Kris on the ‘perfect everyman’
new beginnings BÜM D. TENORIO, JR.
You talk to Kris Aquino and you hear the truth. Shoot a question and she answers it with candor. She’s frank. She’s funny. She’s candid. She’s authentic. You believe everything she says because, as she said in the distant past, “I may be anything but I am not a liar.” She tells me in our more-than-two-hour interview, “You know all my sins. They have been catalogued.”
And the public forgives her because she is honest. God, in fact, heard her prayers and gave her another sterling chance to reinvent herself when doors closed on her. To this moment, Kris proves her staying power in the business is in being real. As an example of her honesty, she tells you this: “Herbert and I, we’ve never had anything physical. It’s been chaste. Ganda, ‘di ba? Matutuwa si Cardinal Tagle,” she tells me about the purity of her love affair with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista during my interview with her for the cover of PeopleAsia’s People of the Year issue. (Kris is one of the awardees of this year’s “People of the Year” to be held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza.)
By now, you must have read the PeopleAsia cover story where Kris admitted that one of the lowest moments of her life was when Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista called off their wedding in 2014. “Inatrasan ako sa kasal ni Herbert. Over the phone,” her exact words. Then, Herbert courted her again, won her again and in January 2017, while they were in Rome, Herbert proposed anew. He gave her a diamond ring. She accepted it only to return it the following day. (For the full story, please get a copy of PeopleAsia magazine’s December-January issue.)
She and Herbert have remained friends. Just the other day, Herbert officiated the wedding of Kris’ household staff, Yaya Raquel, and Kris even posted on Instagram a video of how playful the mayor was in asking for her hand — again.
“I could never be the ‘every girl’ but Herbert, he’s the perfect everyman,” she says. What does Kris love most about Herbert? “Not what I love, I think, but what I appreciate most about him. Wala siyang yabang. Whether that has been studied or whether it is real, that is so difficult. They got the Seal of Good Governance recently and it’s the first time Quezon City has gotten it. Sabi ko sa kanya, for once naman
magyabang ka na. Stop downplaying your achievements,” says Kris.
In her 20 years in the limelight, Kris’ honesty is sterling, sometimes to a fault. But it is also a very laudable brand of honesty especially when you hear she’s paid the government P361,798,667.75 in taxes in the last 10 years. Honesty is in her DNA — thanks to her parents the late former President Cory Aquino and the late former Sen. Ninoy Aquino.
“I remember saying before, bayad ako nang bayad ng tax, tapos ninanakawan naman tayo. Naku, nilabasan ako ng Bible ng mom ko. I have been paying taxes since I was 15 years old. My mom told me, ‘It’s not your problem, Krissy, how that money is spent because they have five years to go after you if you ever cheat on that. Lahat na-je-jail because of tax evasion so don’t ever be.’ When your mother tells you in your early twenties not to under-declare your income, (you will obey). Then, she will tell you that paying taxes is a biblical truth. That’s it,” she says.
Kris also says that if her mom were still alive, Cory would be hurt with the rejection Kris experienced when traditional TV closed its doors on her. (But a blessing in disguise was waiting because Kris hit a jackpot in the digital platform. Big thanks to companies that continue to trust her to endorse their products and services and also to her new and young team at KCAP or Kris C. Aquino Productions.)
“She’s a stage mom and she would take it (the rejection) personally.”
But if her mother saw her huge success in the digital world, what would Cory say?
“Hindi na inabutan ng Mom ang iPad. Nagstart ang iPhone in 2007 but iPad didn’t start until 2010. Since mahilig ang mom sa computer, she would probably be someone who would watch a lot of my videos and comment a lot. So, mapapagalitan ako. At mapagsasabihan sila (netizens). She was very particular with my angle. She used to text me before if I gained weight or if the angle was not flattering for me. She’d be happy now with my weight. I’ve maintained 125 to 128 lbs. That’s okay for the camera,” she says.
Hard earned is her money. So, when you see her one million and one pairs of shoes (okay, that’s a hyperbole but boy, she has a huge collection of branded shoes), you will forgive her Imeldific fetish because, in all honesty, she uses honest money to indulge her caprice. She also has a love affair with signature bags and branded watches (“I love Patek Philippe, Cartier and Bulgari watches”).
And in all her blessings, Kris is not remiss in thanking the public — her loyal fans — for allowing her to afford her lifestyle, a lifestyle that she willingly shares with her two boys, Josh and Bimb. Is Kris Aquino weird? Yes, her quick reply. Prove your being weird. “I have an obsession for essential oils. I’m super obsessed with Young Living essential oils. Nauuto nila ako with the healing powers. Yung may diffusers. Totoo s’ya. Nakakakalma talaga. Kapag bina-bash ako ng mga tao, I rub Forgiveness oil. Tapos meron ding oil that you rub to protect you from negativity, or oil that you rub before your period so you don’t experience PMS. I have a cabinet filled with essential oils. My happiness. All labeled,” she says with her trademark laughter. Is there anything simple about Kris? “I love the drugstore. Mercury, Watsons. Basta drugstore. Even abroad. You can leave me in a drugstore for four hours. I will go around each aisle. I’m so happy. Nababaliw sila. My staff would leave me in a drugstore and when they come back I’m still there. Ang saya-saya talaga. I look at all the vitamins, one by one. I read the labels. I look at all the kinds of Band-Aids, candies. Then I have an obsession for baby products. You make any product and make a baby version of it, I will buy it. I hoard baby products.”
Another thing, Kris goes crazy over coupons. “I’m really a sucker for coupons. Hindi ako nakakatulog until 4:30 a.m. kasi na-e-excite ako to use the coupons.”
“Buong gabi akong na-e-excite when I received coupons. My Ate (Ballsy Cruz) and Pinky (Abellada) are obsessed with travel sale. Pero ako, for someone of my income bracket, my sisters cannot believe na nauuto ako ng mga coupons. I’m a marketer’s dream. Bigyan mo ako ng coupon, go ako. Fight!”
For everything she has, Kris can still be simple. And generous. During the shoot for PeopleAsia, her KCAP staff says in unison how generous Kris is.
“My mom said it is important to share most specially with those who will not be able to return your kindness, meaning
sa Church because in that way you honor your Creator. Secondly, take care of the people working for you and with you because your success depends on them,” she says. Does Kris get masungit (cranky)? “Never. Again, bilin ng mom ko, kung magsusungit
ka lang, stay in your room. Kapag pagod na talaga ako, ayoko na talagang makakita ng tao. Because napagalitan na ako ng mom ko dati. It’s really important that there is someone more famous than me — my mom. Growing up, may nagsasabi sa‘yo na never leave the house na you’re not fixed. Bawal talaga sa mom to ever leave the house na hindi ka smiling. She said, ‘If you’re not going to be nice to people and you’re outside, just stay at home.’ I grew up that way. And it’s now perfect for the social media world.” That’s Kris for you. Unedited. ( PeopleAsia’s December 2017-January 2018 issue with its twin covers is now out in leading bookstores and newsstands. It is also available for download on the App Store, Magzter and Google Plus. For more information, contact Bong at 892-1854 or 0922-8776556.) (E-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Instagram @bumtenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)