Kris & Vicki

Two powerful and influential women.

Both strong-willed. And that is an understatement.

Individually, they are esteemed in their respective fields that have different foundations (one is scientific, while the other is hit and miss), but had been working famously well together. One is in the business of looking good, while the other provides services to make people look good.

Kris Aquino and Dr. Vicki Belo may both be controversial celebrities, but their inner wires and batteries tick differently.

Their main commonality, however, is the fact that both are achievers in their areas.

Kris actually had a rough time getting to where she is now in show business. Sure, she had a fast-track ticket to fame (thanks to her legendary parents). But getting her feet wet in the very judgmental waters of showbiz must have given her emotional bronchitis.

The initiation rites she went through were longer and more exacting than what is imposed by any fraternity. I know I should have said sorority, but the hazing she underwent would sissify any frat neophyte.

No, she was not paddled until her Lux skin (now maintained by Belo) turned black and blue. Her mother, the beloved President Cory Aquino, may have restored democracy to this country, but no one had the freedom to go around slapping her children. 

The pain Kris felt was not physical, but emotional because the public scoffed at her every performance.

However, she proved to be the classic example of how any skill or craft may be honed and improved through the years. After more than a decade in showbiz, she finally earned a slew of Best Supporting Actress trophies for the original Mano Po.

She may not be the greatest local actress today, but she definitely shines under the guidance of a good director.

The business of talk (which she loves) she immediately conquered and currently carries the title Queen of All Media.

In the case of Vicki, her rise to prominence as the doctor to the stars was meteoric.

But did you know that she excelled first in the field of baking? Back then, she sold (by order) the moistest chocolate cake — delivered in a sports car by now ex-husband Atom Henares.

She also put together the recipe for the best chocolate chip cookies in the whole world. It tastes so divine that Kris went through great lengths to learn how it is done with the public watching. That was shown in a recent episode of Kris TV.

What came out on TV may have looked seamless, but I can share with you behind-the-scene stories.

First, there was a rehearsal. Rehearsal on how to bake again, that is.

Vicki gives away her chocolate chip cookies as gifts to friends and Kris’ Josh could never have enough of it.

But, of course, even if Vicki wants to make the recipients believe she baked each and every piece, no one believes her. Sure, she invented the recipe and could do it well. But did she have the time to bake in between her liposuction sessions and series of medical talks abroad?

She actually has a baker named Sam and he is the one who bakes the cookies today — after learning from Vicki.

Two days before the shoot, Vicki had to make sure she still knew how to churn out those cookies. A few years ago, she had a whole structure built at the back of her mother’s home (walking distance from hers) to function as her own personal bakeshop. And so she walked over to practice.

The first batch turned out to be flat in shape, but still tasted yummy. By her second attempt, she already got it perfect — like in the earlier days when she still had time to bake. She was ready to take on Kris.

On the day of the shoot, Vicki decided to hold the taping in the kitchen of her own home because that looked more telegenic. She has an oven there, all right, but she sent the mixer over from her mother’s home. When that thing was plugged in — boom! That was unplanned.

Thank heavens there was a backup mixer and the shoot resumed. The result was one of the most delicious episodes aired on Kris TV.

Years of public scrutiny may already have turned Kris into a tough cookie, but she still melts with every bite of that melt-in-your mouth Vicki Belo chocolate chip cookies.