James Yap and Kris Aquino

After more than three hours of hearing for his Motion for Provisional Award of Visitation Rights, cager James Yap was granted his request.

“They met half way. Gano’n na  lang ang pinakamaganda. Mayroong hiningi, may binigay. Merong hiningi na hindi napagbigyan pero, in the end naging acceptable sa both parties,” Atty. Annaliza Ligon, Kris Aquino’s legal counsel, shared on “TV Patrol,” August 20.

At the hearing, both parties agreed that James would visit his son Baby James twice a week and he’d be allowed to spend overnight with his son.

The visitation hours was posted in a related report on “TV Patrol,” the schedule being: “Wednesday 2-8 p.m., can watch basketball or eat and bond with Baby James provided within Metro Manila only and with 2 yayas and 2 security guards. Friday 4 p.m. overnight to Saturday 2 p.m.”

James immediately went to One Roxas Tower in Makati to visit his son Baby James after the hearing.

What was not granted in James’ petition was to be allowed to bring Baby James to his hometown in Escalante, Negros Occidental. The elder James wanted his son to see his family in Negros.

Kris arrived with her sisters Ballsy, Pinky and Viel past 1 p.m. Sources said that Kris immediately went to the Office of the Mayor when she arrived. Her lawyers were able to avoid the media by passing through the basement.

Kris’ arrival stirred curiosity, with Makati city employees craning their necks to get a glimpse of her.  The TV host refused to grant interviews on her way to the courtroom.

“Makati city employees have lined up at the lobby, outside the building and in front of the courtroom just to see Kris,” GMA 7’s Lia Manalac reported on her Twitter account.

James arrived with his legal counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan, who said that her client was “nervous.”

The media people were barred from entering the courtroom, however. On her Twitter page, Marie Lozano, ABS-CBN’s entertainment reporter, shared that they “Were taking shorts from dirty glass doors.”

“Sorry guys, no clear photos from where the media is allowed at the Kris and James hearing.” Lozano later added, “Tough man guarding the door. Bawal na kami mag-shoot, so nagpapicture na lang ako sa kanya.”

Once inside the courtroom, Kris didn’t look at her estranged husband. James, however, looked to her direction.

James and Kris were each given time to speak with the presiding judge, Cristine Javellana Sulit. As James was having his moment with the judge, Kris looked at him. Their counsels also talked to the judge. After some time, the ex-couple were called to the judge’s chamber for a closed-door meeting for about 40 minutes.

Kris’ sisters Ballsy, Pinky and Viel were talking to James’ lawyer Atty. Kapunan while the estranged couple was inside the chamber. Then, Kris stepped out of the room alone.

James finally left the chamber and engaged and chatted a bit with Kris’ sisters. Then judge Sulit rendered her decision about James’ petition for visitation rights.

Before leaving, Kris finally granted an interview.

“Klarong-klaro naman sa aming dalawa ang utmost priority namin talaga (ay) ‘yung well-being ng anak namin. Gagawin namin ang lahat to ensure that this would be not a traumatic experience for our son,” Kris said.

The night before the hearing, Kris posted a tweet that read:

"Yes I was sick today, totally heartsick & crying nonstop. I shouldn't admit weakness, but I'm falling apart because ending a marriage is hell. Bimby gave me kleenex & asked what's wrong mom? I was honest & said mama & papa r fighting.

Then he said wise words na super wake up call for me, u r brave mama ko. I asked him if he wanted his papa to come back to live w/ us & he said mama dito tayo (then he said name of condo where we live), papa ko sa other house pero friends tayo no more away-away," was Kris tweet posted August 19.

"And so I face tomorrow's hearing w/ that intention, for bimby's sake, I'll offer friendship to his papa. Somebody text me, may angels tread before u sa path u'll go thru tomorrow. My angel baby james already did," she added.

Kris filed a petition for nullity of her marriage James Yap on August 11 citing “lack of authority of the solemnizing officer.” The couple got married in civil rites on July 10, 2005.