didn’t expect them to take sides. But if they wanted to, it would have been fine, too. Basta wala lang siraan at bastusan.”
Directed by Jun Robles Lana, “Becky and Badette” is an entry to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Romnick plays Pepe Fenis, the love interest of the titular best friends-turned-rivals played by Eugene Domingo and Pokwang, respectively.
While he’s more experienced doing dramas or playing dashing leading men, he decided to take the leap into comedy. The prospect of working with Eugene, Pokwang, and reuniting with Lana was enough motivation for Romnick.
Comedic timing
“Actually, I told Direk Jun that I wasn’t sure if I have comedic timing. But the fact that they thought of me while casting the film, I was like, ‘Game, tara!’ The script, the story was entertaining … And the character I played was fun,” said Romnick, who previously worked with Direk Jun in this year’s award-winning Summer MMFF entry “About Us But Not About Us.”
Asked what it felt like being in a love triangle with Eugene and Pokwang, he joked: “Ang pogi-pogi ko!”
But truth be told, Romnick felt pressured to deliver in his scenes with the two top comedians. “Parang nakakahiyang magkalat kapag ka-eksena mo silang dalawa. You know that they give their 110 percent, and they really commit to their character, so I feel like, ‘Oh, I need to pull this off,’” he related.
“Luckily, Direk Jun and I have reached that point where we’re just comfortable talking about the scenes on the set. We talked about how to do the scenes. I ask him to call me out when I do something wrong,” he added.
Advice for Bo
Meanwhile, Romnick’s daughter Bo Bautista with ex-wife, Harlene Bautista, has just turned 18 and is hoping to follow in their footsteps in show biz. What piece of advice does he have for her?
“She’s a very smart woman. I always tell her not to rush into anything without thinking about it. She should always decide what’s best for her,” said Romnick, who has four other kids with Harlene: Abijah, Seki, Nirel and Uela. He’s now married to Barbara Ruaro with whom he has a 2-year-old son, Raza.
While the entertainment industry can be unforgiving, Romnick is confident that Bo has a good head on her shoulders.
“I trust my children—all of them—so much. They’re very open to me and I’m as open as I can be with them. I don’t hide anything from them. They can talk to me about anything. I want them to know that they have a safe space with me,” he said. “It’s important that parents and children have open communication because it fosters trust.” INQ
