MANILA, Philippines - This is a transcript of Kris Aquino's interview on "The Buzz," Sunday (June 27), where she disclosed that she has given up on her marriage to basketball star James Yap.

BOY ABUNDA: Krissy, maraming tanong, maraming opinyon, speculations. This is your chance. We will listen. What do you have to say?

KRIS AQUINO: First, I'm sorry about Tuesday [engagement in Cebu]. For so long, ilang buwan naman na nagampanan ko ang lahat ng tungkulin ko, lahat ng responsibilidad sa trabaho at sa kampanya kahit na mayroon kaming pinagdadaanan sa tahanan namin. It was a sign of weakness on my part not to show up, and I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry that you had to be the one to answer because you felt uncomfortable making up an excuse.

About what we've been through, I think naman Boy hindi lahat sikreto sa inyong lahat, kung ano ang mga napagdaanan namin in our married life. I think also the whole Philippines is fully aware na when my mom was alive and ngayon, my siblings have tried to bridge whatever gaps -- and I mean gaps, marami na kasi. Tinry nila na tulungan kaming ayusin yung mga problema namin.

I have not sat down [with my siblings]...lahat through text -- kay ate, kay Pinky. Through phone, nakausap ko si Viel. Nagtext din kami ni Noy. Siyempre sila lahat, gusto nila sana maayos pa.

I just want to say na whatever decision I have come to, it's not a spur of the moment decision. Hindi ito nangyari na nagising lang ako isang araw at sinabi kong ayoko na. Matagal naming sinubukan. James and I both tried to really make this work.

On my part, what I'm comfortable saying is, with finality I can say, ako sumuko na.

Ang dami kong pinag-isipan kung paano ko maibabahagi sa lahat kung anong pinagdaanan namin without revealing anything painful. But there's no way of doing that. 

Last night, mga 4 in the morning, hindi ako makatulog pa. Katabi ko si Baby James, and I think he had a bad dream kasi he started to cry in his sleep. And that's when it came to me, and I'm sure lahat ng mga nanay maiintindihan ako. Kung anuman ang dahilan why this marriage, on my part I'm saying, is over, the only person I will owe and explanation to, and the only person who can demand from me na bakit kayo naghiwalay, is my son.

And kagabi Boy, narealize ko, the worst thing I can do for Baby James is, when he's 7 or 8 years old and mahanap niya sa YouTube yung explanation kung bakit naghiwalay ang nanay at tatay niya. He deserves much more than that. He deserves to hear it only from me and only from James. Because in any separation, there are 2 sides to the story. And we owe it to him, James will owe it to him, that I will owe it to him to explain to him.

But I'm sure you will all understand me. My decision to keep quiet is not because on June 30 magiging presidente si Noy. My decision to keep quiet is because I asked myself 'Kapag inexplain ko kay Baby James, number one mauunawaan ba niya ako? Number 2, rerespetuhin pa ba niya ako? At number 3, mamahalin pa ba niya ako?' At nasagot ko naman kagabi na 'yes.' I know my son will understand me, will respect me and still love me. And I feel that he will love me more, respect me more, and value me more if I keep quiet today.

I know that will leave so many unanswered questions, but those questions, only Baby James deserves to hear the answers to. Siguro Boy, this is part of growing up. It's part of realizing that yes, I am public and I owe all of you an explanation, but apart from God, the only one I'm answerable to is kung di man mga kapatid ko eh ang anak ko.

So sana po, maiintindihan ninyo po ako na yung mga legal na aspeto ng pagsasama namin ni James, inuumpisahan na naming ayusin lahat yun. Kung anuman ang mga naging problema namin, kung anuman ang mga napag-awayan namin, kung anuman ang naganap sa tahanan namin, let it stay there. Because I'm doing this for my son, because he's only 3 years old and he really doesn't deserve na kung ano yung trials na pinagdaanan ng parents niya, kailangang ungkat-ungkatin at ulit-ulitin, wag na.

