Kris on political plans: 2019 not the right time

MANILA, Philippines - Kris Aquino dispelled talk that she will run for Quezon City mayor in 2019. 

According to the 46-year-old host/actress, she has no idea why such rumors are swirling.

“You know, that’s really, really weird. First of all, I don’t know saan nanggagaling yung balita. I have never signified any intention. Secondly, magsasalita na ako ng patapos na I honestly don’t think 2019 is the right time for me because I have to prove myself first as a success in (the business field),” said Kris during an interview after she was launched as brand ambassador of the international streaming video service iflix last Thursday night.

She gave two reasons why the QC mayoralty race is a no-go for her. “I think, I will open too many wounds in Quezon City. One, romantic wounds, ano ba? (laughs),” said Kris, who has been romantically linked to Mayor Herbert Bautista (now on his last term as the city’s chief executive). “Secondly, we go so far back with the Belmontes. My mom’s best friend is Vice Mayor Joy’s mom (STAR founder Betty Go-Belmonte). Ang haba ng pinagsamahan and dahil lang sa politika gagawan kami ng intriga? Huwag na. And it’s not yet time. I’m still young enough so I have to prove myself first as a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur.”

Kris makes no secret of her interest to enter politics in the future. If and when she does, she claimed she won’t rely on her family name. “Kasi di ba hindi pwede platform ko, ‘Aquino ako,’” explained the former presidential daughter (to the late Pres. Cory Aquino) and sister (to Pres. Noynoy Aquino). “That’s not enough.”

That’s why Kris wants to prove herself first. “Kailangan lahat ng negosyo ko ang maging gross earnings… if I hit a billion, that’s my goal, sorry ang yabang, but you have to set goals, right? If I can say my businesses, yearly, are altogether hitting a billion in sales, that means I have what it takes to become a good leader. Leadership means you’re able to put food on the table. I believe in that.”

She added, “I already have the name, sorry, yabang (laughs), pero may pangalan di ba? May legacy? Pero kailangan may nagawa on my own and that would be my businesses.”

Kris Aquino with iflix co-founder/chairman Patrick Grove and co-founder/CEO Mark Britt at the media launch last Thursday in Taguig City.

Kris is active in the food business and doing franchising. “In 2019, baka di ko pa nari-reach yung goal na yun. But beyond that, when I hit my target, that’s when I can enter politics because that’s when I can prove to the people that, look, I’ve made a success of my businesses. That means, I can run a city. Okay, not just a city, but a country (laughs).”

What Kris meant by her last statement, she clarified, is that “I feel I am not a team player. I admit that. I don’t think kaya ko yung Congress or the Senate, so I need to be in an executive position. So, may fiscal responsibility ako dapat. So, I have to know how to handle the people’s money.”

Meanwhile, she is tightlipped on the details of her Hollywood project and possible TV return. “I’m praying hard. Tomorrow (July 28), I’m going to get the offer sheet from the other network. I am not saying no to being on free TV because that’s where I started. But I’m also very open to be in the newer platforms,” Kris — touted in the entertainment biz as the “Queen of All Media” — said, referring to digital media.

Kris claimed that she made 120 million impressions on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. “You’ve actually given me 60 million minutes of your time. We did research on that.”

Working with iflix will further expand her digital reach and influence. “I wanted to be the first to go into digital.

The iflix partnership has been my longest courtship,” she said, adding it was roughly eight months in the making with the “first date” with iflix execs held in November 2016. “When I finally got the contract, this was June 12, our Independence Day, and I actually saw the signature of Mark Britt (co-founder and CEO of iflix) there, I said, ‘Oh my God, it’s real!’ It’s worth the wait.

I got actually paid in dollars.”Kris has four of her movies — Sukob, Feng Shui, Sisterakas and Dalaw — on iflix.She’s also set to do an original iflix film. Genre, story and director are still under wraps.

When asked if she has other dream projects with iflix, Kris said, “I was begging them (to have) Candy Crush, now an actual game show hosted by Mario Lopez (in the US), ‘Can you bring it please to iflix and make an ASEAN version?

I’ll host it for you for free, just get the rights.’ Because the set is going to be very expensive (laughs). It’s such a great show and concept to bring ASEAN together.”

How about a dating show for Kris? “I have a suggestion, let’s do it for my brother. Let’s find him a wife. No (I won’t host it). He would never find a wife if I were to host it. So, keep me away and find him a date first, and let’s see.

I think that would be nice because he deserves to find happiness. (Do I have high standards?) No, it’s just that I’m too noisy. If I don’t talk about his lovelife, I think he’ll have a chance for a lovelife. But maybe, if the entire Philippines gets to vote, it can happen.”