Cristine Reyes says unreadiness to be parents caused split with Ali Khatibi

Cristine Reyes, her former husband Ali Khatibi and their daughter Amarah. Image: Instagram/@cristinereyes; YouTube/@Karen Davila

Cristine Reyes opened up about her separation from former husband Ali Khatibi, saying their marriage did not work out because they were “not mature enough” to handle their responsibilities as parents to their daughter Amarah.

“Are you on good terms with Amarah’s dad?” broadcaster Karen Davila asked the actress in an interview, as seen on the former’s YouTube vlog on Thursday, March 21.

“Casual,” Reyes answered. “I don’t want to always put my guard down kasi I don’t want to get hurt; that’s why my guards are up.”

Further asked on how their relationship fell apart, Reyes admitted, “It didn’t work out because we’re not mature enough to handle the responsibility of being mom and dad, and being in a marriage. [We were] both not ready.”

Reyes then noted that she is still not ready for another marriage now, but “sometime soon.”

Delving more into the topic of settling down, Reyes said that while she’s happy in the company of her actor boyfriend Marco Gumabao, it is still too early for them to tie the knot.

“Sinabi ko na mas gusto ko sana na non-showbiz na [‘yung partner] ko, but it’s unexpected that we developed into something, into partnership, into love,” she said of their relationship.

(I have said before that I wanted to have someone who is not from show biz, but it’s unexpected that we developed into something, into partnership, into love.)

“Tsaka na lang natin pag-usapan [ang marriage]. Masyado pa kasing maaga,” she stated. (Let’s save the marriage talks for later. It is still too early for that.)

Reyes also quipped that her fans should just “relax” as the actor has not popped the question yet.

“Aside from my daughter who gives color to my life, Marco gives ‘yung ngiti. [‘Yung puso ko] nakangiti (Marco [is the reason behind my] smiles. My heart is smiling),” the actress added.

Reyes and Khatibi welcomed Amara in 2015, then wed a year later. The actress confirmed their separation in 2019, then revealed in a February 2024 interview that they had been annulled for over a year.

Meanwhile, Reyes and Gumabao’s relationship was confirmed to the public in April 2023.