In defense of Kris

After Pia Guanio, it’s Kris Aquino. I mean, as object/victim of a smear campaign via e-mail.

Like the letter-writer, found to have used a fictitious name and address, who tried but dismally failed to destroy Pia, claimed (falsely, I daresay) that Kris made sungit to her (the e-mail-sender) nieces when they visited Kris during a taping of Pilipinas Game KNB? The one I received came from a certain "Dahlia de Leon" ([email protected]) who, I understand, got it from a certain "Chona Poblete" ([email protected]) who in turn forward it to a certain "Chone Tan" ([email protected]) who, I shudder to imagine, must have forwarded it to dozens of other people both here and abroad.

The e-mail (product of an idle, evil mind no doubt) refers to Kris as the "Bitchy Monster in Channel 2," written in fairly good English and kicked off by a sentence that at once gave away the motive of the letter-writer – "I never liked Kris Aquino..."

I say outright here and now that I don’t believe Kris could be so "bitchy" to anybody, especially her fans, because I know for a fact (as I’ve observed while working with her, Boy Abunda, Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito on The Buzz) that no matter how tired or sleepless or hungry she is, Kris never says no to a visiting fan who wants a photo taken with her, not even when the director is already calling for a take.

I can’t fathom how much money and precious time the letter-writer is spending on her "hate-Kris campaign." I want to point out that the studio is not the right place and, while a show/taping is in progress, the right time to ask a star for an autograph or a picture-taking. But most stars, Kris included, do spare time even if it means "work time." If, for example, somebody intrudes into my space while I’m sorting out my mind to come up with a good opening paragraph for tomorrow’s column, I wouldn’t feel guilty or be apologetic about it. And so what if the intruder would call me a "monster"?

Maybe you can accuse Kris of tactlessness (sometimes) but not – never, never! – for bitchiness.

Anyway, here’s a letter, also "in defense of Kris," from Bert Ramirez (of Manila Water Co., Balara, QC) who also received the same e-mail:

You don't know me from Adam but I'd like you to know I'm a fellow journalist who writes sports, specifically the NBA, and Quinito Henson is a good friend who now works with us in the only locally-produced NBA magazine, Tower Sports.

I wrote you to send the message that may be read below, which is self-explanatory. I did some research to make me come to the conclusion that the whole thing is just a hoax and I think an effort to destroy the reputation of Kris Aquino, the controversial daughter of my own and our family's favorite political figure, Ninoy Aquino. I took special interest in it not only because of that but because of my affinity with the Purefoods basketball team, which used to be owned by our company's mother company, Ayala Corp., before it was sold to San Miguel a few years back.

Anyway, assuming for the sake of argument that the story was true, it would really be a monstrosity, as the headline describes it, on the part of Kris to act like that, and a tipoff on her lack of smarts given the fact that it is fans like those who were supposedly telling the story who make her what she is today – the most bankable celebrity in town. I really doubt if she was that dumb, do you also?

The mystery, of course, is how the name of Wen Sorioso of the DOT was being used in an apparently malicious message that is being spread with impunity in cyberspace. The lady denies she has anything to do with it after checking it with the number written below. Curious, isn't it?

Thanks and my best regards to you who also share my affinity with the legendary FPJ and his spouse, Susan Roces. God bless.

Sincerely,

– Bert A. Ramirez

Manila Water Company

Balara, Quezon City

Juday and Ryan’s stateside swing

Funfare readers, especially fans of Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo, have been asking for an update on the couple’s recent US Expo Tour (Aug. 10 to 30).

Here are tidbits, courtesy of Ryan’s manager Noel Ferrer:

• In Pomona, L.A., Juday and Ryan graced the just-revived Pinoy Expo (dormant for eight years), with Nora Aunor. One of the expo exhibitors was Winnie Santos, Vilma Santos’ younger sister.

• A record crowd turned out at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, together with Diether Ocampo, Faith Cuneta and Celeste Legaspi.

• Despite the hurricane threat, in Jacksonville, Florida, Juday and Ryan’s Lovespeak show, with Faith Cuneta, drew such a big crowd that a repeat is being planned in November or December.

• It wasn’t all work for Juday and Ryan who found time to visit their respective families and relatives; the Magic Mountain in L.A.; Six Flags in New York and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• Negotiations are underway for the couple to star with Nora Aunor in Aswang sa San Francisco or a remake of Lino Brocka’s Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (with Lolita Rodriguez playing Nora’s mom; if ever, Nora will play the mom and Juday, as the daughter Nora played in the Brocka film).

• Juday and Ryan finished the shooting for Star Cinema’s Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (their first movie together) before they went to the US. Anytime now, the couple’s soap starrer, to be directed by Rory Quintos and Trina Dayrit, will start airing. They’re also scheduled to sing on the ABS-CBN show Your Song.

• Ryan is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the forthcoming Luna Awards of the Film Academy of the Philippines for his first movie, OctoArts Films’ Kutob. The Luna Awards will be produced by Romnick Sarmenta and wife Harlene Bautista. Ryan is also the host of the ABC 5 talent search Philippine Idol.

• Juday plans to take up a course in culinary arts (and a special training class under master chef Gene Gonzalez).

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])