Published in MOD Magazine May 2011
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| ACKNOWLEDGED as the Queen of all Media, Kris Aquino has conquered the movies, television, music industry, advertising, and even the publishing world. Her movies have been box office hits. You see her regularly on prime-time television through her shows, Pilipinas Got Talent and The Price Is Right. She has scored multiple platinum albums. She has numerous endorsements to her name. She has her own magazine. But of late, she might as well be dubbed as all-media mom as she has taken to motherhood so comfortably. “I think the best thing about being a mom is every day, even if I just woke up, Bimby would tell me, `Mama, you’re beautiful,’” she says during the launch of her latest endorsement, Fiesta Spaghetti, with Bimby, formerly known as Baby James, her son with basketball heartthrob James Yap. “I think the fulfillment comes from having somebody to love unconditionally, because when you’re a mom, in your eyes, your kid can do no wrong, and each of his achievement feels so major.” Definitely not small stuff is the graduation of her eldest, Joshua, her son with actor Philip Salvador. Josh recently graduated from intermediate level at the Multiple Intelligence International School. The 15-year-old boy has made the entire Aquino family proud with no less than his uncle, President Noynoy, attending the graduation ceremonies. “It’s a moving up, a transition,” Kris explains. “Josh will transition from the school environment to life skills.” The proud Mama says that baking and music are two of his interests and his teachers had proven he excels in both. She reveals that one morning, she woke up to freshly baked brownies courtesy of Josh. “It was really good and moist,” she says. “His teachers showed me a video from school where he was cooking lumpiang shanghai and tacos. If he really wants to be a chef, go!” As for his musical talents, she says, “He already performed and he can even do the complicated piano pieces.” She adds, “With all the difficulties in his learning, he has achieved so much. It’s a testament to, first, the patience and dedication his teachers have shown; second, to Yaya A, who’s really been there as a second mom for Josh since his birth; and third, to Josh himself for his perseverance. He started out with a color-coded piano so he could memorize the pieces until he learned to read notes.” Bimby, who turned four in April, has started school in Brent. When his mom talked about his Kuya Josh’s activities, the cute boy butted in, “Ako piano din” and “I can bake, too.” Although Josh is leaning towards becoming a chef and a pianist, Bimby, Kris shares, wants a different ‘career path.’ “He said, `Mom, I like fighting.’ He says that he wants to be an ultimate fighter,” she says. Kris adds that she really tries to limit Bimby’s activities when there are classes except when he had to shoot the Fiesta Spaghetti commercial. Shares Joey Concepcion, RFM Corporation’s president and chief executive officer: “During the shoot of the new television commercial, the bond between mom and son was evident as Kris helped guide Bimby through his scenes throughout the day and naturally, she knew best how to keep him inspired.” Also in the offing for mother and son is an educational DVD together to be released by Star Records this month. “We’re really excited about this. It has a bit about sports because he plays soccer, he swims, and then we have a read-along,” she says. “‘Didn’t he say he wants to dance? So there’s also baby dancing and, of course, prayers and good values.” Looks like just like mom, Bimby enjoys life in the spotlight. “‘Di ba obvious naman akong-ako talaga?” Kris says. Regarding Josh, she says, “I have no reason for his skills whatsoever. I don’t really know where they came from. During their program, he was the second to the last to play and the last one, mala-Chopin level na yung galing pero yung kay Josh, close, in fairness.” She adds: “I love to cook, but I don’t bake. I don’t know where he got it from.” In a heartwarming graduation message to Josh aired over GMA-7’s Showbiz Central, Kris expressed her pride and joy over her son’s achievement, saying, “Kuya, thank you sa lahat ng pagpapasensyang ibinibigay mo kay Bimby, sa pagmamahal na ibinibigay mo kay Mama, and sa lahat ng joy na ibinibigay mo sa aming lahat.” The Queen of All Media also made known Josh’s efforts. “Tuwang-tuwa kaming lahat talaga kasi number one, ang parating sinasabi sa akin ng mga teachers, he has such a good heart,” Kris says. “Naabot niya lahat ng ito kasi nga he’s a gentle giant na mabait talaga at marunong makisama sa lahat.” Kris didn’t invite Philip to Josh’s graduation and she explains why: “I didn’t invite Ipe because he’s not really involved in Josh’s life. Maybe for Ipe, too much water has gone under the bridge and maybe he’s uncomfortable because I have shouldered 100% of the financial responsibility and I think it would be difficult to build a relationship with his son.” With James, Kris reveals, “Honestly, I put a lot of effort so that James and I won’t fight because it’s so important for the father to be involved. I really want Bimby to grow up close to his father. It’s important because I’m so girly. He really needs a paternal figure.” Especially when talking about...guns? Kris disclosed her objection to Bimby’s interest in guns. “I don’t want to be talking about this because people might say ‘Itong Kris naman na ‘to baril pa ang nireregalo.’ But I can’t do anything,” she admits. “James also assured me that there’s nothing wrong with playing with guns because that means lalaking-lalaki talaga. Not that I’m saying there’s anything wrong with being gay, but of course I want to encourage his manhood, so go sa baril. I buy the Nerf brand because it’s safe.” Kris also shares what Bimby’s Ninong Boy Abunda has to say to this: “We should be happy he likes guns, right?” “I always teach Bimby to say thank you,” she says. “With Bimby, I can really have long conversations with him already. I always tell him, `Uy, pag nine years old ka na hindi na ganito ang buhay mo ha,’ because I really want him to stay grounded.” Kris doesn’t want the boy to feel special just because he’s the President’s nephew. “When he watches the news and he sees Noy, he’d say, `My Tito Noy is the president,’ and I always add, ‘Only until 2016.’” “That’s why I really love his school because there’s a sense of normalcy there,” she adds. “He is made to feel he’s just one of the kids.” It’s a different drama for Josh. “Sometimes if Josh just likes to listen to his iPod while Bimby likes to go swimming, I would say, `Kuya, you have to entertain your baby brother because when Mama’s not here it’s your baby brother who’s going to take care of you, so be good to him now.’” And Josh would obey his mother. “I always encourage them to bond and do things together,” she stresses. She also mentioned that when he turns 16, Josh may just get his dream car. “He may not be able to express his jealousy, but it’s like his little brother always gets all the attention so I just want to compensate.” Being a mom to two boys with opposite interests and demeanor, Kris is forever on her toes and her work is never done. “Good luck na lang talaga,” she quips as she rattles off her future projects, including a teleserye with Anne Curtis and a movie with Dingdong Dantes. Political plans have to wait until 2016. “I don’t want to run for office while my brother is president,” she says. With all these projects and plans and beyond the showbiz spectacle, Kris makes sure motherhood won’t take a backseat.n ...and Fashionista Too The perfect embodiment of a modern and fashionable woman is how some would describe Kris. Why not? She is a fashionista in every way, paying attention to today’s trends and styles. Not only that, Kris is also a self-confessed shoe lover. That’s why Figlia, a leading shoe brand synonymous to high fashion, elegance, and style, got her as its newest endorser. Kris presents her shoe picks—the Figlia Kris Aquino Shoe Collection. This shoe line personifies Kris’s unique taste and personality and perfectly expresses her love for fashion, especially stylish footwear. With this shoe collection, Kris proves that she indeed reigns even in the fashion world. | |
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