MANILA – For host-actress Kris Aquino, the idea of leaving her home network ABS-CBN felt like walking away from family.
Although Aquino has always been vocal that the interests of her sons Joshua and James "Bimby" Yap Jr. come first, she revealed that the opinion of her supporters was also key in making her decision to renew her contract with the Kapamilya network.
“I always knew na passionate ang Kapamilya audience but I didn’t realize it was to that extent na parang it was a feeling of a family member walking away. Parang sabi ko, teka, nung umalis ako, you yourself said sa show mo na there are no goodbyes. Hindi ko alam kung bakit lahat sila inisip na nila na aalis when all of that, to be perfectly clear, was all speculations,” she told “Buzz ng Bayan” host Boy Abunda.
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| Host - Actress Kris Aquino |
When she took to her Instagram account to “simply explain what's in my heart,” Aquino shared that majority of her supporters really wanted her to stay.
“I’ll be honest also, super na-appreciate ko ang lahat ng nagsabi sa akin, saan ka man mapunta, tagahanga mo kami and we’ll be there. Pero siyempre Boy na-understand ko talaga na kung eleksyon ito, 'yung vast majority nagsasabi na huwag ka lumayas, magagalit kami sa 'yo kung umalis ka,” she said.
According to Aquino, it was only last January 6 when she and the ABS-CBN management came to terms and that her formal contract signing will not happen until Tuesday.
“Tinawagan ako ni Deo (Endrinal) and sinabing okay na. I’m very, very grateful that a very good deal was closed. Siguro kasi din, parati kong sinasabi na I don’t want to overstay my welcome. 'Yun ang tinuro ng mom ko na please go while you’re still on top,” she said.
Amid all this, Aquino’s main priority, she said, is to ensure the comfort and well-being of her eldest son.
“At the end of this, when I turn 45 and it’s time to walk away, at least I can do so na sure na sure ang kinabukasan ni Josh. Parati ko 'yun ine-emphasize na si Bimb survivor, may pupuntahan talaga. Si Kuya ang kailangan kong siguraduhin na kahit anong mangyari sa akin, he’ll be financially stable come what may,” she said.
Aquino said she is just grateful that she and the ABS-CBN management all listened to what the Kapamilya audience wants. “The trust, the respect, the value given to me by my bosses is immense. Nakakataba ng puso,” she said.
Asked what her supporters could expect from her this year, Aquino said: "There will be some innovations sa 'Kris TV' and you and me. I should be satisfied with my long-term relationship with you and my audience. Huwag muna ako mag-ilusyon.”
Aquino has been in showbiz since 1992. From a young actress, she made a turn as a popular TV host in 1996 with ABS-CBN's "Today with Kris Aquino."
She then went on to host several other programs, including game shows like "Game KNB?" while taking up a number of acting projects. Notably, she was tagged as a "horror movie queen" for her string of blockbuster films in the genre.
Her more recent projects include consecutive judging stints on "Pilipinas Got Talent" across four seasons, and the primetime drama series "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw."
Currently, Aquino hosts the talk and travel program "Kris TV," which airs weekday mornings on ABS-CBN.
