Kris gives peace a chance - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Curtain-raisers:

* If Ryan Agoncillo would have a haircut – and it should be very soon! – he’d definitely look better on the TV screen. As it is, the "uncut" Ryan looks so unkempt beside his well-groomed co-hosts Julius Babao, Tintin Bersola and Janette McBride on ABS-CBN’s new late-morning show Talk TV. His long hair overwhelms his cute face and it doesn’t become him.

* Seen enjoying a screening of the Sandra Bullock starrer Miss Congeniality was a very healthy Jeanne Young with her faithful Girl Friday at SM Megamall. If Miriam Quiambao ever watches the movie, I’m sure she’ll be amused by that scene showing Sandra as Miss New Jersey falling onstage and standing up with poise as the audience applauds with approval. It would remind Miriam of her own experience at the 1999 Miss Universe Pageant in Trinidad-Tobago.

* Funfare condoles with the Revilla family (Armando Goyena and children, Tina, Maritess, Johnny and the rest of the Revilla siblings) on the death the other day of the clan’s matriarch, the fabulously beautiful Paquita Roces (the Original Camay Girl) after a long illness. Paquita should now be at peace, with all the pain gone, in the bosom of the Lord.

* * *

Peace be with you!

That’s what the priest tells the faithful at the end of the mass when everybody, even strangers, smile at one another and offer a hand of peace.

That’s also what Kris Aquino, host of Balitang Kris (5:30 p.m. daily on ABS-CBN), is offering her enemies – peace – and they include her own brother Noynoy (Tarlac Representative) and former home companion Phillip Salvador (father of her son Joshua, now running for vice mayor of Mandaluyong City).

Letting bygones be bygones, Kris has reconciled with her Kuya Noynoy after a seven-year "cold war" when she invited Noynoy as guest for the premier episode of Balitang Kris which was formerly hosted by Korina Sanchez (now hosting TV Patrol as Senatoriable Noli de Castro’s replacement) who almost became Kris’ sister-in-law. (Noynoy’s current girlfriend is another TV person, Bernadette Sembrano, of GMA 7’s PROBE Team.)

No, Kris didn’t go direct to Noynoy (she could have been "snubbed" for all you know). Instead, she asked her mom, former President Cory Aquino, to act as "bridge." Noynoy’s initial reaction was to make sure that Kris would ask him about his achievements as a Congressman, telling Kris (through Tita Cory), "Baka naman two minutes lang ang devoted sa achievements ko pagkatapos ang eight minutes tungkol na sa intriga."

Again through Tita Cory, Kris assured Noynoy, "Bakit naman kita iintrigahin?"

Kris revealed this behind-the-scene development at yesterday’s presscon for Balitang Kris. She also said that, yes, she’s interviewing Phillip for the show, ending their own five-month "war" which was waged sometimes in the press and sometimes embarrassingly (complete with tears) on national television where Kris, in a moment of tactlessness (which she later regretted, bless her), told the whole world that she was "ashamed" to have Phillip as her son’s father (all because Phillip is pro-Erap and Kris, like most Aquinos, is anti-Erap).

Showing magnanimity in the face of adversity, Phillip stood his ground and said that no matter what Kris said, "I’m proud that she’s my son’s mother."

Soon, Kris said she realized that their fight was taking a toll on Joshua who began articulating how much he was missing his father. So Kris arranged for the boy to be with his father at certain days of the week, coming home with the frown on his face replaced by a big smile.

Asked how come she didn’t see Phillip during these five months, not even when he would drop by Kris’ place to fetch Joshua, the irrepressible Kris disclosed that it was Joshua’s yaya (nanny) who attended to Phillip when he showed up. "I communicate with yaya through her cell phone," added Kris, prompting some members of the movie press to comment, "Aba, sosyal ang yaya; pa-cellphone-cell-phone pa!"

Now, will the cell-phone-equipped yaya (because Tita Cory definitely would not, as she did in the Kris-Noynoy "reconciliation") be the one to arrange the guesting of Phillip on Kris’ show? "No," said Kris with a smile, "I’d do the negotiating myself."

Some people would see Kris’ "peace-offering" moves as, well, "politically-motivated" or an effort to drum up her show’s ratings. Whatever Kris’ ulterior motives are, we should at least give her the benefit of the doubt and pat her on the back for making friends again with her enemies. (Are there some more out there? Better speak up now or remain silent forever!)

Not only that. For, uh, "art’s sake" (and to show the world that professionalism should be above personal/political animosities), Kris will do something even Tita Cory (or any Aquino for that matter) had never dared do before – visit Ilocos which is, until now, Marcos Country for a future episode of Balitang Kris. That is, after Kris shall have done an exclusive interview with Nora Aunor, now running for Governor of Camarines Sur, with the majestic Mayon Volcano as background.

I wonder how Tita Cory would feel about her daring daughter’s incursion into, uh, "hostile territory."

Oh, well, if Kris is doing so in the spirit of peace – not really "reconciliation without retribution" – then I suppose Tita Cory will understand.

(Just between you and me, it’s not Tita Cory who’s helping Kris arrange that Ilocos episode. It’s none other than Ilocos Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.)

Ruffa shines anew

As usual and as expected, whether here or abroad, Ruffa Gutierrez was a standout a smain host of the recent 2001 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant. From the moment she appeared onstage, delivering her spiel with flawless English (as usual and as expected), you sat back assured of a fun evening (with most of the comic relief provided by the bungling contestants whom you can’t blame really because it’s terribly firghtening to stand in your swimsuit before that huge audience, not to mention televiewers in homes, and think fast and witty especially during the Q&A portion).

Anyway, Ruffa has become more polished as a TV host, thanks to what she has learned – and is learning – while covering international events as the star host of Century Productions whose had, Ken Botelho, has been vindicated 10 times over by his choice of Ruffa to build up from among the hundreds who auditioned for the job.

In fact, during her debut as a Century host, at the Millennium Countdown New Year’s Eve show beamed to several places in the USA (and the world) from Florida, Ruffa so outshone another lady TV host that she sparkled brighter than the fireworks that night, making that other lady so insecure, indeed.

During the Bb. Pilipinas night, Ruffa showed us her kababayan a sample of what it takes to be an international TV host. I’m sure that China Cojuangco, the anchor-woman that night, can learn a ot from Ruffa in terms of distinct delivery of lines, grace and poise, projection and total deportment.

It must also be noted that Dingdong Dante sdid well on his second stint as Bb. Pilipinas host. Maybe "debuting" TV hos David Bunevacz (who made so many uncalled-for side comments) can learn a thing or two from Dingdong who should be made a mainstay of the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant.