Our mole said this decision was reached by the songbird after careful consideration. The mole also said Regine, at the most, will just be considering going into a distribution partnership with a major label. However, pending official agreement between parties, we have been requested to withhold divulging the possible distribution partner.

In the meantime, Regine is still promoting her latest Viva recording, "Covers 2" which the mole added is selling well despite unfavorable reviews about it.

We’ve heard the album and honestly, after the success of the first "Covers," we feel that there will be a little furor about this one.

For one, we didn’t feel that the tracklisting is exactly strong. The clincher was, listening to it has alienated us even more as the album producer(s) have decided to let go and be a bit more experimental about arrangement and stuff.

But then again, it’s just me (and some of my friends). Thing is, Regine is Regine. The album sells, that matters big time.

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Kris Aquino has acknowledged that the megastar Sharon Cuneta is still the queen, when it comes to endorsement of products.

"I think Sharon is still the queen as far as endorsements are concerned. I believe that the real test is longevity. She’s been here longer than I. She’s very credible," Kris said reacting to a comment by someone from the press that she is now the queen of commercials.

A very subdued Kris (at least in terms of shocking revelations we’re so used to having during interviews with her in the past) was speaking during the press conference held last Tuesday for her brand new Pantene Age Defying Shampoo endorsement at Lena’s Restaurant (which she partly owns along with Deo Endrinal, her manager) in Esquinita, Sgt. Esguerra St. in Quezon City.

While she says that she is very happy with this latest endorsement and considers it the ultimate in beauty products, Kris says she is comfortable being in her mid-30’s (a pitch in the Pantene campaign). "I believe that it’s at this age when a woman is most beautiful. The real bone structure comes out and it’s at this time when one gains enough wisdom but is still able to create a little bit of excitement in her life."

Kris said the 11-year difference between her and beau James Yap is not too much of an issue. "It’s really not an issue in the sense that he is panganay in his family and I am bunso in my family. But sometimes mahirap, in certain things that I had to explain to him because he did not experience them. But overall, hindi naman. My family is right naman when they say that I maybe intellectually mature but sometimes emotionally, I still have to grow up some more."

While she refuses to talk about the church wedding that has been the subject of much speculation, Kris said she plans to have another baby maybe in two years. "My mom had me when she was 38. I was hoping I could have another one by that age," she said.

Joshua, Kris’s 10-year-old-son by Phillip Salvador is over 200 lbs. and she says they are trying to make him lose weight by controlling his diet. "But it’s hard because so many people spoil him, especially my Mom. Just now, she just texted that Josh can go to her house today because she got him na his favorite mint ice cream which she buys from Don Bosco."

When asked if she is in good terms with Josh’s father, Kris simply quipped, "We don’t have a relationship."

Kris has also put her foot down and declared she would never enter politics, contrary to her pronouncement months before. She said she will not be campaigning for any politician in the future. "I’ll support Noynoy (her brother) in his plans but that will be it for me, as far as politics is concerned," she said adding, "we can help naman so many other people by not being in politics, so I guess I will just continue supporting the charity organizations that I have been supporting. After all, I truly believe that the blessing you give to others comes back to you," she said.

Kris admits that she thinks she has become a better person now. "Tingin ko, I’ve become more spiritual. I’ve mellowed a lot, became more prayerful and tingin ko talaga, bumait ako," she said laughing. "I have no business asking for more because I have been blessed with so much already. All my prayers have practically been answered already," she said.

To her "change of character" Kris credits prayers. "Not to sound preachy but the secret really is in prayers. Prayer really centers you. We are not perfect, there are still problems. My life is far from being a fairy tale but it’s different now how I handle things. Even when there are trials, alam kong may kakampi ako. And I have learned to value even the littlest of things. Now I read my devotional Bible daily. And this book that I’m reading now, ‘Your Best Life Now’ by Joel Osteen helps me understand so much about cultivating this relationship with God. It breaks the religious barriers we so often associate with God before na masyadong maraming bawal? This book tells the complete opposite. God wants us to celebrate life, to love it," she ended with a very inspiring note.

Kris truly has changed, at least judging from the last interview we had with her last year. And we’re truly glad with what we witnessed this time.

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