Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German writer, 1749-1832)
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
— C.S. Lewis (British novelist, 1898-1963)
Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.
— James Dean quotes (US actor, 1931-1955)
MANILA, Philippines - Unsolicited advice for newly elected Representatives Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Manny Pacquiao: They should heed the wishes of First Sister Kris Aquino-Yap and Megastar Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, who both recently told this writer that they are not interested to go into politics, despite my pointing out that they are both so popular with the public and seem eminently qualified to someday run as senator or even for a future higher office. Both laughed and told me: “No way!” I honestly suggested to them to never say “never” to politics.
Coincidentally, both have remarkably the same dreams, which go beyond politics and showbiz. I believe Sharon and Kris are among two of the smartest persons in Philippine society today and they can both achieve their exciting dreams.
Aquino Sisters Enjoy Playstation, Not Noy, Who Enjoys Music
By the way, thanks to Kris for calling this writer in response to our recent exclusive interview with Senator Chiz Escudero where we asked Chiz to clarify critics’ claims that incoming President Noynoy Aquino allegedly spends too much time playing the PlayStation. Kris said this might become an urban legend, that Noynoy not only doesn’t play this, he doesn’t even know what that is when he recently saw it in her house. Kris revealed that in their family, it is she and her elder sisters who actually play the PlayStation, plus her kids.
Instead she said, her elder brother loves music and often goes to the Astrovision music shop in TriNoMa mall in Quezon City. Kris added that this false story told by critics during the campaign is similar to that false claim that their late mother President Cory C. Aquino often plays mahjong at Malacañang Palace, one lie that her critics had long been spreading.
Deedee Siytangco, the late President Cory’s spokesperson, confirmed what Kris Aquino told us, saying: “Never. President Cory Aquino never played mahjong in the palace. The only rare times she played was with her late mother who was then hard of hearing, and it was only the four sisters who played with their mom.”
At least, that urban legend has been clarified.
Another of Noy’s critics’ propaganda that this writer received via e-mails and anonymous texts during the campaign was that Noynoy allegedly didn’t pass any laws throughout his terms as senator. I verified this with Chiz and he clarified, “That’s not true. I will cite an example. Look at Noy’s bill making Malolos a city, which was struck down by the Supreme Court and it was his legislative initiative. Noy’s political rivals are unfair in that false claim.”
Sharon & Kris Have The Same Dream
Just before the May 10 election, at a near-midnight conversation with her politically astute uncle, Senator Tito Sotto, Sharon Cuneta told me that her dream project is to develop a resort. She invited me to someday visit with her and see the two hectares of prime property that she bought in Bohol province.
Unlike many showbiz, sports and even political stars who splurge their earnings in jewelry, designer clothes, luxury shoes, bags, sports cars and parties, Sharon wisely invests much of her earnings throughout her career. One of her favorite investments is valuable real estate. Everybody should learn from and emulate Sharon’s resourcefulness, hard work and discipline in saving her earnings for a better future.
Our tourism sector is fortunate to have the talented, widely respected and smart Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan investing in a resort hotel in Bohol province because tourism is indeed one industry where our economy can truly become globally competitive. Our neighbor Thailand has been a world-class champion in tourism but is now in political turmoil. We should aggressively promote Philippine tourism internationally now. I’m sure this hotel resort project of Sharon will not only be a success, but will become a unique tourist attraction because of the Megastar as its owner.
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After the recent landslide election victory of her elder brother Noynoy, I told Kris that she could someday run for high public office due to the strong Aquino brand name in Philippine politics and maybe even become a future President. Kris replied: “Yes, President of my own version of Shangri-la resorts or Aman resorts or Banyan Tree resorts! I want to promote culinary tourism. I’m not interested in politics. I want to own hotels all over the Philippines!”
If Sharon is going to build her first resort hotel in Bohol province, I highly recommend that Kris can build her first resort hotel either in beautiful islands like Palawan, Boracay, Camiguin or Cebu. One ideal place would be Ilocos Norte, now under newly-elected Governor Imee Marcos.
Why should Kris consider building a resort hotel in Ilocos Norte? That place is very clean and orderly, it has an international airport, it has awesome beaches facing the ocean (which was once used as a setting for the Tom Cruise movie Born on the 4th of July), it has rich local history, it is geographically near wealthy Asian societies like Taiwan, China and South Korea with so many affluent tourists.
A Kris-owned resort in that province might also signal national reconciliation between the young generations of Aquinos and Marcoses, with a brighter Philippine future built on forgiveness, magnanimity and a progressive forward-looking mindset. I remember the late brilliant banker/playwright Boy Noriega, who wrote the popular play Bongbong at Kris. I did not have the opportunity to watch it, but I would imagine that for many of us called “martial law babies,” we are looking toward the young generations of Aquinos and Marcoses for better, more pragmatic and less acrimonious political leadership.
Look at China and Taiwan with both societies’ leaders already pushing the frontiers of direct trade, direct flights and direct dialogues, unlike the jingoistic North Korea still in a time warp seeking mindless conflict versus South Korea.
The real enemies we face are not the elder Marcoses or Aquinos of the past, but the Philippines as a nation-state in perpetual economic warfare or competition right now with our ASEAN neighbors, with the rest of the world in this 21st century of globalization. National unity and social harmony are needed, of course, alongside dynamic democracy with its healthy disagreements and debate.
I’m much more excited about the proposed new resort hotel ideas of Sharon and Kris than about the coming proclamation of election winners, because I believe that enterprising and diligent folks in the private sector are the true saviors of our Philippine society.
Kris Aquino and Sharon Cuneta are not only good examples of popular showbiz stars who wisely invest their money and are first-class professionals with a passion for their work, they are now planning to become entrepreneurs instead of joining our many clowns who call themselves politicians. They are dreamers, just as all of us should also be.
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