Kung this will mean na maraming hindi makakaintindi sa akin or sasabihin, ijujudge ako, then let it be. I don't mind. The world can judge me. I just want my son to be able to respect me and respect his father. Because at the end of the day, ang utang namin sa kanya. Kasi ang pinakamaaapektuhan ng pangyayaring ito ang anak ko. To a certain extent, of course, it will affect Josh but it's really Baby James who will really be affected.

And maybe, yung sinasabi ng mom ko sa akin parati na 'Krissy, love is bringing out the best in each other.' Maybe Baby James is really bringing out the best in me. And that's it, Boy. I really hope they understand that this is for my son.

BOY: Naiintindihan ko. Maraming salamat, Krissy.

Showbiz Eye by Gerry Plaza
Special to Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Amid all the vehement denials and outright dismissals of alleged romances in show biz, here comes someone who comes forth and admits the real score in his love life.

John Lloyd Cruz surprised the regular Sunday viewers of “The Buzz” with his admission that he and Shaina Magdayao are now an item.

“Matagal ko nang hinihintay ito,” he says. “Once and for all, gusto ko sabihin at sagutin na, yes, it’s us.”

According to Lloydie, the main reason he came out was that he wanted the speculations about their relationship and the purported links to other personalities to end.

“I wanted to come out and once and for all say something kasi ang dami nang nag-take advantage sa pagtahimik ko. Hindi na maganda kasi marami nang taong nadadamay and marami na ang taong nasasaktan. Hindi na nakakatuwa… Dapat magsalita na ako. Para sa kanila at di para sa akin. Wala akong maiko-complain sa buhay ko. “

To his detractors, he only has this to say:

“I wish them the same happiness I have right now.”

This is a very much welcome development for these two young stars, who have faced a barrage of intrigues over their now confirmed relationship. Previously, Lloydie had been charged with using Shaina to conceal another alleged romance with Ruffa Gutierrez, his co-star in the defunct “I Love Betty La Fea.” During the interview, he also admitted his relationship with Ruffa was “very special.”

He also reportedly promised Sarah Geronimo, his co-star in the blockbuster romantic comedies “A Very Special Love” and “You Changed My Life,” that he would soon woo her.

“Hindi mo ‘yun sinasabi o pinapangako sa isang babae. ‘O maghintay ka diyan ha, hintayin mo ko, after four or five years…’ Hindi mo naman alam kung anong puwedeng mangyari eh. Hindi ‘yan totoo.”

He also allegedly snagged Shaina from her ex-boyfriend John Prats, who supposedly didn’t know of their trysts while they were still together.

Lloydie claims he and John had ironed out the matter “man to man.”

“Iyon kasi ang nakakatawa saka sa kalagitnaan ng usap-usapan diyan, e, siyempre ang tamang gagawin ay kakausapin mo iyong tao. Nagkausap kami lalake sa lalake. Okay, maayos… Lalake sa lalake, sabi ko sa kanya na, ‘Let us put our egos behind us.’ Kung may naaapektuhan dito, ang babae.”

With his admission, Lloydie seems very serious about his feelings for Shaina and their romance would definitely become the hottest item in show biz in the weeks to come.

Why did it take Lloydie a long time to admit this? Somehow, it’s mainly because their relationship isn’t a studio-backed pairing; Lloydie rarely appeared, if ever, opposite Shaina, much less as a marquee love team.

Will it affect his career as a matinee idol, a three-time box office king? In my book, hardly.

John Lloyd Cruz is definitely one of the few young actors who have maintained a bankable acting career regardless of who he is paired with. What more with his personal life?

Photos courtesy of Star Magic/ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines - Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano shared his excitement at the much-awaited inauguration of President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on June 30.

Valenciano, considered to be one of the pillars of ABS-CBN's hit weekly variety show "ASAP," together with other Kapamilya artists, will perform with Kapuso's Party Pilipinas artists.

