She's not hopeful but she's still very much open to the possibility of John Lloyd Cruz returning to "Home Sweetie Home."
Toni Gonzaga pointed out that her co-star's character, Romeo, has yet to be completely written out. Currently, Romeo is said to be working abroad for his wife and family.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Gonzaga explained that the sitcom's story is an "open" one where "anything can still happen."
"We'll just take it one day at a time," she said.
The actress also downplayed suggestions that Piolo Pascual's JP character was brought in to "replace" Romeo.
"We don't want to say kasi that he replaced Romeo ...We want to say that [Piolo] is a great addition to the family," she reasoned.
Cruz took a sudden leave from shooting "Home Sweetie Home" last year to attend to "personal matters."
The vagueness of the announcement gave birth to numerous rumors, with some of the recent ones suggesting that he is getting ready to welcome a baby with girlfriend Ellen Adarna.
Gonzaga refused to comment on Cruz's personal life, instead shifting the focus to the actor's "contributions" to the show for the past three years that "will always remain."
She did, however, acknowledge that they are currently writing a "new chapter in Julie's life," and that may or may not involve Romeo. "As the story progresses, hindi natin alam kung anong patutunguhan," she said.
Pascual, prodded by the media for his thoughts on the issue, echoed Gonzaga's statements that he was not a "replacement."
"It's more like kailangan ng guest so I took it. ...Hindi naman siya mahirap or nakasagabal sa sched and nae-enjoy ko siya."
He revealed that he tried to reach out to Cruz, informing him that he will be "pinch-hitting" for him but he did not get a reply.
As with Gonzaga, he also avoided giving comments on Cruz's romance with Adarna, saying: "As long as he's happy, who are we to judge or say anything."
