ABS-CBN.com chatted with Cherie Gil during StarStudio Magazine’s Latin night party for the upcoming teleserye Rubi and the veteran actress shared that she had spoken on the phone just that morning with her ex-husband Roni Rogoff who’s in Israel with their three children. “Of course I keep contact with him because my children are with him. We’re friends,” she said. But when asked if there’s a possibility that she and Roni can get back together, she answered, “I’m not keeping my doors closed.”

Cherie and Roni were married for 20 years until they separated in 2008. Roni, a professional violinist, looks after their children while Cherie is busy with her acting career in the Philippines. The actress said that although she has accepted the sad end of her marriage, she has yet to fully open herself to the idea having a new relationship. “My heart is still with my family. It’s been a year and a half since we separated and I still haven’t dated. I would like to think that I’m open into dating again but I feel that no other man is worth my time. Kung mataas man ang standard ko, you can’t blame me because Roni is a tough act to follow. Mahirap humanap ng ganun. Siguro dadating na lang kapag hindi mo na hinanap.”

Despite not having someone special at the moment, Cherie still considers herself lucky that her career is doing great. Fresh from playing Ejay Falcon’s mother in Katorse, Cherie will next be seen in the Angelica Panganiban-led teleserye Rubi. “I consider myself lucky. I always welcome acting jobs. I love creating new characters. This is the first time that I did three soaps in a row. Ever since Pieta I never stopped working. I immediately did Katorse and now Rubi. Usually I do one soap and then I rest for six months or so. The universe has been opening a lot of opportunities for me. ABS-CBN has been good to me. Maybe they are happy with my work with them. Pieta went on for six months, Katorse was extended up to two seasons. I’m very happy to be part of Rubi because we’re celebrating the 60 years of Pinoy soap operas, and this is my ninth soap with ABS-CBN.”

Cherie owns the distinction of being the most unforgettable screen villain in Pinoy pop culture. In Rubi, viewers will have to watch her clash with fellow renowned actress Cherry Pie Picache. But Cherie confessed that while taping Rubi, she had a startling discovery about herself. “I feel that I’ve reached the point that I don’t know how to slap anymore. I swear! In real life I don’t slap, only on screen. I was good during the era of my big screen rivalry with Sharon Cuneta. It was so weird because in Katorse I had to slap men, sina Ejay and Gardo (Versoza). Dapat kapag lalaki ang sasampalin mo mas malakas ang loob mo kasi alam mong kaya nila i-handle. Pero hindi ko ma-target. One time tumama sa leeg. Nangangalawang na yata ako sa pagsampal, ha ha ha!”