MANILA, Philippines – Andi Eigenmann said she likes having more time for herself and her young daughter after she and Bret Jackson, her co-star in upcoming movie Your Place Or Mine? stopped dating.

“I think it’s about time that I experience being by myself. It does not mean that I don’t care about the people who care about me, it’s just that I think it’s not wrong of me to put myself first. Because I have different priorities,” Andi said during the press conference for the movie Thursday, April 16.

The two were linked to each other since last year. They even spent part of the holidays together. (READ: Andi Eigenmann’s New Year’s Eve with Bret Jackson)

Bret, who was also present at the presscon, said that he respects what Andi and ex-boyfriend Jake Ejercito had. (READ: Andi Eigenmann confirms break-up with Jake Ejercito)

“It’s okay naman with me kasi 4 years naman sila. And we’re both 24… It’s not like we’re 18 na away na, away, ganun. At the same time may respeto naman ako kay Andi, decision niya iyon,” he said

(I am okay with it. They were together for 4 years. And we’re both 24…It’s not like we’re 18 and would fight. I respect Andi, that’s her decision.)

Even though they aren’t dating anymore, the Andi and Bret are friends and even help each other as co-stars, with Andi saying that she sometimes helps him out with the parts of the script in Filipino, which Bret sometimes has trouble with. 

Bret said, “I think we found it in friendship kasi parang it doesn’t mean na when you love someone you have to be together. It just means that you care about them, so knowing that Andi is there for me, and I am there for Andi, that means a lot to us.”

Meanwhile, Andi said that while she and Jake are not together, they remain good friends. She even shared that he liked to spend time with her daughter, Ellie.

“He’s [Jake] not here all the time. He’s not based here and whenever he comes to visit, si Ellie important pa rin siya makita. (It’s important for him to see Ellie.) They’re friends. They’re close and he cares about her,” she said.

She also defended Jake about the criticism made against him after they broke up.

“Jake is not in showbiz and he was not obliged to share his personal life to the world. And so I just want to protect him. Okay po kami  (We’re okay) but we’re not back together, we’re not even trying,” she said. 

The movie Your Place or Mine?, based on a Wattpad story of the same name, revolves around Haley (Andi), a psychology student who has a one-night stand with Russell (Bret). When Haley is forced into an arranged marriage, she discovers that Russell is the guy – and shocking revelations unfold.

Also starring Andre Paras and directed by Joel Lamangan, Your Place or Mine? opens on April 29. – Rappler.com