• Kris Aquino is a Filipino TV host, businesswoman, actress and producer
• She has appeared in close to 50 movies and TV series, including the mystery horror thriller movie “Feng Shui 2”
• She has six producing credits, and is the owner of several businesses
• She has won four of her nine award nominations, including a FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress
• She is the highest-paid talk-show host in the Philippines and has an estimated net worth of over $10 million.
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Who is Kris Aquino?
Filipino TV host, businesswoman, actress and producer Kristina Bernadette ‘Kris’ Cojuangco Aquino was born in Quezon City, the Philippines, on 14 February 1971, so her zodiac sign’s Aquarius. She’s appeared in close to 50 movies and TV series, and is perhaps known best for playing the lead character Joy Ramirez in the 2014 mystery horror thriller movie “Feng Shui 2”, written and directed by Chito S. Rono, and which also starred Coco Martin and Cherry Pie Picache. It follows Lester who’s found a mysterious mirror, and former owner of the mirror Joy who has to find Lester and help him fight its curse; the movie won two of its 25 award nominations.
Education and early life
Kris was raised in Quezon City alongside four older siblings, by their father Benigno Aquino Jr. who was a senator when Ferdinand Marcos was President of the Philippines, and mother Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino was also a politician. Kris’ brother Benigno S. Aquino III was the President of the Philippines from 2010 through 2016; her father was arrested when she was a baby, and she and her siblings were then raised by their mother. Kris is the niece of Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco, Jr. who was a congressman and President of the Philippine Olympic Committee, and is a cousin of Filipino equestrienne and actress Mikaela Maria Antonia ‘Mikee’ de los Reyes Cojuangco-Jaworski.
Kris attended a local elementary school in the US, as her family was in exile – her father was murdered at Manila International Airport when she was 12, which led to Kris moving back to the Philippines, where she attended numerous rallies against the regime. She was 15 when the Philippine Revolution removed Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. from his 21 years long regime, and Kris then focused on other things, including acting and appearing in talk-shows.
She completed her elementary education from the Poveda Learning Center, and matriculated from Colegio San Agustin-Makati in 1989.
Roles in movies
Kris’ debut film role was playing Dida in the 1990 comedy “Pipo Dida: Sabay Tayo”, and some of her following roles were in the fantasy comedy “Happy Ghost V”, the action family adventure “Darna” and the horror comedy “Shake Rattle & Roll III”, all released in 1991.
The year 1994 saw her star as Elsa Castillo in the crime drama “The Elsa Castillo Story… Ang Katotohanan”, directed by Laurice Guillen, and which also starred Eric Quizon and Miguel Rodriguez. It follows Elsa who’s cheating on her husband Fred Castillo with her boss Ted Boorman, and the movie was nominated for a FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actor (Miguel Rodriguez). Some of Kris’ most notable performances in the remainder of the decade were in the 1994 crime drama “The Fatima Buen Story”, the 1995 romantic drama “Saan ako Nagkamali” and the 1998 action fantasy “Hiwaga ng Panday”.
In 2003, she played the lead character Diana Rivero in the romantic action “You and Me Against the World”, written and directed by Jose N. Carreon, and which also starred Robin Padilla and Elizabeth Burton; it follows a former convict who’s running away from his old gang’s members, while the only person whom he can trust seems to be his doctor. Kris could then have been seen starring in the 2004 romantic comedy “So… Happy Together”, the 2006 horror thriller “Sukob”, and the 2009 drama “Mano po 6: A Mother’s Love”.
The year 2013 saw Kris play Dr. Leng in the comedy “Bromance: My Brother’s Romance”, written and directed by Wenn V. Deramas, and which starred Zanjoe Marudo, Cristine Reyes and Arlene Muhlach. It follows the lives of twin brothers Brando and Brandy, one of whom is gay.
Kris’ three most recent movie roles have been in the 2015 romantic family drama “All You Need Is Pag-ibig”, the comedy “I Love You, Hater” and the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians” both in 2018.
