Romnick Sarmenta On Co-Parenting With Harlene Bautista: 'I'd Like To Think That We're Okay'

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Romnick Sarmenta and Harlene Bautista, who separated in 2018 after 19 years of marriage, are #excouplegoals.

This is according to Regine Velasquez during a recent interview with Romnick on Magandang Buhay, the ABS-CBN morning talk show that Regine co-hosts with Jolina Magdangal and Melai Cantiveros.

(Regine herself gets along with her husband Ogie Alcasid's ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren and Ogie and Michelle's daughters Leila and Sarah. Read the story here.)

Romnick says of Harlene, "We’re okay. I’d like to think that we’re okay. We don’t get to hang out or…Hindi kami ’yung tipo na…Siguro ’yung iba, iniisip, ‘So nagkukuwentuhan kayo parati.’ Hindi naman din."

He adds, "But when it comes to the children, pag dating sa mga bata, siyempre pinagu-usapan namin. If she has concerns with the kids, babanggitin niya. If I have concerns with the kids, babanggitin ko. We’re open that way."

Romnick and Harlene have five children: Abijah Gabriel (the eldest and only boy), Zeke Silestijne (studies in Australia), Bohdana Yoomee, Nirel Kannitha, and Uela Franzyska. They all stayed with Mom after their parents' separation four years ago.

Today, Romnick is a dad once more to his and his partner Barbara Ruaro's one-year-old son named Raza, while Harlene is in a relationship with Federico Moreno.

(Those who grew up in the 1980s up to the '90s know Federico as the son of the late German Moreno, the founder and main host of the iconic teen TV program, That's Entertainment. Romnick and Harlene are among the successful graduates of That's Entertainment.)

Romnick as a dad

When asked how he bonds with his older kids, Romnick says he tries to preserve their relationship. "Ako kasi, magmula noong umalis ako ng bahay, lahat ng pagkakataon na puwede or kasama ko sila, kung ano ang ginagawa ko before, ’yun pa rin."

He goes on confessing, "Ang fear ko din as a father noon is baka ang feeling nila, may nag-iba. So hindi ko consciously ginagawa na kailangan ilabas ko, kailangan ganito, kailangan ganyan. Hindi.

"Bale pag magkasama kami, kung ano ang ginagawa ko before bilang tatay nila, ’yun pa rin ang gagawin ko. Kukulitin ko, umaakap pag natutulog. So gano’n din."

Read also: Co-Parenting Guidelines