Ni REGGEE BONOAN

TUWING umaalis ng bansa si Kris Aquino kasama ang mga anak na sina Josh at Bimby ay lagi nilang kasama ang Yaya Bincai ng huli. Kung minsan, may ibang staff pa silang nakakasama.

Nitong halos dalawang linggong bakasyon nila sa New York, kasama ulit si Yaya Bincai at ewan naman kung bakit may kati-katerang follower si Kris na nangkuwestiyon sa pagiging boss niya. Sa unang pagkakataon na sa rami ng lakad ng mag-iina, ngayon lang may nang-urirat kung nagpapasuweldo ba siya ng tama. Nakakapika man ang banat ng nangkuwestiyon, sinagot naman ito ni Kris ng maayos.

“Bincai is your household staff,” simula ng kati-katerang follower. “Do you pay her at least $10.50/hr which is the minimum wage in NYC? Per labor law beyond 40 hrs is time and a half. My Q (question) is not even whether you can afford, but of course you can. My question is are you required to abide? #curious&nosy?”

Ito ang sagot ni Kris: “I saw those papers when we applied for her US Visa, fyi her 10 year multiple entry visa is attached to mine & I am her guarantor. I’m a very fair boss & I’m feeling the negativity from you so this will be long.

“Bincai flew business class with us, I gave her clothing allowance before we flew here so she’d be prepared for the cold & I gave her a lot of my sweaters because lucky for her we are the same size. Upon arriving here, Bincai had the $ salary as stipulated in the contract I signed with her to present to the US Embassy as a supporting document.

“I am offended by your question because there is an implication that it is intended to make me appear like a clueless & selfish employer -- so I shall add more details.

“Staff at home received their 13th month pay in June, we deposit in their ATM account their salary every 10th -- but because my sons & I left, everybody received their salary 10 days in advance. Those working for us for 1 year or more will receive their 14th month pay this November.

“Your insinuations were insulting BUT I’ve always believed when the truth is on my side I should be vocal in defending my dignity. Being nosy about other people’s financial practices in my opinion isn’t proper especially when you just want to bring me down.

“I was also nosy & checked your account although it is on private but there were details for someone who is a clinical coordinator in Yale New Haven Health the type of comment you sent my way seemed to be a bad match for someone in a position that requires trust and discretion.”

Nakilala namin nang personal si Kris 14 years ago nu’ng ilapit siya sa amin ng dati niyang manager na si Deo T. Endrinal (ABS-CBN-Dreamscape Entertainment unit head) dahil nga isa kami sa mga pumupuna sa kanya noong kainitan niya sa telebisyon at pelikula.

Simula 2010 naman ay nakatrabaho namin siya, kaya kami na ang magpapatunay na isa siyang mahusay at responsableng boss, sa household staff man niya o sa opisina, damay na rin ang mga nakatrabaho niya sa mga programa niya sa ABS-CBN bago siya umalis, at kaibigan.

Obedient sa batas si Kris lalo na pagdating sa pasuweldo sa lahat at totoo ang sinasabi niya, bukod sa 13th at 14th month pay ay may benefits pa, SSS, Medicare, Philhealth at kung anu-ano pa. Ang pinaka-exciting, bukod sa maayos at malaking pasahod, bonus at benefits ay bumabaha rin ang mga regalo sa kanila ng mama nina Josh at Bimby. Generous na boss si Kris, kulang pa bang pruweba na pati nga pagpapakasal ng staff ginagastusan niya?

Na-offend si Kris dahil kinukuwestiyon nga naman kung anong klaseng amo siya, at alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi lang boss ang trato niya sa mga staff niya kundi kapamilya at hindi rin sila magtatagal kung hindi siya maayos at matino.

Samantala, malaki ang kinita ng Kris Aquino Pop-Up Charity Bazaar for Pediatric Cancer Patients na ginanap sa Brixton Building, Barangay Kapitolyo Pasig City noong Oktubre 23-26.

Ayon sa post ni Kris nitong Biyernes ng gabi mula sa taga-PGH, “The amount will be spent improving the facilities of pediatric cancer patients in the Cancer Institute of Philippine General Hospital which sees average of 60 patients 3x a week or around 180 patients a week. (I felt all of you should know where funds would be utilized.)”