Kris Aquino takes the spotlight again in spat with ex-husband James Yap

The Queen of All Media Kris Aquino hogged the headlines again.
This time, it’s all about the alleged sexual overtures of her ex-husband James Yap allegedly in the presence of their son, James Jr., at their former home.
Kris then filed and was granted by the court protection for her and son James Jr. from the basketball star. This means, that James Sr. is barred at least 100 meters and could not approach his ex-wife and son in their former home, school and places where they used to frequent.
James, assisted by lawyer Lorna Kapunan, fought back by filing a petition for hold-departure order (HDO) on Kris and son James Jr. owing to their plan to go abroad.
In response to the HDO petition, Kris appeared on nationwide television with her sisters, clarifying the issues. Kris even said during the appearance that she was quitting all her television shows on ABS-CBN.
James Sr. then expressed concern that Kris and son James Jr. may not return to the Philippines if they go abroad because Kris had revealed her plan to quit her television shows.
After a hearing, the court issued a gag order and then eventually denied the petition for HDO, thereby allowing Kris and sons James Jr. and Joshua, her son with actor Philip Salvador, to proceed to Paris for a vacation, including a visit to the miraculous Lourdes of France.
Explaining the HDO petition later, lawyer Kapunan said it was not meant to stop Kris and sons from going abroad, but merely to be informed of their travels and get assurance that they will be back in Manila.
All through the exchange of accusations, James gained sympathy owing to the fact that James Jr. is his son.
Kris, on the other hand, gained more negative impressions than positive.
In addition, Kris’ credibility is now being questioned big time, judging from the comments triggered by the Kris-James spat, according to showbiz authority Shirley Matias-Pizarro.
“It’s quite sad that the biggest news that Kris Aquino has managed to churn out on national television the past few days generated more negative impressions on her than positive,” she stated in her column.
“James Yap is also getting the flak from the issue but the truth is, he has swayed more positive opinion in his favor when he was given a share of the airtime, tears and mannerisms and all,” she added.
The column added: “If anything, Kris’s TV appearance was disconcerting because she kept repeating in that interview that the whole exercise was to champion the welfare of her son Bimby.”
“We have friends and children of friends who are products of separated parents and they say the same thing – it is a different, challenging sometimes very lonely life that they did not choose but hope to survive. What more will Bimby’s experience be given that his life, and the mistakes of his parents, are discussed by anyone and everyone who cares to participate as it had been handed to them on a silver platter courtesy of national news?”
“As it turns out, Kris’s interview managed to bring back unpleasant memories of her last appearance on national television (in the loving presence of her family) tearfully giving an account of the tragedy that befell her, and that was the Joey Marquez incident so many years ago. In that episode (where her late mother stood by her in the background) she also vowed to quit the business for good.”
Shirley also stated: “You only need to read and hear all those comments available and you will probably be convinced that Kris’s credibility is now being questioned big time.”
Another columnist, Mario Bautista, agreed with Shirley Matias-Pizarro. “But if Kris would read the feedback of the public on social media, she’d be surprised that most of them say it’s nothing new and they’ve seen it all before,” he stated in his column.
Bautista added:” Even if she’d resign now, they don’t doubt that she’ll soon make another comeback, like she also did before. She thrives in showbiz and there’s no way she’d leave this for good. And surprisingly, a lot of people are also siding with James and not buying everything she says hook, line and sinker.”
Former Senator Richard Gordon sympathized with James Yap Sr.
In various reports, Yap o quoted Aquino as saying that he should stay away, and reminded him that his brother, the President, is still in power for the next three years.
“Kawawa naman si James Yap. Syempre, anong laban nung tao, iyon namang judge bigay agad ng order, takot eh (Poor James. Of course, he feels he doesn’t have a chance, and the judge readily gave the order because of fear),” Gordon said.
He said Yap has as much right to be with his son.
“Kayo ba ayaw nyong payagan yung asawa nyo na makita yung anak nya? Pinagkakait mo ba na yung anak mo hindi makita ng tatay (Do you not want your spouse to see his child? Are you depriving your son to see his own father? )” he said.
“Marami akong experience sa bagay na ganyan. Dami kaming ampon. Madami kaming hinanap, pati asawa ko hinanap namin ang tatay sa Amerika (I have a lot of experience in that regard. We have a lot of adopted children. We looked for a lot of people, we even looked for my wife’s father in America),” Gordon added. 
In response to Kris’ announcement that she was abandoning her shows, ABS-CBN stated that the Queen of All Media must fulfil her obligations or contracts with the top network.
ABS-CBN Integrated Corporate Communications Head Bong R. Osorio said in a statement:  ”Ms. Kris Aquino and her kids are going on an earlier planned vacation starting today, March 23. ”
“Upon her return, Kris will fulfill her commitments to her soap “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” which is nearing its end. She will also have to stay as a judge in “Pilipinas Got Talent” till its end on June. Being a foreign franchise, there are commitments we have to fulfill and rules we need to abide by.
“Kris TV had taped advanced episodes in anticipation of her long planned vacation with her sons. 
“Ms. Kris Aquino and ABS-CBN management are also scheduled to meet upon her return to Manila. 
