Kris Aquino faces forward

By Dinah S. Ventura

08/17/2007

Perhaps one of the most visible stars around, and yet one of the hardest to capture for a serious tete-a-tete, Kris Aquino recently emerged from a self-imposed break from her numerous show biz commitments to face a new chapter in her life.

After giving birth to “Baby James” (as her second son is also referred to by the entire country), Kris announced that she would be slowing down, giving up her noontime game show Game Ka Na Ba? and The Buzz, and concentrating instead on her primetime game show Deal or No Deal? and developing a new weekday talk show with her good friend Boy Abunda, eponymously titled Kris and Boy. Another show is also in the works, but Kris is adamant all her shows and endorsements will not take from her quality time with her family, husband James Yap and sons Josh and James junior.

But is there really any slowing down for a famous celebrity such as Kris Aquino?

Everywhere she turns, intrigues follow. Put her in a show and people will watch it, whether or not they agree with her views and very vocal ways. Ask her to endorse something, and some swear these products practically walk off the shelves into people’s eager hands.

The magic of Kris is a mystery to many, especially to those who wish they could just ignore her. Kris remains undaunted by the criticisms, although she has admitted being affected by it. What has tried to push her down, however, has only made her stronger, and she credits this to the strong spiritual guidance she has always had from her family.

These days, people will probably be surprised the find that Kris no longer reacts too fast to anything that jibes her. Still candid and brutally frank, Kris has nevertheless shown that events in her past have shaped her into a more self-possessed woman, more in touch with her spiritual side.

At her grand introduction as the face for one of the country’s leading aesthetics center, Facial Care Centre, Kris gamely opened up in a “private conversation” with Boy Abunda, where the press got to ask her questions and listen in on their amusing banter.

Among other things, Kris revealed that she has found a quiet center within herself in which to nurture her spirit. “I feel that I’m really a better person now,” she said, her trademark laugh sometimes punctuating her words. “In the three months I took a step back from show biz, I enriched myself spiritually. When you nurture your spirit you become a more compassionate person, a better person in every sense of the word. I discovered that I really have to treat myself better.”

This phrase — “I deserve better” — which appears in her ads for Facial Care Center, was in fact culled from conversations she had with the ad people. The line was based on interviews with her, and reflects her current state of mind rather than a subtle slur on her former aesthetic center endorsement.

“This is my first time to endorse anything for the face. I’ve never done anything for the face. For Belo, it was for the body,” Kris clarifies the persistent rumor about her move to another aesthetic center. “They really have superior products. I tried the Refirme once and the collagen facial twice. The therapists really had the lightest touch – ang gaan ng kamay, ang sarap nung mask!”

Kris enthused about the immediate lifting effect she saw after just a session of Refirme, adding that she liked the fact that it was non-invasive and painless.

While Kris admits she remains as kikay and spontaneous as always, she is finally learning to let go of the pains of her past – her current mantra is to clear her mind and lighten her spirit. “I have learned the power of being quiet,” she shares. “I am much more spiritual now, and my family has said that they have seen how profound have been the changes in me.”

Kris admits that reads about three devotionals each day and thrives on the inspirational text messages she receives from her loved ones. “I still want to improve myself – to be more patient, less bratty,” she says.

Wearing an avocado green top, black pants and heels, Kris looks fresh and relaxed, sharing her nuggets of wisdom to a roomful of people. Clearly she has not lost her public charisma, and her hilarious banter with Boy Abunda draws many a laugh from the audience. “I’m not afraid to grow old,” she says in trademark fashion, “because my mom, at 74, still looks good!”

Kris credits her youthful appearance to genes, maintenance and good habits. She says she doesn’t smoke, drinks plenty of water and milk and gets enough sleep. But nothing, she says, beats those quiet moments for recharging and emerging beautiful. “I spend at least 20 minutes by myself everyday; I read, have some coffee. It’s quiet time, just for me.”

Whenever Kris goes for her treatments at Facial Care Center, she brings with her some of her spiritual audio books, showing how passionate she is about improving herself from the inside out. “It’s about deciding to become a better person everyday. It’s the journey, not the destination that matters,” she concludes.

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