The ‘romance’ that never was

The tabs have been feasting on the story for one week now, like vultures nibbling on a carcass.

Kris Aquino and Paul Asi Taulava dating? Kris and Asi seen thrice in a very public place like Rockwell?? Kris and Asi getting to be an "item"???

Incredibly unbelievable, to be superfluous about it.

I don’t think Kris is so mindless as to jump into another relationship – not with another married man – while the scandal involving her and Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez is simmering down. I know Kris to be smart and intelligent (never mind if she gets carried away by her emotions sometimes) and she’s not the type who would stir up another storm even before the previous one has calmed down.

It turned out that Kris and Asi – poor ’em! – were the last to know.

Last Sunday on The Buzz, Kris categorically denied ever going out with Asi, the 6’9" center power-forward of Talk ’N Text loaned to the Philippine Team which is competing in the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, end of this month. She recalled that she and co-host Boy Abunda have seen Asi only once (and from afar at that) in their lives and that was during their good friend Manny Pangilinan’s birthday bash last July.

In an exclusive interview with Funfare last Monday, Asi himself expressed mild shock over the story, unable to recall if he has ever met Kris whom he and his wife, Anna Mae Corveau, only see on ABS-CBN’s Game KNB?

"If we ever did meet," said Asi, half-Tongan and half-Filipino but born and reared in the US, "it was probably a long time ago; maybe we didn’t even notice each other. Kris is a respectable woman and I admire her."

To sort of nip in the bud a "hoax" that could have been blown up by the tabs into another national controversy, Funfare asked Allure Assistant Editor Ann Montemar-Oriondo, kumare of the Taulavas to verify the story with Anna Mae who tersely said in a text message that she didn’t believe the tsismis at all, convinced as she is that Asi is a faithful husband.

"Only the night before Anna Mae’s brief comment came out in (Funfare)," said Asi, "Anna Mae and I were talking about Kris and Joey, wondering how they were able to survive the controversy. I didn’t have any idea that the tabloids were already linking me to Kris!"

What is verifiably correct is that Asi is now in the movies, playing – what else? – a basketball player in the yet untitled Viva movie starring Robin Padilla and Judy Ann Santos.

"It’s just a one-shot deal," clarified Dondon Monteverde, Asi’s manager. "His contract with Viva is only for that movie."

Is the yarn about him and Kris an offshoot of his entrance into showbiz?

"I don’t know," smiled Asi who’s the endorser of, among other products, Kenny Rogers, Adidas and Nike. "I don’t even know how it started. It caught me by surprise."

And Kris, too, I should add.

Looking at Anna Mae, you won’t think that her husband will ever look at other women, much more turn "unfaithful" even only in his mind. A statuesque 5’10", Anna Mae (niece of actor Ronald Corveau, ex-husband of Marianne de la Riva) is beauty and brains, a Mass Com cum laude graduate who was a second runner-up in The STAR’s Face of the Year search and a contestant in the 1999 Bb. Pilipinas pageant where Asi was one of the judges. That’s how their paths first crossed.

Did he give Anna Mae (who didn’t get to the semi-finals) a high rating?

Laughed Asi, "I did, but then I was just one of the judges."

But even then, according to Asi, "There was something in her that attracted me. I really felt bad when she didn’t make it. After the pageant, I even apologized to her."

Asi took note of Anna Mae’s cellphone number which was listed in the souvenir program. A month later, he texted her, "Hello! How are you?" It took her half a day to text back, apologizing for the delay. The texting back and forth lasted for a month and a half before Asi garnered enough nerves to invite Anna Mae to the games at the Big Dome. Anna Mae came with a friend.

"No," smiled Asi, "she’s not a Talk ’N Text fan; she’s a fan of Danny Seigle of San Miguel." After the game, instead of going straight to the dugout, he sought out Anna Mae and, for two minutes, they hardly talked. "We just looked at each other. I was too tongue-tied to say anything."

After more than a year of texting and game-watching, with Anna Mae showing up with a different friend everytime, they had their first "unchaperoned" date in early 2000. The courtship followed.

"It was a tough one," said Asi. "Having been raised in the US, I didn’t know the courtship techniques here."

All went well, though. On April 10, 2000, Asi and Anna Mae got married secretly at the United Christian Church in Pasig City, with only Anna Mae’s mom (Toni Corveau), her aunt (Lydia Morales) as witnesses.

They now have a daughter, Asiana, one-year-and-nine-months old, with another daughter (ultrasound confirmed it) due this weekend again by Lamaze Method.

Aren’t he and Anna Mae having five sons in a row after two daughters, so they can complete a basketball team?

"I doubt it," said Asi with a sad look in his eyes. "Anna Mae goes through difficult pregnancies, so I guess we have to rest."

How is Asi as a husband?

"I’m trying to be the best husband in the world!"

And as a father?

"I’m trying to be the best father in the world!"

Describing himself as a one-woman man, Asi deals with over-aggressive female fans in a diplomatic manner. "I just don’t want to lead them to a compromising situation," he said, adding, "I’m just lucky to have a gorgeous wife who’s a degree-holder."

Doesn’t Anna Mae get jealous and/or possessive?

"She doesn’t have any reason to be. She has nothing to worry about. Thrice a week, we go to the movies; twice a week we have dinner out. The rest of the week, I’m either rehearsing/working out or playing."

And now, the ticklish rumor linking him to Kris Aquino.

Isn’t Kris (at five feet) much too short for somebody, anybody, as tall as he is?

"I don’t even have an idea how tall she is. I must say, though, that she’s a good host. I and Anna Mae watch her on TV all the time."

If and when he bumps into Kris, what would he tell her?

"I’ll say, ‘sorry for the bad publicity.’ She doesn’t deserve it."

And to Mayor Joey whom Asi described as a friend (he once guested on Joey’s GMA sitcom Kool Ka Lang)?

"Joey must be mad at me now," joked Asi. "But I’ll tell him that it never happened and it will never happen."

There. Loud and clear!