Kris Aquino

“The most selfless among us is the greatest. We must grow in selflessness by engaging in acts of humble service day by day… Lord, make me a servant today.”

--Pempe Rodrigo, Rivers of the Living Water Community

We had an hour with president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III last Wednesday in his home on Times Street, (still decked in yellow) and had a quiet chat. The home he shared with his mother Cory remains frozen in time with her paintings on the wall, on the throw pillows on the two sofas, her collection of Madonnas, and other personal items of the beloved icon. He has his own compact unit adjacent to the main house but now, Cory’s home is his haven, his personal headquarters where he meets his core of advisers.

He still nurses a hoarse voice, but looked relaxed in his jeans and signature black t-shirt with the yellow ribbon and Philippine map and wearing a comfortable pair of loafers without socks. My companion and I were apparently one of the first visitors that morning and the next appointment was with the barber at a nearby mall.

I commented on his tan which was very becoming and he said it was a result of his whirlwind provincial trips. He recalled two nerve-wracking landings his entourage had when the planes had to go up suddenly during their descent.

“I could see the ground coming up already when our plane zoomed up again. Later we found out there was some obstruction on the runway. Oh well, the two trips ended well.”

From the chat that we had, here are some gems we can share- for instance, the flurry of text messages on who will be who in his cabinet are all still products of the imagination and guess work. He still has to come to a decision as to who he will be appointing when he is finally proclaimed.  He had a few names they have been vetting like for DPWH, DoJ and DepEd but at this time, only he knows who they are.

“When I took over the campaign, there were many around me who were advising me to do this and that. I finally decided to get hold of it (the campaign) and it will be so for the selection of key people who will work with me,” he stressed. “The chosen ones will be my responsibility alone. As to the others - around 4,000 other positions to be filled - we will work on them.”

He realizes it is not easy to find good, reliable, hard-working, and honest team players with the right job credentials to fill up those positions. He expects them also to function on their own without him breathing down their necks. But give him time, he will find them! He has a search committee but its members will remain unnamed as of now.

And he really hasn’t lost any pounds, but if he looks slimmer now, he thinks it is because he’s all muscle. His weight hovers at 160 -164 pounds which is fine for him.

Meanwhile, the resignation of the president-elect’s youngest sister Kris Yap from her talk shows “The Buzz” and “SNN” should satisfy the most vociferous (on Twitter and Facebook) and cruelest of her bashers. She stands to lose millions in terms of exposure and real income and possibly, endorsements, but it was a selfless act on her part, and we salute her for the sacrifice.

No doubt her ates Ballsy, Pinky and Viel had a hand in her decision to quit the two shows which could cause the president-elect, her kuya Noy embarrassment later on. Kris can be very outspoken and in the past had caused quite some turmoil in the family circle because of her candidness.

However, the decision was hers alone and again, as we pointed out, it is she who will lose from it. Those who know how I have stayed away from anything even remotely connected to Kris lest I be misunderstood again will appreciate my sincere “salute” to her selflessness in taking this bold step for the sake of her brother. Rising above one’s interest is an admirable family trait with the Aquinos.  The “bunso” has been weighed and found not wanting.

I haven’t been on Kris’ radar ever since I was the messenger of her mom’s   disapproval of her two headline-grabbing love affairs in the past. I displeased her, but my boss, her mom, quietly assured  me that I still had her trust , and I continued to speak for her when needed.

President-elect Noynoy has time and again firmly, but gently declared that none of his sisters (including Kris) will have any official role in his administration. I think this is unfortunate, for the public will lose out on what the sisters can bring to his administration, even in non-official capacities. I sincerely believe, based on the sisters’ behavior and appeal during the campaign period, that they fulfilled the Filipinos’ hunger for something akin to Camelot days – with luminous heroines and courageous heroes embodying qualities of virtue and grace.

Kris, in her own irrepressible way and unique style, has made local television talk shows more exciting and fun to watch. You may not always like her gowns, her make-up or her bubbly chatter, but you’ve got to admit, she’s very “watchable!” Ask her millions of fans here and abroad. Those of us who are old enough will remember also how she contributed to our struggle to regain our freedom.

As a precocious five-year-old, Kris campaigned for the opposition against the dictatorship. She could  rattle off the names of the candidates on her jailed father’s Laban slate and make the rally crowds weep when she appealed for votes for them and Ninoy.

And yes, as my boss, her mom used to say when her “Krissy” was the butt of sarcasm among columnists and radio commentators,  “Why pick on Kris? She hasn’t done anyone harm. She is not a government official, earns her own money honestly through hard work, and she hasn’t stolen a centavo from government coffers!”

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On other fronts: The Centro Escolar University’s Education Liberal Arts Music and Social Work (ELAMS) will hold its grand reunion at the Student Center on May 28 from 3-7 p.m. The reunion, called “Chikkkahan” for “Kainan, Kwentuhan, Kasayahan, Kabuluhan” is headed by Dr. Christophe Coratdo. The dean and alumni president is Dr. Lolita Pablo.

And last Monday, charismatic healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez marked the eight anniversary of his ordination with a simple concelebrated mass with the Monday Prayer Group, and officers of the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation.

We sat with his mother, fondly called Nanay or Inay by everyone and she was just overwhelmed with her son’s impact on people. Fr. Suarez, on the other hand stressed his “ordinariness” and his total dependence on God who heals and that he is merely an instrument. He reminded everyone that a believer is healed physically, spiritually, emotionally or psychologically every time he attends mass, whoever the celebrant is.

Fr. Suarez continues to draw followers because of his simplicity and commitment to his healing and helping ministry. He gives people hope and helps them experience the love and mercy of Jesus.

He left the next day for Toronto, Canada and will be back on the first week of June. The masses in Montemaria, Alfonso, Cavite will continue on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. with Fr. Javines.