FUNFARE UPDATE
By Ricardo F. Lo May 14, 2010 12:00 AM 

Now that her brother, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, is apparently well on his way to Malacañang, Kris Aquino has become a favorite target of Twitter enthusiasts asking if she will keep her “promise” to leave the country with her family (husband James Yap and their kids Joshua and Baby James) and work for the TFC (The Filipino Channel) if Noynoy would win in the presidential race.

If you recall, Kris said something to that effect several weeks before the May 10 polls when she got into that messy issue involving James and another woman (suspected to be having an “affair” with him but it turned out that she and James were “just friends”). Kris-bashers were quick to drag Noynoy into the controversy, urging everybody “not to vote” for Noynoy even if he didn’t have anything to do with it.

I texted Kris yesterday and asked her how she would react to her detractors. Kris, who’s on vacation “on an island” with her kids (James is busy with the games), texted back the following (quoted verbatim):

“Tito Ricky, I’m on vacation. Bakit ako papatol sa mga talunan na bitter ngayon? If you review my interview, I had told Noy na kung makakabigat lang ako sa kanya sa presidency nya, then by all means I’d gladly take my kids abroad and not to be a burden...But Noy said itigil na raw ang ka-dramahan. I also have Noy’s text to all of us his sisters thanking us because of all we sacrificed for him — he was battered mercilessly but we stood firm with him and I campaigned tirelessly.

“Noy has been vocal in telling family and friends that I’m his ‘lucky charm.’ I worked to help my brother win, fulfilling a deathbed promise I made to our Mom and it seems apparent that I was effective. I was also taught by Mom to not be vindictive or to seek revenge. So in the same way that Noy drew strength from us, I’ll continue to draw strength from my sisters and my brother.

“And we will enjoy this quiet time because we deserve our rest and rejuvenation.”

In a succeeding text message, Kris said, “Please print that in full,” adding, “You asked me, I replied.”

Well, I do agree that Kris should stay --- HERE! In Malacañang, she and her sisters Ballsy, Viel and Pinky will help Noynoy tackle the Herculean task ahead of him even if, because they have their own families, they won’t stay in the Palace. So, please Kris, don’t leave us.

As I was about to finish typing this column, I got another text message from Kris: “Alangan namang sagutin ko, Tito Ricky, na mamatay kayo sa inggit dahil panalo ang kapatid ko? We did what we did in solidarity as a family and because Mom brought us up to be there for each other. I refuse na apak-apakan ako even after Noy’s victory, kaya lang di naman puwedeng magmalaki because ako lang ang magmumukhang mayabang.”

And, this welcome and heartwarming development: “On a happy note, on May 9, the day before the elections and with Boy (Abunda’s) full support, I signed a three-year endorsement contract with Dra. Vicki Belo. Time for a new beginning. Love, love, love!!!