Kris Lawrence moves on & moves forward

MANILA, Philippines - Kris Lawrence makes no bones about it. He was traumatized after he was grilled left and right about his relationship with Katrina Halili at the height of the sex video scandal.

“I wanted a normal relationship but I couldn’t have it,” recalls Kris.

“We were not allowed to be seen together in public. So we can’t go out in restaurants and watch a movie together. A write-up will surely follow.”

The loss of privacy took a toll on Kris and Katrina’s romance. They sacrificed their relationship for their respective careers. So they did not live happily ever after.

But to say that he abandoned Katrina at the time she needed him most is a lie, says Kris. It hurts him to learn that people continue to accuse him of running away from her when she needed a shoulder to cry on.

“No, I didn’t leave her. I was the only one she can go to at that time (the Hayden Kho video scandal),” he insists.

Kris himself admits he wasn’t upfront about it though. He didn’t see the need to show up at her court hearings just to tell the world he’s behind Katrina.

He’d rather support her silently.

“I’d go to her house and bring her favorite fruits and food she likes to take away the stress and show her I’m there for her,” says Kris.

He has no regrets; only beautiful memories he treasures as high points in his life. Kris felt so strongly for Katrina he even composed the love song Moments of Love for her as a Valentine’s Day gift. The song won the Awit Award for Best R&B. Kris also won Awit’s Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist award (Music Uplate Live Texters’ Choice Awards).

“It took me just 20 minutes to write that song last year,” reveals Kris. “My pen just can’t stop writing. I was playing on the piano while writing the lines.”

Kris and Katrina still communicate as friends. Kris advises Katrina to “watch your back, just be yourself and don’t stoop down to other people’s level.”

Kris himself has learned a lot from Katrina’s experience. Lesson No. 1 is about trust.

“Be careful whom you trust,” he declares. “Love is a game you play. It’s not something you toy around with. Look at what happened (to Katrina and Hayden).”

Kris may still be fond of Katrina. But a reconciliation is not forthcoming. Kris thinks he and Katrina must straighten out so many things in their respective life first.

Yes, he’s dating again, but nothing serious has come out of it so far. Kris thinks he’s not yet ready to combine love and career the way he did last time.

But he’s sure there will be a next time. And when it comes, his way again, Kris wants a non-showbiz girl he can take to the mall, the restaurant, the moviehouse, skating rink and other public places without worrying about what people will say.

Kris is also as forward thinking in his career. He has put up the indie recording label Three Stars with friends and Jay-R and Billy Crawford.

The label will give Kris, Jay-R and Billy artistic freedom they need to come up with original songs. Their first album, Three Stars and a Son, sees Elmo Magalona rapping and Kris, Jay-R and Billy singing.

“Three Stars” of course, refers to Kris, Jay-R and Billy while “Son” stands for Elmo, the late Francis Magalona’s son, and the one who seems to be following in his dad’s footsteps.

The new indie label shows how bent Kris is in staying in the business, not just now, but in the coming years as well. He knows his music caters to “high school and college girls and I only have a certain amount of time left to make them happy.”

When Kris gets a little older, these same girls will likely turn to younger artists instead.

That’s why he’s making hay while the sun shines. After reaching one of his goals — an Awit award, Kris is ready to hop on to other challenges.

He is looking beyond his regular noontime show, Party Pilipinas, and into the future where he can create music he wants with the artists he likes.

After all, he’s in the business not just for fun. He’s in it for keeps.