Re-energized Kris back in showbiz

The two-week European vacation must have given Kris Aquino time to think things over.

After her shocking announcement that she was quitting all her shows for the sake of her son Bimby, Kris returned to showbiz, as if nothing happened. Last week, she was back hosting her morning show KrisTV, returned to sit as judge in Pilipinas Got Talent, and resumed taping for her tele-series Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw.

Many people doubted if she was really ending her showbiz career, saying could not just walk out of her commitments unless her contracts expire or get terminated. Some suspected it was a spur-of-the-moment decision following Kris' newest run-in with estranged husband James Yap.

Kris had narrated on national TV how James allegedly tried to make a pass at her during one of his visits to Bimby last December. A court even granted her a temporary protection order that prohibits James from coming near her and Bimby.

She said she made the decision "because my heart was breaking seeing how much my son was suffering. At five years old, I owe him a future."

So was all of that just an elaborate put-on? A gimmick to win the sympathy of her fans? Her way of persecuting James? Only heaven knows.

Anyway, Kris seems to have been energized by her European swing. She said that while in Rome she was blessed by Pope Francis who also gave her other son Joshua a rosary.

Kris also shared her encounter with a rich, old gentleman in France who was interested in buying an island in the Philippines. She described the man as "a little more than 60 years old. He's a very successful businessman and he's coming over in June."

The same gentleman also wants to construct buildings in the country, according to Kris. "Let's pray that he pushes through (with his visit) because it will mean a lot of jobs for Filipinos."

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Speaking of Kris, she has been named one of the Phenomenal Box-Office Stars in the list released by the organizers of the Box-Office Entertainment Awards.

Also named Phenomenal Box-Office Stars were Vice Ganda and Ai Ai delas Alas, her co-stars in the Sisterakas, the biggest grosser in the last Metro Manila Film Festival. The film's director, Wenn Deramas, was named the Most Popular Film Director.

John Lloyd Cruz was once again the choice as Box Office King, while Bea Alonzo was named Box Office Queen. The two starred in the blockbuster romance, The Mistress.

Dingdong Dantes is the Actor of the Year while his co-stars in the MMFF hit One More Try, Angel Locsin and Angelica Panganiban, shared the Actress of the Year award.

Luis Manzano and Toni Gonzaga will be crowned Prince and Princess of Philippine Movies. Coco Martin and Julia Montes have been named Prince and Princess of Philippine Television.

Anne Curtis is the Female Concert Performer of the Year, Aiza Seguerra is the Promising Female Singer of the Year and Zia Quizon is the Promising Female Recording Artist of the Year.

The awards will be handed out on May 19 at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

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This season's American Idol contestants are down to six and five of them are women.

American Idol has had no female champion since Jordin Sparks in Season 6. The male domination of the hugely popular talent show may be coming to an end.

The last male standing last week was 21-year-old Lazaro Arbos of Florida. The other contestants are Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller, Candice Glover, Janelle Arthur and Kree Harrison. Judge Nicki Minaj is picking from among Kree, Angie or Candice.

Last year, Filipina-Mexican Jessica Sanchez was runner-up to country singer Phillip Phillips.