Roles in TV series
Kris’ debut TV series role was playing a supporting character in the 1994 episode “Paru-paro” of the romantic biographical drama “Maalaala Mo Kaya”, and then later appeared in the series’ 1997 episode “Lens Cap” and the 2002 episode “Lapida”.
In 2004 and 2005, Kris starred as Diana Benipayo in all the 223 episodes of the romantic drama “Hiram”, created by Henry King Quitain, and which also starred Dina Bonnevie and Heart Evangelista. It follows Hiram who’s fallen in love with a boy, while her family disapproves of their relationship.
In 2010, Kris played the main character Celine Crisanto in all 121 episodes of the action “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo”, and this remains her most recent TV series role.
Other credits
Kris received special thanks for the 2010 drama movie “Noy”, and the 2011 comedy film “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay”.
She has six producing credits, which include the 2013 comedy movies “Instant Mommy” and “My Little Bossings”, and the 2014 mystery horror thriller film “Feng Shui 2”.
Some of Kris’ recent talk-show appearances have been in “Kris TV” (host), “Gandang Gabi Vice” and “The Ryzza Mae Show”.
Awards and nominations
Kris has won four of her nine award nominations. She won a 2003 FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance in “Mano Po”, and two Golden Screen TV Awards, Philippines for Outstanding Lifestyle Program Host in 2013 and 2014, for “Kris TV”; she also won a 2022 Entertainment Editors’ Choice Isah V. Red Award.
Other work
Kris is the owner of multiples businesses, including the flower shop Roberto Antonio, the Mexican restaurant Sencillo, and another restaurant Lena.
She’s a co-owner of the boutique MAD and the company Sierra Madre Water.
Kris is the owner of fast food stores Nacho Bimby (also known as Potato Corner), Chowking and Jollibee.
She’s the executive editor of the bi-monthly magazine “K! The Kris Aquino Magazine”.
Kris has been running her TV and film production company Kris Aquino Productions since 2013.
Love life and husband
In the first half of the ‘90s, Kris was in a relationship with famous Filipino actor Phillip Mikael ‘Ipe’ Reyes Salvador, and gave birth to their son Joshua Salvador on 3 June 1995.
From 2001 through 2003, she was in a relationship with Filipino actor and comedian Joselito Perez Marquez, but they split after Kris revealed that she’d contracted an STD from him.
She married Filipino professional basketball player James Carlos Agravante Yap Sr. on 10 July 2005, and their son James Carlos Aquino Yap, Jr. was born in April 2007. Kris and James separated in 2010, and their marriage was annulled in February 2012.
She revealed in October 2021 that she and Filipino former politician Mel Senen Sevilla Sarmiento had become engaged, but they called it off in January 2022.
Kris seems to be single as of January 2023, has been married once, and has a son with former husband James Carlos Agravante Yap Sr, as well as another son with former boyfriend Philip Mikael ‘Ipe’ Reyes Salvador.
Hobbies and interesting facts
Kris is the highest-paid talk-show host in the Philippines.
She and James kept their marriage a secret, and Kris only revealed it close to a year after the ceremony, on 5 April 2006. She suffered two miscarriages while married to James.
Kris is an Instagram star, as she’s followed by close to five million people on the social media network, and has posted more than 600 pictures and videos.
She’s passionate about traveling, and has been around the world.
Kris is a philanthropist, and has volunteered with a number of charity organizations aiming to help underprivileged children.
She enjoys watching Hollywood movies in her spare time – her favorite actress is Julia Roberts, while some of her favorite movies include “Eat Pray Love”, Ben Is Back” and “Mona Lisa Smile”.
Health update
In 2018, Kris was diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticarial, and revealed in May 2022 that she’d developed a life-threatening condition, suffering from vasculitis and autoimmune thyroiditis. Most recently, in June 2022, she revealed that she was suffering from the extremely rare autoimmune condition eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Height, eyes and wealth
Kris’ age is 51. She has brown eyes and hair, is 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall and weighs about 100lbs (45kgs).
Kris’ net worth’s been estimated at over $10 million, as of January 2023.
