“Hindi talaga ako naka-schedule mag-guest doon,” he says. “Nag-taping ako for the show of Anthony Taberna tungkol sa issue ng pagsampal ko doon sa Chinese drug pusher. Tapos hinila na akong mag-guest kay Kris. Hindi na ako nakatanggi. Wala naman kaming problema ni Kris. Even if you watch the entire show, it was purely professional. Okay naman siya, e.”
What can he say about Kris’ jokes that are “birong totoo”? “Typical Kris Aquino ’yun, e. Punchliner talaga ang babae ’yun. Parang give and take kayo. Parang si Pugo at si Patsy. Ako si Pugo, siya si Patsy.”
He was referring to late comedians of the 50s and 60s, but Patsy’s partner then was Lopito, not Pugo. So how’s his lovelife now after the Kris episode? “ Walang love life. Mga bata pa rin ang priority ko. My daughter Athena is in Ateneo. ’Yung isa ko pang anak will take the-entrance exam sa UPCAT at sa Ateneo. Sana pumasa siya, ’yun ang focus ko ngayon.”
So what has he learned from the Kris experience? “That no matter what, maliit lang ang mundong ginagalawan natin. She belongs to a political family, I am in public service. Magbabarkada namin kaming lahat. I mean, nagkikita-kita kami, maliit lang ang mundo. If I’d go to the other side, it’s the entertainment industry naman at maliit din ang mundo. And our children are growing up, they could be friends, they could be co-workers in the future. So, wala namang problema. I think, that’s one of the reasons also kung bakit niya naging kaibigan ulit si James. Kasi maliit lang nga ang mundo. Now, I’m looking forward na magkausap-usap na rin sila niya Kuya Ipe (Phillip Salvador) and Joey (Marquez, both exes of Kris with whom she’s not in good terms) so that everything will really be okay for her. May nabasa nga ako na ‘huwag kang manatiling galit dahil ang masasaktan lang doon ay hindi naman ’yung taong ikinagagalit mo kundi ikaw rin mismo.’ So, parang ganu’n lang din siguro ’yun kaya sana magkabati na rin sila.”
