Kris Aquino admits relationship with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista

Inamin na ni Kris Aquino na may namamagitan sa kanila ni Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Hindi na nagpaliguy-ligoy pa ang Queen of All Media sa pagsisimula ng kanilang palabas ni Boy Abunda na "Aquino and Abunda Tonight" noong gabi ng April 7, at kaagad nilinaw ang matagal nang usap-usapan tungkol sa kanila ni Mayor Herbert.

Matagal-tagal na ring laman ng balita ang pagkakaugnay ni Kris sa isang pulitiko, base na rin sa mga mensaheng ipinu-post ng Kapamilya TV host-actress sa kanyang Instagram account.

Bagamat may mga iba pang pangalan ng pulitiko ang nagsilabasan, naging matunog ang pangalan ng alkalde ng Quezon City.

Lalo pang uminit ang espekulasyon tungkol kina Kris at Mayor Herbert nang mag-post ang TV host-actress ng isang larawan sa Instagram noong April 6.

Dito ay makikita na kasama sa salu-salo ng pamilya Aquino si Mayor Herbert, na nasa kabisera pa nga ng hapag-kainan.

Ang tanging caption dito ni Kris ay “Family dinner.”

Ngunit binura ito ni Kris noong April 7 pagkatapos mag-usisa ng kanyang Instagram followers.

Statement from Kris and Herbert

Kagabi sa Abunda and Aquino Tonight ay isang statement ang binasa ni Kris upang wakasan na ang usap-usapan tungkol sa tunay na namamagitan sa kanila ni Mayor Herbert.

Ayon kay Kris, ilang beses niya itong binasa kay Mayor Herbert mismo.

Panimulang sabi ni Kris, "I wrote everything down because it’s not just coming from me, it’s coming from both of us, so I hope you don’t mind na babasahin ko."

Narito ang kabuuang pahayag ni Kris na binasa niya sa programa:

“It was seven years ago when James [Yap] and I publicly went through that ultimately led to the end of our marriage.

"It’s been four years since we separated and two years since we were granted our annulment.

“We’ve learned that Bimb deserves to have both his mom and dad involved in his life as co-parents.

"And that takes forgiveness and compromise.

“It needs acceptance that we’ve all moved forward, that James does have a long-term girlfriend.

"And it’s much better for all of us to be cordial because he wants what is best for our son.

“We have matured enough to know that though James and I failed at being husband and wife, we do have the rest of Bimb’s life to succeed at being his parents.

“Wala po akong ipinakilala sa mga anak ko at sa mga kapatid ko for four years because there was nobody I was ready for.

"And more importantly, there was nobody that they were ready to meet.

“My siblings impressed upon me that I needed to become whole on my own first so as not to commit another mistake.

"And thank God, I listened to them.

“It was a journey that [was] oftentimes lonely and painful, yet one I needed to travel to become the person I am today.

“And now there is somebody in my life who is special.

“Weeks before any speculation about us came out, personal po siyang humingi ng permiso sa kuya ko.

"Maraming iniisip si PNoy kaya ang intindi niya nung time na yun, may gagawin kami ni Mayor na project para sa Quezon City.

“Until later that same day, nag-text kaming magkapatid, natawa na lang si PNoy na 'permission to date his sister' pala ang hiningi.

“But that gesture gained the respect of my brother and my sisters because it showed all of them na malinis ang intensiyon para sa bunso nila.”

‘Yes, my family welcomed him…’

May basbas daw ng buong pamilya ni Kris ang espesyal na relasyong namamagitan sa kanila ng Quezon City mayor.

“Yes, my family welcomed him to join us during our get-together because they want to know him better.

"And they want him to get to know our family.

"Just like other Filipino families, we are very close and we care very deeply for each other.

“Sa edad, napagdaanan, at estado naming dalawa, alam namin na seryoso ang pinapasok namin.

"We both chose public careers that have given us deep fulfillment and we do have exceptional, professional, and personal responsibilities.

"And part of that is being answerable to all of you."

Sabi pa ni Kris, “Ito po ang una at huling pagkakataon na pag-uusapan ko si Mayor Herbert Bautista sa puntong ito ng buhay namin, whether in my shows, interviews, or my personal social media posts.

"I promised him that our relationship won’t be a distraction in his obligations to the three million residents he took an oath of office to serve.

“He has given more than 25 years of dedicated public service and my respect for him and his office is such that I don’t want to add stress but hopefully give him inspiration.

“In turn, Herbert has expressed his admiration and respect for the dedication and hard work I have put into my profession.

"And he values the love you my audience and I have shared on a daily basis for almost 20 years.

“I am 43, and on May 12, he will be 46.

"I am sure all of you who are watching me right now will agree when I state that staying together, that choosing to love one another requires much day-to-day effort.

"And if there is something that the past has taught me, it is that I can’t do this on my own.”?

A chance at forever 

Sinabi rin ng "Kris TV" host na gusto niyang tumagal at maging matibay ang relasyon niya sa actor-politician.

Saad niya, "Herbert and I are partners in either the failure or success of our being together.

"And we can strengthen what we have by allowing ourselves to have a chance at forever by keeping quiet and private about what is here and now.

“We are a work in progress and it’s a joint project that both of us are happily undertaking with maturity, respect, and commitment.

“Sana nasagot na po lahat. Wala na po akong idadagdag dun, it reflects everything that is in my heart and hopefully also in his heart.”

Sina Kris at Herbert ay kapwa marami nang napagdaanan sa larangan ng pag-ibig.

Si Kris ay may dalawang anak sa magkaibang lalaki.

Ang panganay niyang si Josh ay bunga ng pagmamahalan nila ng dating karelasyong si Phillip Salvador.

Ang bunso naman niyang si Bimby—na magpi-pitong taong gulang sa April 19—ay anak ni Kris sa dating asawa na si James Yap.

Sa kabilang banda, si Mayor Herbert naman ay matagal naging karelasyon si Tates Gana, kung saan mayroon siyang dalawang anak—sina Athena, 17, at Harvey, 10. — Arniel C. Serato, Pep.ph