Kris tells her super mommy secrets

MANILA, Philippines - I’m a cool mom,” Kris admits when asked how the nation’s one-time presidential daughter and Queen of All Media is raising her own kids, and coping with her mom’s illness.

Watching Kris Aquino handle the press is like watching Tiger Woods play golf or Michael Phelps swim. You know that you are witnessing a true natural, an indescribable, ineffable presence. When Kris enters a room, reporters and cameramen swarm around her, and she doesn’t miss a beat. They all want to know about her mom, former President Cory Aquino, and she obliges, “Well, last night, she was able to sit and walk a little.”

We show her photos and the television coverage of the Masses for her and when she sees who’s there, she says, “Oh, those Masses are the place to be!’” She then elaborates, “Last night, Bishop Soc was there, and wow, di ba, they say that healing hands are warm, and really the parts that he touched got really warm. But as we said, we know that it’s all in God’s hands.”

Sharing that Cory is still a mother with her daughter’s interests at heart, Kris reveals, “She knows about this, she was asking me, ‘When is the Eight O’Clock shoot?’ And before I leave for SNN, she tells me, ‘Oh, be a good host.’ I think she is making sure that I’ll be financially secure, even if something happens to her.”

And then just like the showbiz pro that she is, she lightens the mood by exclaiming, “See that’s why I’m the perfect endorser for Eight O’Clock. I’m so healthy, right? And I really did my research — selenium is what’s bongga in Eight O’Clock, because that’s what the other brands don’t have, and that’s what, in addition to all the vitamins, strengthens the immune system. And if you have a strong immune system, not only can you stay healthy even if surrounded (by sick people) but even if you do get sick, your recovery time is shorter. I researched that on the Internet.”

Here’s another signature Kris Aquino touch — honoring her legacy while humanizing it. “But what I really love about Eight O’Clock is that it is proudly Pinoy. When we first got back (from Boston, when her father was assassinated), I lived in my lola’s house in Forbes Park. And when I said that I wanted orange juice, what they gave was Eight O’Clock.’ It’s really formulated for the Pinoy taste.” 

When it’s time to pose for photos, Kris asks for a touch-up of her hair and makeup. She is in a Martin Bautista ruched jersey dress with an asymmetric neckline, Christian Dior sandals, and a Chanel crystal-studded headband. “I didn’t tell James I bought it, but it’s our wedding anniversary so he can’t get mad. In fact, he surprised me on our anniversary by giving me something that he had been stopping me from getting. He said, ‘Sobra ka kasing sad, so gusto kitang maging sobrang happy (you’ve been so sad, so I want to make you extra happy).’ And I was.” As she is handed the sachets of the juice and iced tea, she exclaims, “Oh my gosh, it’s low-calorie!” She does a quick scan of the nutritional information and announces, “Only 14 calories for each glass. It’s really good that this is what I’m drinking all day.”

In fact, Eight O’Clock boasts other rewarding benefits. It is the only powdered juice and iced tea brand with ImmunoActive made up of vitamins A, B6, C, E, and selenium that helps strengthen the immune system — indeed every mom’s partner now that health threats and pollution abound.

When she finally has some time to have some soup and her favorite orange mango juice, she says, “If you have more questions, I promise, I can eat and answer at the same time.”

Excerpts from our interview with Kris:

PHILIPPINE STAR: Orange juice is usually a breakfast staple — do you start your day with Eight O’Clock?

Kris Aquino: I don’t really eat breakfast. Eight O’Clock is really more of my baon. It’s what I take with me on the road, when I’m working. But the kids they drink it all day. It was so cute nga, a few days ago, I bought a label maker, and when I asked Josh, what label should we make, he got my biggest canister, the airtight kind that’s for coffee and said, ‘Let’s put Eight O’Clock here,’ so he wanted to cover the coffee label there. Because he really likes to make timpla his own juice and iced tea. He really loves Eight O’Clock iced tea.

As a mom, it’s natural to want to protect your kids, but in your case, they also have to be in the public eye. How do you balance that tightrope of giving them a normal life but still being a part of your public life?

Well, even my mom says that with Baby James, he really loves people. In the hospital, whenever he sees people, he says hi to them. Except if he sees people in the white coats, and then he says, ‘Out, out!’ My mom then says to him, ‘My feelings exactly, Baby James.’ So there’s really no need to try and find that balance, because he loves it, he enjoys seeing people. There was never any need for him to adjust to it. That’s just the life.

And my kids are so adaptable. When they stay with me in the hospital, they keep my mom company, their ingay cheers her up. They go on the Internet. Or Baby James sees me read so he likes to bring all his books, too. My mom nga was so amazed that he knew all the animals plus the sounds they make. When I tell my mom, “He’s so smart, Mom, mana sa akin,” she tells me, “A little humility, please.“

You’re known as an avid reader. Are there any parenting books that helped you out as a mother?

I don’t like those that make me praning (paranoid). Like they have to be doing this thing at this age. I don’t like that. I just followed my mom’s example. She’s the best teacher. Things were difficult while I was growing up, but I never felt it. I never felt deprived because I didn’t have a dad. She was everything — mother, father, best friend — that’s why now, I’m really trying to be everything to her. And she really celebrated every achievement. That’s what parents should do, right, encourage their kids. For example, Baby James can already dribble a full-size basketball. Even James couldn’t do that! 

And also, to always look at the brighter side — of everything. Showing weakness is a no-no.

You know, basically, I’m a nerd. So I’m about the reading and the indoor activities. I’m a cool mom, I’m not strict about their TV time, because my mom let me watch TV and I still got first honors. But James is all about the outdoors. So he always wants them to be outside, to play outside.”

But with our weather here, you know, sunny in the morning and then raining hard in the afternoon, kids will really get sick. But you know naman with kids, sometimes it’s so hard to make them drink their vitamins, may arte arte pa, so that’s why all the vitamins and the selenium in Eight O’Clock are so important. It’s simple — make sure that what’s healthy is also a delicious treat for the family.

While Kris Aquino calls her mom, “the best teacher,” it is also appropriate to call her “the best student.” In her sexy yet chic dress, fierce platform sandals, and a sparkling headband, with a ready smile and steady stride, this woman juggling sleepless nights and deep personal anxiety is in reality a super mommy. Just as her mom gave her the best childhood, she is making sure that her kids have it all — all the fun, all the protection they need, and most of all, all the love.