They were requested to sing the inauguration song "Bagong Pilipinas" on the morning of June 30 before the President-elect's oath taking at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

"I think it's great that there will be artists from everywhere coming together for that one moment. Over and above everything, we will all be under one president. We are all part of this country; we have our own things to do. But the fact that we are getting together for that one momentous event will say a lot about who the artists are as artists of their own respective stations, but at the same time who we really are.

"If it's good for the nation, if it's good for other people, it's good for the Filipino, then it doesn't really matter where we are affiliated with because we will come together as one," Valenciano told abs-cbnNEWS.com at a press conference after he renewed his contract with ABS-CBN's "ASAP."

His son Gabriel also signed up to continue his own contract with "ASAP."

Valenciano said that he is just happy and honored to be part of the said historical event.

"I think isang napakalaking karangalan para sa akin to be part of that and I'm just waiting for the music to come in. It should come in anytime. Then we will start practicing," Valenciano said.

On Thursday, musician-singer Ogie Alcasid bared he was commissioned by the inaugural committee to compose a song for the inauguration of the President-elect.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Alcasid said he accepted the request to write "Bagong Pilipinas" to give a new hope for the country and to encourage all Filipinos to unite.

"The message of the song is tapos na ang dilaw, pula, orange. Tayo'y iisang bahaghari na! It's time for us to work together," Alcasid said during the election for the new officers of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM). Alcasid won a seat in the OPM board.

Aside from Valenciano, other artists who will perform "Bagong Pilipinas" are Diamond Soul Siren Nina, Noel Cabangon, singing champion Jed Madela, Asian Balladeer Christian Bautista, and Alcasid's real life sweetheart Regine Velasquez.

MANILA, Philippines – At least 3,000 people may die in Metro Manila once a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits the National Capital Region (NCR), outgoing National Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said today.

Gonzales revealed this grim scenario during the launching of the second-quarter nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill at the Benigno Aquino Jr. High School in Comembo, Makati City this morning.

Citing a study conducted by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), which he also heads, Gonzales said at least 2 million people will be rendered homeless, 500 fire incidents will occur and 400,000 people will need immediate hospitalization.

 “At least 400,000 people will need immediate hospitalization once a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits Metro Manila. It will be a big problem to authorities because there are only 30,000 beds combined in all hospitals all over Metro Manila. We will also need to feed two million people should this disaster came,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said this is one of the reasons why the NDCC is conducting simultaneous earthquake drills to determine the readiness of the 17 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.

“There will be 500 fire incidents to occur. I am not sure if our Fire Brigade can handle that. We are coordinating all over the world for assistance in times of disaster like this. Remember that in a big earthquake like 7.2 magnitude, time is very important. We must all learn how to help. If Metro Manila is hit by big earthquake, the people here cannot help themselves because they are victims themselves. If the other areas is hit by this, let’s learn to help them. It is important that Filipinos learn to help each other,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales admitted there is no level of preparedness that can prevent the possible damages that earthquake can cause to the country.


For his part, Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) Director Renato Solidum said earthquake drills are important to impart knowledge on the people, particularly the students, on how to deal with the disaster.

“It is important to have drills. Earthquake is a rapid event. That is why drills are important. We must also see the structural integrity of the buildings all over the country,” Solidum said.

Solidum said that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake may come from the West Marikina Valley fault, which stretch passes through Makati all the way to Laguna.

During the earthquake drill at the four floor Benigno  Aquino Jr. High School in Comembo, Makati City, NDCC personnel with the coordination of the Makati Rescue Team, the Department of Education quick-response team, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from the National Capital Region (NCR), facilitated the mock rescue of the school’s estimated 7,000 students.

The students were ordered to put both their hands on top of their heads and fall in line at the school quadrangle.

Members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) were also mobilized to help in the drills.

The NDCC also conducted simultaneous earthquake drills at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City and at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. - By Jose Rodel Clapano (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)