GRATEFUL and happy si Kris Aquino sa iginawad na Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award sa kanya ng Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) sa kanilang 2019 Star Awards for TV.

Ginanap ang awards night sa Henry Lee Irwin Theater ng Ateneo de Manila University nitong nakaraang Linggo ng gabi at ang kanyang mga anak na sina Joshua at Bimby ang tumanggap sa maituturing na isa sa pinakamalaking parangal na ipinagkaloob sa kanya.

Dahil noong Sabado ng umaga, isang araw bago ginanap ang awarding rites, lumipad papuntang Singapore si Kris para sa madaliang check-up.

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Unti-unti nang bumabalik ang kalusugan ni Kris pagkaraan ng tuluy-tuloy na gamutan. Katunayan, super okay na ang lahat pagkagaling niya ng Japan, Bangkok at Boracay, pero biglang may fatigue at body pains siyang naramdaman simula two weeks ago.

Last Friday ko natanggap ang message ni Kris na sina Joshua at Bimby ang dadalo sa Star Awards dahil kailangan niyang sumailalim ng emergency check-up sa Singapore.

“Bimb was asking if you’ll be in PMPC, I wrote his speech and we read through it last night... I’m still weak, tomorrow morning ang lipad namin for Singapore, Monday morning all my tests,” sabi niya.

Mas madalas na ako ngayon sa inaasikaso kong farm sa Bicol pero sa samahan namin ni Kris, hindi na kailangan ng diretsahang request, madali kaming nagkakaintindihan.

Siya ang anak kong panganay, sabi mismo niya, dahil sadyang ganito ang turingan namin. So, kinailangang lumuwas ang “lolo” para samahan ang mga bata.

Ito ang post ni Kris mula sa Singapore habang naghahanda kami sa bahay nila sa Green Meadow:

“There’s grooming & styling going on at home. Thanks for taking care of Kuya Josh & Bimb @kimiyap and @jonathanvelasco__ ... @bincailuntayao & @alvingagui are with me, early tests tomorrow here in SG but Tin from @cornerstone, @rochelleahorro & kuya @dindo.m.balares are making sure the 2 will be at the PMPC Awarding tonight.

I was the makulit stage mom earlier, ka-FaceTime ko si Bimb and pinag-practice ko siya ng acceptance speech and watching him, I felt super proud.

“These 2 boys have been through everything with me and sila ang pinakamalaking BLESSING na binigay ni God sa ‘kin... Tama po kayo whenever you tell me COMPLETE na po ang buhay ko because I have their LOVE. #family”

Magkakasabay kaming umalis ng bahay papuntang Ateneo. Magkatabi kami ni Bimby ng upuan at nasa likod naman si Josh katabi sina Yaya Gerbel at Tin Calawod.

Tipikal na 12 years old kid si Bimby, makuwento at makulit sa napakaraming tanong tungkol sa mga bagay na gustong malaman, at napakagalang. Si Josh, bihirang magsalita pero na-reveal agad ang pagiging caring nang iabot sa akin ang seatbelt mula sa likuran.

Nang tanungin ko, walang kaba si Bimb pag-alis namin ng bahay, pero habang papasok na kami ng Ateneo campus, “It just sits in pala!” sabing tawa nang tawa, tinutukoy ang kaba na biglang naramdaman.

Binanggit ko na ang grandfather niyang si Ninoy, mahusay mag-speech, walang binabasa, tuluy-tuloy, at captivated ang audience. Ang Mama Kris niya, ganoon din.

Sa naging sagot, na-reveal tuloy sa akin ang future plans ni Bimby para sa sarili. Hindi career sa showbiz o sa politics ang pinaghahandaan niya kundi corporate world. Gusto niyang maging businessman, posibleng sa linya ng stocks o advertising.

“Just let the genes takeover, anyway, pag-akyat ninyo ni Kuya sa stage mamaya,” sabi ko.

“Oh, yeah! That’s what I need!” natawang sabi.

Maayos na nai-deliver ni Bimb ang speech na inihanda nila ng kanyang Mama Kris. Naririto:

“Our mom wanted to be here with all of you tonight to thank you for choosing her to receive the Ading Fernando Memorial award. She wanted me to tell you that John En Marsha which one of Mr. Fernando’s masterpieces was something very special for her and my Lolo. The few Christmas nights they were all allowed to stay with him in Fort Bonifacio was in her memory -- so much like a real life John En Marsha -- that was the magic of TV that may Lolo’s prison cell could be transformed for my mom into her favorite sitcom.

“TV was very good to my mom and to our family. I was already on Game KNB, Deal or No Deal, and The Buzz even before I was born. But she has taught me that all we had and all we have has come from the goodwill of the people and our willingness to stay honest and authentic.

“And that means having an open minded relationship with members of the press because the lives of ky grandparents were dedicated to fighting for freedom, and that means respecting each other even when we have different opinions.

“But the one thing we can all share is gratitude. Maraming salamat po sa karangalan na ibinahagi ng PMPC sa pinakamamahal namin ni Kuya Josh, ang Mama namin.”

Tinanong ni Bimb si Josh kung may gusto itong sabihin at inilapit sa bibig nito ang mic.

“Maraming-maraming salamat po. I love you po!” sabi ng nakatatandang kapatid sa audience.