Yes, Kris is game na!

My dinner date with Kris Aquino was long overdue. We planned it many, many months ago, except that we couldn’t find a day that was convenient for both of us – what with her full schedule (the daily program Game K N B? and the weekly show, The Buzz) and my disorganized life and illusion of a busy calendar.

But finally we were able to sit down to a Chinese dinner three nights ago – at the Summer Palace of EDSA Plaza. And I was happy that she brought along with her the very talented John Lapus whom I worked with in Showbiz Lingo. And then, of course, there was Joshua Phillip, now six and a half years old, but with the body of a 10-year old boy (he weighs 100 lbs.!).

I’ve always been very fond of Joshua. I would always play with him every time I’d see him during all those children’s parties Deo Endrinal would host for his son, PJ. And then, there was this one whole afternoon in November of 1997 when I had to interview Phillip Salvador at the studio of Raymund Isaac and I ended up babysitting for Joshua because his Dad had to pose for pictures. But Joshua and I had fun that afternoon, except that he no longer remembers that. (He was only two years old then.)

Today, he is still an adorable child – with a healthy appetite! (He is one of the few kids I know who loves vegetables – especially kangkong.)

In contrast, his mother tries not to eat. And it shows in Kris’ now slim body. But that evening, it was to hell with diet for her. For all of us – actually.

Over dinner, we looked back and traced the 15 years she spent in show business. Here’s an outline of the highlights of her career:

Projects she and her Mom are proudest of – "I guess, one is Today With Kris because it established me as my own person. And then, of course, Game K N B?. After all the criticisms I went through and having survived them all, siempre, proud ako du’n – especially now that the show is already doing well. But during the early part, when I was going through the criticisms, akala ko hindi na matatapos.

"As for my Mom, well, she really likes game shows. In fact, I got to watch Who Wants to Be a Millionaire because she was watching it. And now that I have my own game show, she’s very proud of me. During her speaking engagements, she usually starts by saying, ‘Game ka na ba?’ and the audience would roar."

Film projects she’s proudest of – "Fatima Buen. Watching it again after almost a decade, I said to myself, ‘Well, not bad.’ (Fatima Buen was chosen by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino as one of the best films of the decade. It also earned for Kris a Best Actress nomination in 1994.)

"And then, there’s Bakit Pa Kita Minahal, a movie by Chito Roño which I did with Ruffa Gutierrez, Aga Muhlach and Richard Gomez. Ang babata pa namin du’n."

Films she’d rather forget – "There are quite a few. And when these are shown in Cinema One on Channel 22, I turn off the TV para hindi na mapanood ni Joshua. One of them is Tasia Fantasia."

Projects she regrets not having done – "I think I got to do all the projects I wanted to do. And I got to work naman with some of the best directors – Laurice Guillen, Mario O’Hara, Chito Roño and even Ishmael Bernal."

Frustrations in the business – "None. Happy ako sa mga nagiging ka-trabaho ko, eh."

Happiest moments in show business – "The opening day of Pido/Dida. Seeing the crowd paying to watch you, fulfillment of my dream ’yon. And then, there was the taping of my 30th birthday sa Today With Kris – happy ako nu’n. Also, ’yung filming of the hotdog commercial with Joshua. And now, every time I hear cell phones ring, tapos ang tone ’yung sa Game K N B?, happy din ako."

Most embarrassing moment – "I guess the time I fell sa stage ng Araneta Coliseum. Six feet ’yon! Months din inabot ’yung therapy for my neck and back."

Most tactless remark she uttered – "That happens constantly. Recently lang, I got scolded by my Mom because there was a contestant in Game K N B? who said Cannes and pronounced it with an S at the end. I corrected her on the air and my Mom said when she saw the episode, ‘Kris, you don’t do that!’"

Most painful experience in the business – "My whole pregnancy at ’yung pinag-piyestahan ’yung estrangement ng family ko."

Friends she gained in show business – "Tatus Aldana who has been my friend for 15 years, Cory Vidanes, Deo Endrinal, Gia Garchitorena, Louie Andrada, Boy Abunda, Pops Fernandez and Zsa Zsa Padilla."

Material gains from showbiz – "Mga sasakyan? I don’t know. Basta ang ambisyon ko is for me to be able to buy a condo unit sa Rockwell."

What she still hopes to achieve – "To have a primetime talk show similar to The View in the States. Or probably do what Joan London is doing in Behind the Curtain."