“Matagal naming sinubukan. James and I really tried to make this work. On my part, with finality, I can say ako ay sumuko na,” she said on “The Buzz.”

Aquino said it was not a “spur of the moment” decision.

“Kung anuman ang dahilan why this marriage, on my part, I’m saying it’s over, the only person I will owe an explanation to and the only person who can demand from me, ‘Bakit kayo naghiwalay?,’ is my son,” she added.

Aquino, who moved out of their home last week, refused to reveal the reason behind their separation. She said she is keeping quiet for the sake of Baby James, their 3-year-old son.

“The worst thing I can do for Baby James is, when he’s 7 or 8 years old, and mahanap niya sa YouTube ‘yong explanation kung bakit nag-hiwalay ang nanay at tatay niya. He deserves much more than that. He deserves to hear it only from me and only from James. Because in any separation, there are 2 sides to the story. And we owe it to him, James will owe it to him, that I will owe it to him to explain to him,” she said.

She added that Baby James will love, respect and value her more if she keeps the matter private.

It was last week when Aquino’s close friend, TV host Boy Abunda, announced that the high-profile couple was going through a difficult time.
On June 16, Aquino first admitted in public through her Twitter page that she and Yap, B-Meg Derby Ace’s (formerly Purefoods) star player, had a “big misunderstanding.”

Stress and long hours spent during her brother’s election campaign period took a toll on their relationship, said Kris, the lead star of ABS-CBN primetime soap opera “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo.”

Almost 5-year marriage

She said that although both she and Yap are public figures, apart from God, they are only ones answerable to their son.

“The world can judge me. I just want my son to be able to respect me and respect his father….To a certain extent, of course, it will affect Josh, but it’s really Baby James who will really be affected,” she said.

Josh is Aquino’s son from actor Phillip Salvador.

Aquino, who is 11 years older than Yap, married the professional basketball player on July 10, 2005.

This is not the first controversy to hound Kris and Yap’s almost 5-year marriage.

Kris made headlines early this year when she allegedly confronted a woman rumored to be Yap’s girlfriend. The incident had forced Kris to move out of their home, only to return days later.

In 2007, they went through a rough patch after Yap was rumored to have had a romantic affair with Hope Centeno, one of the receptionists at the Belo Medical Clinic.

In both instances, Yap denied the speculations.

Kris bids farewell to ‘The Buzz’

The “Buzz” episode on Sunday was Aquino’s last as regular host.

In her emotional farewell, Aquino admitted that leaving “The Buzz” was a big sacrifice, but it was something that she has to do for her family.

“Alam ko na magaling ako dito sa ginagawa kong ito. And paano kung ‘yong next project na ibibigay nila sa akin, paano kung hindi ako kasing galing doon. But, in the same way na siguro nagtiwala ang Pilipinas kay Noy….ganoon din siguro ang naging decision ko na binigay mo na ang lahat, alangan naman may part pa na, ‘Hindi ibigay ninyo sa akin ito,’” she said.

Earlier, Aquino said she was giving up the show to avoid criticisms that may get in the way of the administration of her brother, President-elect Benigno Aquino III.

She said hosting “The Buzz” for 10 years has been a “learning experience” for her. She said she was grateful to ABS-CBN management and the show’s viewers for allowing her to grow and be herself.

She also thanked her family, the show’s staff, her fans and most especially Abunda for being “ready to defend me and understand me.”

“You became Boy, I became Kris during this journey. And the partnership we had, siguro wala namang makaka-question, we had one of the best marriages on TV,” she said.

Nonetheless, she assured she is leaving the show happy.

“Who knows, 6 years from now, with science, baka maganda pa naman ako. (Laughs). At hindi pa ako kulubot, baka puwede pa akong bumalik sa ‘The Buzz.’ Or baka 6 years from now, ako na ang nagswe-swearing in. (Laughs),” she said in jest.

“Make the most of your Sundays, and I’ll continue to be tuning in,” she added. -With ANC

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, a close friend of Revillame and his wedding godmother, said she was sad at the turn of events for both parties who are all dear to her.

But she said crucial decisions in show business have to be reached for the good of all concerned. In this case, she said, Revillame’s fate is the handiwork of God to remind him of his mistake.

“Tinapik siya pero pagkatapos n’yan sana naman, yakap na,” said the second term governor at her thanksgiving party on Tuesday in Batangas City. Santos has exclusively made award-winning movies and television specials for ABS-CBN in the last 15 years.

Aga Muhlach, a close friend of Revillame, refused to comment on the issue. He, however, said that ultimately ABS-CBN management and Revillame’s agreement should be for the best interest of the televiewers.

Muhlach, an ABS-CBN film and TV star for the last 2 decades, also confirmed reports that he had been asked to be the next guest-host of “Wowowee,” but that he refused.

He said he did not want to be put in an uncomfortable position, and he prefers to devote his time with “Malay Mo Baka Ma-Develop,” his upcoming sitcom with Ai Ai de las Alas.

“Showtime’s” popular host Vice Ganda, meantime, hailed the ABS-CBN-Revillame verdict a fitting closure to the issue.

“Ang dami kasing speculations. Ngayon tatahimik na sana ang lahat. I will pray for him, we will pray for each other. (Laughs), ” the comedian joked.

De las Alas also welcomed the solution to the impasse. She also indicated that she is willing to be a guest-host in “Wowowee” if the management asks her.

In the end, both Vice Ganda and De las Alas said the network’s decision regarding talent discipline should be upheld and respected.

“We work inside a family, igalang natin ‘yon,” said De las Alas.

