Unsinkable
She baffles me.
Just when some people — nay, several — rated her as past her season, Kris Aquino emerges in another summer of her life.
With no big-time political connections to boast of, no regular TV show and no home TV network (for now), she recently scored a major coup as the new brand ambassador of PLDTSmart. She also has announced on social media that she has another endorsement — for the Philippines’ No. 1 bank!
It was easy to say in the past that many doors opened wide for her because she was a Presidential daughter (1986-1992) and a Presidential sister (2010-2016).
But in a season where the “yellows” are said to be a faded political force, why is Kris Aquino not fading into the sunset, too?
“I have prayed non-stop,” she told me. “I have a new team composed of brilliant, young, determined and super hardworking minds. I have a loving family support system and really loyal followers.”
Kris has three million followers on Instagram and she said during the announcement of her PLDT-Smart endorsement that majority of her followers are “working millennials.”
Millennials number at least 30 million, a third of the Philippine population.
Kris is no millennial, so why does she attract the millennials’ attention? “She is honest,” one Kris Aquino fan says. That makes her a credible endorser. By lending her name to a brand, she sort of vets it already for the consumer and in both guarded and unguarded moments, tells it like it really is.
A reliable source told me Kevin Kwan of Crazy Rich Asians was reportedly amazed at the number of people that showed up at a Cebu Mall when Kris Aquino accompanied him to a book launch. Numbers he reportedly did not encounter previously despite his immense popularity.
A Kris Aquino follower also attributes Kris’ staying power to her DNA. “Because she is an Aquino. She is Kris Cojuangco Aquino.”
Intelligent like both her parents. Blessed with the gift of gab and stage presence of her father Ninoy. Bestowed the steely character and honesty of her mother Cory.
Kris is far from perfect. Her mistakes and misadventures are no secret. She herself spilled the beans on them. She can be spoiled (she was her mother’s “sun, moon and stars”) and tactless.
But she is always true to herself and to others. She doesn’t force herself on anyone. You take her or you leave her.
And as the numbers show and the quality of her endorsements show, few are leaving her.
PLDT & Smart welcome Kris Aquino as new brand ambassador
In a press statement, PLDT Smart said, “A new queen has joined the family.”
“The country’s leading residential digital services provider PLDT Home, and fastest mobile LTE network Smart formally welcome Philippine entertainment’s much sought after celebrity mom, host, actress, jet-setter and social media darling, Ms. Kris Aquino.”
PLDT FVP and head of Home Business Marco Borlongan shared that Kris Aquino will become a valuable addition to PLDT Home’s roster of celebrity ambassadors. “As we aggressively continue our efforts to reach and empower more Filipino families with our SmartHome suite of products and services, Kris Aquino’s endorsement will enable PLDT Home to reach unprecedented heights with her wide audience reach and online presence.”
On the other hand, Smart will enable “Digital Kris” as she navigates her lifestyle, businesses, social media and the fastchanging digital landscape powered by Smart’s LTE, named fastest by wireless research coverage firm OpenSignal.
According to Kris, PLDT’s integrated Home technology is a perfect match for her own lifestyle, as she raises two digitally savvy sons and expands her personal brand into the realm of digital media. “I grew up when punishment was my allowance being reduced. Discipline now is no gadgets, and for my sons, slow internet is the ultimate ‘sacrifice.’ Nothing comes close to the joy of uninterrupted streaming for binge viewing, and for me downloading my subscriptions to my newspapers and magazines instantaneously. We love PLDT Home! And I cannot wait to share our family’s connected experiences with all of you.”
When it comes to allowing her followers an intimate look at her travels, live blogs, and online contents, Kris will rely on Smart.
“I edit some of my IG videos. Those organic ones get the most views because my followers know that I personally did it. I do all of this on my phone, using several apps, accessing my iTunes music library and I normally upload while in the car. I’m with Smart Infinity and I am super happy with how much LTE coverage from Smart has strengthened. I’m able to connect with my followers seamlessly. Smart LTE is reliable and I know in 2018 it can only continue to get stronger,” she shared.
Kris hosts and produces several online video series on her official Facebook page including Wear Kris for fashion tips, The Kris List for her personal list of new experiences and conversations with people, Heart to Heart with Kris for a glimpse into her daily activities and adventures, and Kris Travels for fans who want to virtually join her as she travels the world with her loved ones.
PLDT Smart said Kris is a “perfect fit for PLDT Home’s world-class entertainment content and platforms including the game-changing all-in-one entertainment box — the Roku Powered TVolution, which offers over 100 streaming channels including Cignal TV, Netflix, iflix and YouTube. With powerful connection from PLDT Home Fibr, all these content options can be enjoyed on high-definition lag-free and without pixilation. Fibr subscribers, like Kris, can also now sign up for the country’s first-ever Whole Home Wi-Fi service — the Philippines’ first personalized solution designed to connect the entire house to an all-in-one broadband and smart Wi-Fi network.”
“We’re honored to have Kris as part of the PLDT and Smart families. I am confident that, together, we can really empower and inspire more Filipino families to build the strongest connections at home through world-class internet and technology,” PLDT-Smart FVP and head of consumer business for market development Oscar A. Reyes Jr. added.