“AY WALA akong ii-invite (na mga kaibigan at miyembro ng kanilang pamilya) kasi ililibre ko pa sila, kailangan lahat magbayad sa opening day! Iri-require ko lahat magbabayad,” tumatawang sabi ni Kris Aquino sa Chowking launch sa kanya bilang kanilang ‘empress’ at franchisee.

Sa Nobyembre 28, 2014 na ang opening ng Chowking branch ni Kris kasosyo ang kaibigang si Dominic Hernandez sa ground floor ng Alimall, Cubao, Quezon City.

Sa “The Empress Royal Banquet” ma ipinag-imbita ng ChowKing sa White Space, Makati kahapon, binanggit ni Kris na fried chicken ng nasabing fast food chain ang pinakapaborito niya.

“In our shoot, siguro kung hindi ako nasarapan, I spit the chicken in 72 times, kasi 72 times akong kinunan, but I swear I never spit, kasi nasarapan talaga ako, hindi ako naumay.

“After that, the next commercial shoot is the siopao, hindi talaga ako mahilig sa siopao, pero nu’ng natikman ko ‘yung Chowking asado siopao, again na-realize ko, I miss something, again, I love siopao na,” kuwento ng Queen of All Media.

Gustung-gusto rin ni Kris ang butchi at sa katunayan ay ito ang comfort food niya, habang umiinom siya ng kape.

“Sometimes ‘pag pagod ka kasi taping ka all day, I like it with a cup of coffee.”

Samantala, nakapagdesisyon si Kris na mag-umpisa nang maging entrepreneur o magtayo ng negosyo noong kausapin siya ng kanyang kaibigan-confidante/manager na si Boy Abunda nang nagkasakit ito.

“’Kris,’” kuwento ng TV host/actress na sabi ni Boy sa kanya, “we have to prepare, kasi ang puhunan natin katawan natin and if we don’t show up for work, ang problema wala tayong suweldo. Kailangan talaga may mga negosyo na tayo.’”

At inamin ni Kris na ang ipinangbili niya ng franchise ng Chowking ay ang kinita niya sa pelikulang My Little Bossing noong nakaraang taon, bilang co-producer ni Vic Sotto.

“Oo, umikot lang ‘yung pera, it’s my first venture na hindi entertainment related,” kuwento niya.

Nagiging realistic si Kris dahil ang kontrata niya sa ABS-CBN ay hanggang 2016 na lang.

“Magiging realistic ka talaga, at parati kong sinasabi sa mga kapatid ko, sa mga anak ko, na by the time na dumating ang 2016, grabe na rin ‘yung run that I have, I’ve been 30 years, so kung doon matatapos, a new chapter of my life na rin ang magbubukas, okay din.

“Pero kung puwede pang magpatuloy, okay din naman. Pero gusto ko rin naman talaga to make sure na mayroon ding naipundar to take care of my two sons, because Bimb will be nine years old and alam naman ng lahat that Josh need life long care, so this is the start.

“Importante na ang pasukin kong negosyo – kasi, di ba, you hear so many artista na pumasok sa negosyo na hindi naalagaan kasi hindi namin expertise ‘yun, expertise namin mga sarili namin – ito, (ChowKing), this is a welcome opportunity for me kasi naramdaman ko na meron na silang proven na parang formula for success. Secondly, I trust them, nagustuhan ko ‘yung mga tao behind the brand. And third, I trust my partner,” klaradong kuwento ni Kris kung bakit siya bumili ng franchise.

Labis-labis naman ang pasasalamat ng mga bossing ng ChowKing kay Kris dahil bukod tanging siya lang ang endorser nila na bumili ng sariling franchise.

Sabi ng presidente ng Chow King na si Ferns Yu, “The partnership between Kris and Chow King says a lot about the trust and harmony between Kris and the largest network of Chinese restaurants nationwide, an ultimate testament of support, a clear indication that the relationship is not just for commercials.

“The union commenced when Kris endorsed some of the fastfood’s Chinese favorites earlier this year, Chinese-style fried chicken and chunky asado siopao. A harmonious partnership

“At present, Chow King currently boasts of over 400 branches in the Philippines. Some of the leading delicious Chinese favorites in their roster are the chinese-style fried chicken, chunky asado siopao, pork chao fan, and the meaty wanton mami.

“We have always served our food to satisfy and energize our customers, keeping in mind that they deserve only the best as a reward for putting in the effort to create better lives every day for themselves and for their loved ones.

“Two thousand fourteen (2014) has been yet another positive year for Chow King. We are aggressively renovating and opening new stores and this move with Kris is one of the best highlights of this endeavor.

“It’s a rare opportunity to have your endorser as a franchisee. Perhaps, there’s really harmony between Kris and the brand.”

On the lighter side, tinanong siya ni Bossing DMB kung magkakaha (cashier) ba siya.

“Hindi, kasi siguradong malulugi ang tindahan, kasi siguradong manglilibre ako,” natawang sagot ng Queen of All Media.