“It’s so flattering to hear that they would like to do a movie with him. Syempre once I hear that natutuwa ako as his wife,” she said.

Aga is currently filming a movie with Angel Locsin while also shooting a sitcom with Ai-ai Delas Alas. He is set to do a movie with Regine Velasquez and Leah Salonga by the end of the year.

Charlene sees no problem on Aga being paired with younger women. She shared that her husband is very thrilled to be working with Angel because the storyline of the project is one of the best ever prepared by Star Cinema.

In a separate interview, Leah confirmed that she will do a movie with Aga in November and they are just working on the plot of the project.

“When we see each other laging kaming nag-uusap about the movie. Leah’s husband is also excited about the team-up,” Charlene said.

The former beauty queen meantime dismissed rumors that she is jealous with Aga’s leading ladies, saying she is even more excited for her hubby to do a project because she is a big fan of him.

“Instead wasting my time in these negative things, we might as well make the situation better,” she said.

The recent release of a film bio on ’70s band The Runaways adds to the current interest in women musicians.

In the case of Warner Music Philippines, the latest find is an all-female rock band with a macho name, General Luna. Its members — vocalist Nicole Asensio, guitarists Caren Mangaran and Audry Dionisio, bassist Alexis Montemayor and drummer Bea Lao — used to play in different bands, leading one kibitzer to comment that this group is certainly “manufactured.”

Well, Rivermaya bore that tag during its early years — a stigma that has since been obliterated through sheer evidence of talent.

So, does General Luna have what it takes to succeed as well? The hype is that its members, aside from being blessed with good looks, do know how to play good music. The band was at SaGuijo a few weeks ago and the Inquirer was there to see what the fuss was all about.

There was a hint of nervousness as the girls took some time before kicking off their first number. But as the music commenced in a blast of loud, guitar-drenched sonic wall like jet fighters whirring overhead, we thought there might be reason to believe that General Luna is worth the attention.

Asencio is no Sampaguita, but the young singer has the attitude to go with her bluesy wails.

Mangaran doesn’t have a guitar goddess pose, yet she delivered the riffs that mattered most to the predominantly male audience.

Dionisio, the other guitarist, and Montemayor, the bassist, may not be that aggressive yet in their playing, but they certainly knew how to stick to the rhythm.

Lao played the drums loud that night, but not so much in a show-off manner, perhaps more in an attempt to emphasize her time-keeping role in a band that’s only starting out — no matter if the girls have had previous experience.

The five songs they played were mostly originals contributed by various members of male bands including Typecast’s Steve Badiola (“Red Heaven”) and Pakoy Fletchero (“Walang Bintana”), Mayonnaise’s Monty Macalinao (“Nandito”) and Rivermaya’s Japs Sergio (“Dala ng Ulan”).

Some of the tunes had anger, dejection and paranoia simmering in their lyrics — quite perfect for the typical rock ’n’ roll crowd that the band wants to capture.

Let’s wait for the album to confirm whether General Luna has the makings of a revolutionary act.

It took place despite an agreement with ABS-CBN, that Revillame, “Wowowee’s” on-leave host, would uphold his contract obligations with his home network.

During the taping of the special episode of TV5’s “PO5,” Revillame appeared as the special guest of actor John Estrada, who was then celebrating his birthday on the show, “Paparazzi” reported.

According to the report, the “Wowowee” on-leave host performed 2 song numbers and distributed cash to studio audience.

A grateful Estrada told “Paparazzi” that he was surprised by the special guest appearance of Revillame, his close friend in show business.

Before the airing of the special episode, however, the report said the management of TV5 had first sought the permission of ABS-CBN to broadcast Revillame’s surprise appearance.

In a letter dated June 16, “Paparazzi” reported that ABS-CBN prohibited the airing, in full or in part, of Revillame’s guesting.
The Kapamilya network reiterated in its letter that Revillame “is prohibited from appearing and performing for a competitor of ABS-CBN.”

“Thus, the exhibition in the television program ‘PO5’ or any other program of Mr. Revillame’s performance and appearance during the birthday celebration of Mr. Estrada will be a violation of his talent agreement, and will constitute an interference with said contract on your part,” the letter stated.

Upon receiving the letter, the report said TV5 decided against airing Revillame’s guesting, and his appearance was removed from the episode.

It would have been Revillame’s first public appearance following his much talked about outburst in his popular noontime program last month. Fellow Kapamilya talent Jobert Sucaldito’s alleged non-stop criticisms of “Wowowee” have reportedly triggered his outburst.

Contract obligations

During his public outburst last month, Revillame demanded that the network fire Sucaldito, and if the management would not do so, he threatened to leave the network.

Revillame wrote ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III and president Charo Santos-Concio a letter asking them to release him from his contract. A copy of the letter dated May 12 was leaked to the media.

Both parties then held a meeting to discuss the issue. Later, Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN Corporate Communications, announced the result of the closed-door meeting.

Osorio said: “ABS-CBN and Willie agreed that he takes an indefinite break effective immediately, but his contract obligations with ABS-CBN hold. This disallows him to perform similar work for any person or entity in direct competition with ABS-CBN.”

“Willie has realized his mistake and apologized to ABS-CBN management for his outburst on air in Wowowee on May 4, 2010, and his failure to report to work since May 5, 2010. ABS-CBN management has accepted Willie’s apology,” the network said.

“At some point, ABS-CBN management and Willie will discuss what will be in the best interest of the viewing public. Meanwhile, Wowowee will continue to provide entertainment and inspiration to Filipinos worldwide,” Osorio added.