Why I 'hate' Kris Aquino

The last time I went to the States, I brought with me 10 copies of the Kris Aquino/The Greatest Love CD released by Universal Records, a follow-up to the first two which were best-sellers (Kris Aquino/Songs of Love & Healing and Kris Aquino/Love & Inspiration) as pasalubong to friends. That was what they asked for and they nagged me for it. I didn’t know why until I came home and started playing the last copy left in my hand-carried bag, intended for an aunt in West Covina who was somewhere else at the time. She left word not to give it to anybody — or else.

On my way home past midnight after a hard day’s deadline, I kept playing and replaying the songs on the album, all of which, I’m sure, were personally chosen by Kris just like the selections on the two previous albums, all very meaningful and they should be because the CD is “A special tribute to President Corazon C. Aquino” who, as we all know, is waging a battle with the Big C.

That’s when I began “hating” Kris. How dare she makes me cry! No, Kris doesn’t sing any of the 13 songs. All she does (as in the two earlier CDs) is a narration for each song, recalling fond memories about her mom and the lessons she has learned from her in a manner so moving that, that’s it, she made me cry. Listen to the CD and I’m sure you would, too...and start “hating” Kris for making you cry.

The songs:

• When You Believe (by Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha),

• Isn’t She Lovely? (Gary Valenciano),

• The Greatest Love Of All (Martin Nievera),

• Sa Ugoy ng Duyan (Ogie Alcasid),

• No Matter What (Piolo Pascual),

• How Sweet It Is (Billy Crawford),

• A Song For Mama (Jay-R),

• I’m Your Angel (Jed Madela),

• Iingatan Ka (Ronnie Liang),

• Bless The Beast and The Children (Mcoy Fundales),

• Thanks To You (Kris Lawrence),

• Mama (Sam Concepcion), and

• Because You Loved Me (Mark Bautista).

Shed more tears as you listen to Kris read a letter to her mom. Here are the first and concluding parts:

Dear Mom,

I hope and pray that when you’re reading this you’re okay. Or at the very least, that you’re not suffering and still coping with your chemotherapy.

We didn’t want to add to your burden by showing you how torn up we all were when we found out about your cancer. When Viel told me that it wasn’t good, and that you had cancer, I felt the world came crashing down, and all the weight was centered on my heart and my stomach. How could there be life without you?

I cried uncontrollably. I threw up so much, wanting to purge myself of the worst possible news.

Memories came rushing back, and I wanted to share them with you now, just so you’d know how much being your baby has meant to me...

During baby James’ birthday, when you said your thank you message, it was the only time I ever saw your tears fall during this whole ordeal. It was such a short message, but I know it came from your heart.

Just like you told me, everybody has to undergo suffering in order to become closer to Jesus. But, not everybody gets blessed by millions of people praying for them. Pinky was worried about you breaking down, but I told her that I felt it was your heart overflowing with gratitude for all the love, caring, support and compassion that you’ve been given.

But those people who don’t know you intimately like your daughter does. If you’re already that special to them, maybe when they get a glimpse of how special you are to me, they’ll understand just how much God must have thought of me, to give me a Mom like you...

...When people ask me what is the most important thing that I’ve learned from you, it is to have faith in God, because He loves us, and He will shelter us, and take care of us. In surrendering to His will, that is when we get stronger...

...I wouldn’t have my faith now, had I not seen it in you. Did I ever say thank you, Mom, for praying that 5th Rosary for the day, every time James has an important game?

Thank you, Mom.

As you listen to the CD, it becomes harder and harder to tell which are more touching, the songs or Kris’ emotion-laden narrations. And when finally you get to the end, you feel along with Kris a resurgence of great hope all because she has, as a song goes, cast her and her mom’s burden upon Him, the Great Healer.

Kris ends the CD with this other letter:

Dear God,

I lift up my Mom’s healing, her good health to You. I know that You love her, and You will guide and inspire her doctors to do the best they can for her.

I thank You Lord for blessing our lives with a Mom like ours. I thank You that You loved us so much to give us a loving, unselfish, caring, principled, intelligent, inspiring and generous Mom.

I thank You God for blessing my Mom’s life with so much accomplishment, for allowing her to achieve so much, and for letting her touch the lives of so many, affecting lives in such a positive way.

Please God, give Mom the strength to bear cancer. Mama Mary, may your mantel of protection shield her from further pain and suffering. Her love and devotion to You hasnever faltered, please God, be there for her now that she needs Your loving embrace most.

Please continue to strengthen our faith in You. We know that through You and in You, all good things are possible. Father God, we celebrate all that Mom is in our lives, and we entrust her whole being unto You. Your love for her surpasses ours. And we know You will only do for her what is best for her.

Thank you, God, for the greatest gift, which is Mom.

Meanwhile, excuse me while I FedEx to my aunt her copy of the CD. I guess she’ll feel toward Kris the same way I do the moment she plays the CD. Please pass the box of Kleenex!

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