“Masaya na ako at sana masaya na rin siya.”
Straight to the point, straight from the heart. With that statement, James Yap formally moves on after his five-year tumultuous marriage to Kris Aquino was annulled by the court last January but officially announced only Friday last week, reported as a scoop by The STAR.
In his first exclusive no-holds-barred interview as a single man again conducted at the law offices of his lawyer Lorna Kapunan at The Fort, James was relaxed and uncharacteristically talkative, jokingly asking, “Is that all?” after fielding questions he would have normally evaded.
“After the decision came out,” continued James who is turning 30 on Wednesday, Feb. 15, a day after his ex-wife turns 41, “okey na kami ni Kris. Nagkukuwentuhan na kami ng maayos. There’s no choice. We have a son (James Jr., whom Kris fondly calls Bimby but James would rather call him Baby James). We are better friends now. The last time we talked, may concern pa nga siya sa akin. She told me na malas daw ako this year because it’s the Year of the Dragon and I’m a Dog. Sabi n’ya, dapat daw magpa-bless ako d’un sa temple sa Cebu.”
Teased if they’re planning a joint birthday-cum-Valentine celebration as friends, James blushed, “They won’t be here!” (Kris texted Funfare that she and sons Joshua and Bimby are again taking a short vacation in another Asian city after spending a weekend in Hong Kong recently.)
Since they broke up in mid-2010, only several days before Kris’ Kuya Noynoy took his oath of office as the 15th President of the Philippines, James insisted that he hasn’t had a girlfriend (that he has been “celibate”) even if he was linked to some girls, two of them Grace Lee who has been announcing to the whole wide world that Pres. Noynoy is courting/dating her and Isabel Oli who is also Visayan (from Cebu) like James (from Negros Occidental).
Kris herself has been linked to some men, including Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay (“He’s just a friend,” said Kris), Sen. Chiz Escudero (himself separated from his wife Tintin, “Also just a friend”) and Diether Ocampo (“Another friend”). She’s starring in Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, a new ABS-CBN teleserye with Robin Padilla with whom Kris was falsely rumored to have eloped years ago when they were both single. Kris said that she’s game for a torrid kissing scene with Robin, and so is he, prompting the movie press to speculate that the old flame between them might be rekindled. But Robin’s wife Mariel Rodriguez is resting assured that that wouldn’t happen (kaya?).
“Ako, huwag na muna girlfriend-girlfriend,” said James, “focus muna ako sa paglalaro (ng basketball) at kay Baby James who is fast growing up at mahilig nang makipag-usap.”
Then he clarified the rumors linking him to Isabel and Grace.
“Si Isabel kaibigan ko lang talaga, hindi kaibig-gan. We are both Visayan so we became friends.”
And Grace (linked to him last year)?
“We happened to patronize the same salon in Makati. Never ko siyang na-meet, never kaming nag-Hi! Or nagka-salubong, I didn’t have her phone number, so nagulat na lang ako na may ganoong tsismis na lumabas. Then one time, I was at a bar with my friends and she was also there. Ipinakilala kami sa isa’t-isa ng isang friend ko. I told her, ‘Finally, na-meet na kita’.”
How does he react to reports that Grace is now dating Pres. Noynoy?
“Okey lang, pareho naman silang single. The work of a president is very hard so he must also have time to relax. Dapat mayroon din siyang inspirasyon.”
The court granted Kris custody of Bimby and James visitation rights even if while the annulment case was pending, Kris already allowed Bimby to spend time with James anytime. But James has yet to bring Bimby to his home province.
“Maybe when he grows older,” said James.
Along with Joshua, Bimby is used to his parents living apart.
“But sometimes, when Baby James is with me he asks me so many questions that are hard to answer. Nagtatanong siya, ‘Bakit ka nandito; bakit wala ka sa bahay natin?’ He’s too young to understand the situation. Paglaki niya, maiintindihan din n’ya.”
If ever he thought of loving again, what qualities would he want in a woman?
“It’s important that we get to know each other very well. Kung magkasundo kami, eh, di okey. ‘Yon lang. At siempre, dapat mabait siya.”
Would it matter if she’s a celebrity or an ordinary woman?
“It doesn’t matter. Hindi natin alam. Pero better siguro kung non-showbiz.”
Looking back at his failed marriage, James said that he doesn’t regret anything.
“Kris and I had happy times together, so wala akong pinagsisihin. Hindi lang talaga kami para sa isa’t-isa…habang buhay. Things happened so fast. That’s why I said that if ever mag-girlfriend uli ako, dapat kilalanin muna naming mabuti ang isa’t-isa.”
Asked if he was a good husband, James readily answered, “Yes!”
And was Kris a good wife?
“Ahhhhh…oo…oo naman!”
But he was, he is, definitely a good father to Bimby and Joshua just as Kris is a good mother to the kids.
“Napamahal na rin ako kay Josh who is now almost as tall as I am. Everytime na dumadalaw ako sa kanila, he would tell me, ‘Tito James, drive tayo!’ So we would drive around. Or we would stroll holding hands or magka-akbay. I love him like my own son. I’m happy na okey ‘yung dalawang bata sa akin.”
In the meantime, while keeping his love life on hold, James is staying by his lonesome at a condo unit at The Fort, with only a driver for company. He said he orders meals by delivery from nearby restaurants.
According to a Funfare VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent), from his and Kris’ amicable out-of-court settlement, James got a condo unit at One Legaspi in Makati City, one unit at Serendra and another property at Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal, plus several millions.
James neither denied nor confirmed it.
“I am just a simple man,” he said.
(Note: For more on James Yap, tune in to the Valentine episode of Startalk at 2:30 this afternoon after Eat, Bulaga! Other features include Gov. Vilma Santos on her and husband Sen. Ralph Recto’s enduring romance, and Dr. Vicki Belo and her beloved Hayden Kho’s wedding plans.)
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.) - FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
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