“Meanwhile, we wish Kris and her sons a peaceful and restful vacation. We respect her need for privacy at this difficult time.” 
Later, Kris said she was deferring to her contractual obligations to ABS-CBN.
But before that Kris Aquino apologized to her co-workers who will be affected by her decision to leave her showbiz career behind.
In an emotional interview aired on “The Buzz” prior to her flight to Paris, France, one of the stops of her two-week European vacation with sons Josh and Bimby, Kris related:
“Gusto kong mag-sorry dahil nilagay ko kayo sa alanganin, nakasira ako ng mga plano. Alam ko malapit na ang pasukan ng mga anak (niyo) so nagso-sorry talaga ako and I’m really praying na may kapalit na maganda para sa inyong lahat kasi hindi kaya ng konsensya ko na dahil sa pinagdadaanan ko kayo rin magsa-suffer.
“17 years na ‘yung pinagsamahan natin, halos ka-edad ni Josh and kayo pamilya ko kayo. ‘Pag may kumakalaban sa’kin you’ve always been the first to stand up for me… Pero thank you for not fighting me, for not blaming me, and for just texting me… Na sinabi niyo na nandito lang kayo’t hihintayin niyo ‘ko. Thank you.”
She also directed an apology to her best friend and business manager Boy Abunda because “isa ka rin do’n sa collateral damage.”
“Never mo ‘kong sinisi and parati mo lang sinasabi sa’kin na, ‘Kris do what’s best for the boys.’ Sabi ng sisters ko na wala na raw kaming mahihingi pa from somebody who’s not even our kadugo pero kung tratuhin kami talaga higit pa sa pamilya. Gusto ko lang malaman ni Boy how much I love and I appreciate him and how grateful I am na for every battle I’ve had to fight, you’ve never left my side.”
Kris assured that she will honor her commitments to the drama series “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” which nears its conclusion; and “Pilipinas Got Talent” – “a foreign franchise with very strict rules and regulations,” she pointed out – which culminates in June. She will fulfill her remaining four to five shooting days for “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” while she will appear on the live shows of “PGT” beginning April 6.
It seems, however, that the same cannot be said of “Kris TV.” A personal text message she sent to “Kris TV” and “The Buzz” head writer Darla Sauler intimated that the award-winning daily morning talk show might be the first one she’ll bid goodbye.
“Ang ‘Kris TV’ na pinakamamahal ko, ‘yun pa ang pwedeng pinakaunang bitawan. Maybe it’s part of life’s test of my character and my commitment to my sons. I realized you will be disappointed and possibly hurt, but I also know my ‘Kris TV’ (family) will be the first to understand, because kayo ang pinakanakakita up-close na buhay ko sina Josh and Bimby. And that for them I can give up my life,” read a part of her message flashed on “The Buzz.”
As early as now, the Queen of All Media already mulling what she’ll do post-showbiz. One of these is adding the title “Atty.” before her name.
“Gusto ko talagang mag-aral. I kept telling Atty. (Frank) Chavez (her legal counsel), nung binabasa ko ‘yung mga law… Sabi ko, ‘I should’ve been a lawyer.’ Sabi niya, ‘You can still be.’ It will only take five years even with the schedule daw…
“Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko recently, na-realize ko kung ga’no kahalaga ang tamang batas para sa Pilipinas,” she said.
Kris refuted James’ defense that he’s just joking when he tried to kiss her in front of their son. “He said I was making faces, na umarte lang ako para mapaniwala ko si Bimby na sinasaktan ako. Matalino ang anak ko. Alam niya kung ano ang totoo, alam niya kung ano ang palabas lang. Instinct iyon ng bata na gustuhin niyang protektahan ang nanay niya. Inuulit ko, I kept quiet.”
She said that after Bimby met James on March 8, he told her: “‘Mama, papa’s saying that he never hurt you. But he’s a liar because I saw everything. I was there Mama, I saw it.”
Kris said she’s resigning to spare her son from any more heartache and trouble. “It’s not between James and me and who is telling the truth. It’s about how much I love my son. Tama naman yung sinabi ng mga tao na kawawa naman si Bimby. So kailangang gawin ko ‘to para sa kanya. I’m tendering my resignation.”
Kris stressed that her brother President Noynoy does not interfere with her personal problems. “Kung kapangyarihan lang ang pag-uusapan natin, why was he able to hurt me so many times? Ito lang ang sasabihin ko: Noong naghiwalay kami, sino ba unang pinuntahan ni James? Ang unang pinuntahan niya si Noy. Anong ginawa ni Noy? Sinabihan niya ako na ‘Problema mo iyan na wala kang pre-nup’. Never nakialam si Noy. Never kong ginamit ang kapatid ko. Hiyang-hiya na ako sa pamilya ko kasi sa kagustuhan na protektahan ang anak mo, it’s not even about me, but about my son. Pero yung i-jeopardize niya ang magandang panunungkulan ng kapatid ko, sobra na. I promised my sisters I would be so strong, but it’s so unfair na pwede niya kaming i-abuse. Sinisira niya lahat ng magagandang nagawa ng magulang ko, ng kapatid ko, ng pamilya namin.”