Kris Aquino has every right to get upset with exes together in one photo

Without thinking of the consequences, Marc Leviste, Robin Padilla and Phillip Salvador merrily posed for pictures – just the three of them. Yes, it was a rare opportunity for them to be photographed together. But it was done at Kris Aquino’s expense. Kris obviously feels betrayed. Posing together for a photo with each one of them knowing their common denominator was really in bad, bad taste.

With Kris Aquino, you do not know where you stand. She may be chummy-chummy with you now, but indifferent the next.

The first time I met Kris was when I was just a few months into my career as a television reviewer for the Philippine Star. She had requested for an interview and I obliged right away because she was very hot copy that time. The truth is, she is always hot copy – anything she does is news.

A year later, she came to my house to interview me for her baby thesis. She was in college that time – at the Ateneo.

Dropping by my place was no sweat for her because our house was in a street that was sandwiched between Ateneo and Miriam College. It was a trip that took no more than 10 minutes because Katipunan traffic wasn’t that horrible yet.

Since her mother was still President, she came with a barrage of security men. Her arrival wasn’t exactly welcomed by the neighborhood because most of them were politicians from the rival party.

Kris and I were constantly in touch after that – via landline. She’d invite me to her extra-curricular activities in Ateneo – including one where she came out in a play cast as a house help. Although her performance wasn’t worthy of a Tony Award, she wasn’t bad in that stage presentation.

When she embraced showbiz full-time, I felt she was extra sweet to me. Maybe because she knew I was supportive of her acting career.

The word “bash” in those days had a physically violent meaning, unlike today when it is used by keyboard warriors who have nothing better to do in life than give unsolicited opinions regarding matters that do not concern them. Of course, bash can also be used positively – like “throw a birthday bash.”

Kris’ acting on TV and in the movies then wasn’t “bashed.” It was “criticized” or “panned” by her detractors.

However, I’ve always maintained that Kris is capable of delivering a fine performance when handled and guided by a good director. It was the Gawad Urian that first gave her an acting nomination – for Mario O’Hara’s The Fatima Buen Story.

The film swept the awards that year: picture, director, screenplay, cinematography, editing, sound and the best supporting actor trophy for John Regala. But Kris was ecstatic over her nomination for best actress.

Years later, I was very happy for her best supporting actress win for the first edition of Mano Po at the Metro Manila Film Festival. It was a very well-deserved award. Her performance was well-tempered there.

On some occasions, Kris would invite me to dinner and it was in those meals that I got to be very fond of Josh. He was chubby and cute and was generally a well-behaved kid. I remember he loved to eat water spinach or “kangkong.”

But as a broadcaster who took his job seriously, I decided to still maintain a distance not only with Kris, but with other celebrities as well, save for Toni Rose Gayda because her mother, Rosa Rosal, took charge of me when my mom migrated to America when I was still rather young.

As much as possible, I avoid deep friendships with public figures so that I don’t lose my perspective every time I do a story on them. I do know, however, that Kris considered me a friend.

And then one evening, I caught an episode of GMA’s Kool Ka Lang. The sitcom’s original title was Jack, Kool Ka Lang, but mercifully, the Jack in the title was eventually dropped.

Kool Ka Lang was a hit-and-miss affair. There were episodes that were funny, but most of the time, it was a waste of time watching it.

In one edition, the guest star was Phillip Salvador. Since one of the mainstays was Joey Marquez, throwing ex-flame Phillip in there proved to be an event. This was a few years after the much-ballyhooed Kris-Joey affair.

The plot of that episode had Joey and Phillip fighting over a sword – okay, a “kris,” that beautifully crafted weapon with a wavy blade. Here’s a sample of their dialogue. Joey: “Akin ang kris na ‘to!” To that, Phillip responded: “Hindi! Akin ang kris na ‘to!”

One didn’t have to be malicious to figure out that the “kris” stood for Kris Aquino. Maybe I was being insensitive, but I found the whole episode funny and gave the show a positive review.

The day my column came out, I got a tersely-worded text message from Kris. She was upset with my review. Although I didn’t say anything nasty about her, she was disappointed that I found that edition of Kool Ka Lang to be amusing.

I quickly texted her back and apologized to her. It was too late when I realized how the show was so unfair to have capitalized on her heartbreaks.

I still bow my head in shame recalling how I was inconsiderate of Kris’ feelings. But I learned my lesson well. How could I not learn my lesson when the next time I saw Kris at an event, she gave me dagger looks? I felt every part of my body being sliced every time she looked my way.

Months passed and Kris and I were okay again. Apparently, she had already forgiven me because she was sweet to me again. But if I have to say sorry again, I won’t hesitate to do it once more because what I did to her was rather inconsiderate from my end.

And then, last week, I saw her post about how she was so upset with Marc Leviste again for posting a photo of him together with Kris’ two other exes – Phillip Salvador and Robin Padilla. Obviously, the three men saw each other last August during the 50^th anniversary of the Pentecostal Missionary Church at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac. Without thinking of the consequences, they merrily posed for pictures – just the three of them.

Whoever thought of putting together those three men for a photo-op is a jerk. And those three supposedly mature men deserve a spanking for agreeing to be photographed together.

Yes, it was a rare opportunity for them to be photographed together. But it was done at Kris’ expense.

Decades ago, when that exploitative episode of Kool Ka Lang was aired, maybe I would have found it interesting to see Marc, Phillip and Robin in one picture together. But I’ve matured since then and I’d like to think that I’m now more considerate of other people’s feelings.

Apparently, Marc, Phillip and Robin have yet to grow up. To think that two of them are in public service.

Kris obviously feels betrayed. Surely, a feeling of paranoia engulfs her at the moment and she can’t be blamed. Did they compare notes? Did they discuss the times they had with her? She has every right to get upset with that photo.

Posing together for a photo with each one of them knowing their common denominator was really in bad, bad taste.