Kris embarks on ‘accidental adventure’ in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - Television host and film star Kris Aquino went on an “accidental adventure” in Cebu City yesterday, taking what was probably her first taxi ride in the city.

Aquino, the youngest sister of President Aquino, told reporters she took a wrong exit at the airport and ended up missing her ride.

She was campaigning for re-electionist Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero of the administration Team PNoy and another senatorial bet, Grace Poe, for two straight days in General Santos City, Davao City, Cebu City and Tacloban City.

With her make-up artist and her personal assistant, Aquino took a taxi from the airport to her hotel.

“I came here straight from Davao last night. Wala yung PSG (Presidential Security Group escort) ko, wala rin yung nagsusundo sa akin, maling entrance. So nag taxi po ako. Yes me, yung make up artist ko at yung PA ko (no PSG escort, no one to pick me up, so I took a taxi),” Aquino said.

The taxi parked outside the airport charged a flat rate of P475 for the ride to the hotel.The drive took 25 minutes and Aquino interviewed the driver.

“Our driver was very nice. His name was Alex. I wanted to get the pulse of Cebu so I interviewed him because that’s how you find this out, right? They know what’s happening there,” Aquino said.

“I asked him who he was voting for and of course I reminded him to vote for Chiz (Escudero), Grace (Poe), and not to forget number 3, Bam Aquino. When he agreed, I doubled the fare and gave him P1,000 and told him to keep the change,” she added.

Aquino said she would not have dared going out on her own in a cab if it were not for the fact that she was in Cebu City.

“I felt so safe and you know why? I felt that in any other place I wouldn’t dare do that, but it was Cebu,” she said.

In her hotel room, Aquino said she was surprised by the owner of Rico’s Lechon, who delivered a roast pig for her to eat.

“I really am so happy. I love Cebu so much and I want to help you. I want you to have even more tourists because we already had a 15 percent increase in the first quarter of 2013. Let’s make that a 40 percent increase after June,” she said.

After her experience in Cebu, Aquino said that she was thinking of developing a reality show featuring her travels around the country on her own.

“If I can go from the north all the way to the south with just P500 in my pocket, if I can survive, that would be a great idea, right?” Aquino said.