Flashback: The night I got the shocking news

As part of my weekly routine, I went to the Orosa strip of Malate – the so-called gay capital of Manila, last Sept. 27... four days after the shocking revelations of Kris Aquino on TV Patrol. As always I went there to unwind and have fun with my friends.

It takes a lot to surprise me but I was certainly caught off-guard that night. I was literally mobbed by gays of all shapes and sizes: bisexuals, drag queens, discreet gay men, straight acting gay men, and what have you. They mobbed me not because I am ultra-famous but to ask me details about the Kris and Joey controversy.

Since it’s a well-known fact that Kris and I are close friends they assumed that I could answer all their questions. Of the many questions thrown to me in that mini presscon, these are the things that I remembered: 1) Kamusta na si Kris? (How is Kris?); 2) Galit ka ba kay Joey? (Are you mad at Joey?); 3) Alam mo ba na binubogbog siya (referring to Kris)? (Do you know that (Joey) hurts her (Kris)?); 4) Totoo ba yung STD? (Is the STD issue true?); 5) I-pu-pull out ba ang mga commercials niya? (Will her commercials be pulled-out?); and a myriad of other queries pertaining to the Kris and Joey break-up.

I wasn’t prepared to answer questions that night so I politely told them to watch The Buzz the following day for updates and for the answers to their questions.

In the Sept. 28 episode of The Buzz, we conducted a telethon and a lot of questions were directed at me. People were asking about my opinion about the issue since I’m one of Kris’ close friends.

It’s difficult for me to comment on the issue because Kris already filed a case against Joey last Sept. 29. We have to let the court decide the most suitable course of action about the matter.

Kris gave a pretty credible account on what really happened that night. In fact, she even gave several details in her interview with Korina Sanchez which I heard for the very first time. However, a lot of people are still asking me things about the issue. Well, I might as well give it a shot. From my viewpoint, here are some juicy sidelights connected with the issue:

Monday, Sept. 22: I attended the birthday party of my friend, director Jojo Saguin (Showbiz Sabado) at Pier One in Tomas Morato.

Mylene Dizon approached me because Paolo Paraiso texted her that at 10 p.m. Kris was not yet present in the taping of Next Level Na Game K N B? even if their call time was set at 3 p.m. Paolo was asking Mylene if the taping will be pushed through or not.

According to the show’s staff, Kris went home because Joshua was sick. I knew that Joshua had chicken pox and knowing Kris, it is so unlike her to be absent in a taping unless there’s a problem.

I decided to text her to check on Joshua. I sent her this text message.

"Ganda, wat’s happening? I’m so hysterical..."

That message pertained to Joshua since I knew he was sick. Kris didn’t answer back and before I knew it the Game K N B? taping packed up.

Tuesday, Sept. 23: Louie Andrada executive producer of Morning Girls With Kris and Korina, called my housemate Joel Siervo (ASAP Mania’s executive producer) at 1 p.m. on his mobile to wake me up since I’m usually asleep at that hour of the day.

Louie wanted me to co-host with Korina for the taping of their Tunog Kalye episode of Morning Girls... because Kris couldn’t make it. Korina could host the show by herself but she requested a co-host for this particular episode.

I knew then that something must really be wrong because Kris skipped her Game K N B? taping and now Morning Girls. By 1:30 p.m., Kris called me on my mobile. This, I think, were the important parts of my conversation with Kris.

Kris: Sweet, tinutukan ako ng baril ni Joey. (Sweet, Joey poked a gun at me)

Sweet: Naka-inom ba? (Was he drunk?)

Kris: Yan din ang tanong ng iba. Sweet, hindi. (Others asked the same question. Sweet, he was not drunk).

Kris: Huwag kang maingay, Sweet. Atin-atin na lang muna ito. (Don’t tell this to anybody, Sweet. Let’s keep this thing among ourselves first). Let’s just wait and see. Thank you for hosting with Korina for me. Be careful on what yoou say on air, ha.

I was so shocked. The idea of Joey poking a gun at Kris was so terrifying and I thought how dreadful it could have been for my friend.

At 3 p.m. I went to ABS-CBN for the Morning Girls taping and I didn’t talk about what happened to Kris knowing she specifically told me not to talk about it. At 5 p.m. a friend texted me this message: Sweet, napakinggan k s DZMM n nterview c joey. Ano nagyari s kanila n Kris? (Sweet, I heard Joey’s interview on DZMM, what happened to him and Kris?)

After receiving that message I thought it was not a secret after all. At 6 p.m. TV Patrol reported that Kris went to PACER to blotter the gun-poking incident. I saw the bruises on Kris’ arms and it made me wonder. Kris has undressed in front of me a lot of times and I saw bruises on her body. I didn’t mind them then and I just dismissed them as nothing. Pasain naman talaga itong si Kris dahil maputi siya (Kris is really prone to bruises since her complexion is so white), I would always tell myself.

Wednesday, Sept. 24: I saw TV Patrol’s teaser on Kris’ confession. The confession would be aired live from the Aquinos’ Times Street residence and the camera panned at Louie Andrada and our other friends. Since Times Street is only two minutes away from where I live, I rushed there to support my friend.

When I got there, the TV crew of GMA 7 was outside the Aquino residence and was set to take footages of people who would enter the house. I told my driver to go back home. Sa TV ko na lang papanoorin ang interview kay Kris (I’ll just watch Kris’ interview on TV).

Luckily I was able to catch the interview since it was shown in the latter part of TV Patrol. The interview was aired uninterrupted for 42 minutes.

I was in tears while watching the interview. Sometimes I’m with Kris four times a week and we call each other on the phone almost everyday. I felt guilty. I asked myself where was I when my friend needed me? I was in Essensa several weeks before the incident. Kris asked me to pick up the cell phone she got for me as a token of appreciation because I helped her entertain the guests of the Alay Kay Ninoy celebration at the NBC Tent last Aug. 20.

I was inside the very room she was talking about and I even leaned on that fire-retardant pillow she mentioned. I even borrowed DVDs from her.

That was my friend on TV and she needed me.

After TV Patrol I went back to Times St. I felt tension when I entered the house. Kris was talking to Korina and it seemed that everybody was busy. I decided to go directly to Joshua’s room and I found him there with his yaya Ana. Instinctively I kissed Josh and then hugged him ever so tightly. I prayed to God not to allow the incident to affect Joshua. He then smiled back at me and gave me a cute Spaghetti dance. I beamed at him and taught him how to do an Otso-Otso. He learned it quickly and for that moment I was convinced everything would come to a sweet, peaceful end.