“I can just talk to you for hours,” Kevin Kwan told Kris Aquino when they finally met at SM City Seaside Cebu.
We feel the same way. In fact, we don’t even need to talk to her. We can just listen to Kris talk for hours—which is probably why we’ve spent so much time watching her online videos.
National Book Store had flown Kevin and Kris to Cebu for Kevin’s book signing and Kris, who was hosting the event, was a delight, as always.
“I have missed Cebu so much and it feels so good to be here with Kevin,” Kris said.
It was their first time to meet because when Kris flew to Singapore to shoot her scenes for the movie adaptation of Kevin’s book “Crazy Rich Asians,” Kevin was already in the United States on a book tour to promote “Rich People Problems,” the third and final book in the trilogy. Naturally, the two had a lot to talk about.
“Can I say thank you? I was under a nondisclosure agreement… Hindi ako pwede magsalita about ‘Crazy Rich Asians.’ But since Kevin broke the news, thank you!” said Kris.
Kevin said, “We have to thank Jon Chu, really. He said, Kevin, just say it.”
Kris said, “Jon Chu is the director and really, ang bait bait niya. He was just the nicest.”
Here are some of our favorite Kris moments from the event:
On being the youngest in the family
Kris: We’re the same! Normally the babies are the achievers (laughs). I think not in our family, but we can never tell. There’s still time to catch up.
Shooting ‘Crazy Rich Asians’
Kris: Did you see my scene? (Laughs) Let’s not say. That part we cannot say. But it was really one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.
Tissue, please
Kris: Can I have tissue please? I’m sorry, I’m having allergies because I’m not so used to nature (laughs). Masyadong malinis ang hangin sa Cebu kaya nag-a-allergy ako.
Unlucky in love
Kevin: Astrid, she’s the one who’s lucky in everything but unlucky in love.
Kris: Ouch! (laughs) Ouch! I can identify with that. That’s why my post yesterday… I felt like my flight was just like true love… Apat na oras ’yung delay… Nandun na kami… ready to take off, I said, “This is it, we’re gonna go…” biglang na-stop. Mechanical difficulties daw. We were waiting… And we weren’t saying anything. You’re afraid to ask, right, “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
The best way to get to Cebu
Kris: You flew directly from Hong Kong, right? Now I realize that the quickest way to get to Cebu is fly Manila-Hong Kong, Hong Kong-Cebu. ’Yun na ang gagawin ko from now on.
Trading places
Kris: Where is home?
Kevin: Home is New York.
Kris: I’m so jealous.
Kevin: We should trade ‘coz I love Manila.
Kris: Really? Okay! (laughs)
‘Chismosa’
Kris: Are your brothers married?
Kevin: I have two brothers and, yes, they are married.
Kris: How many nephews and nieces do you have?
Kevin: None.
Kris: Oh. By choice?
Kevin: Yeah. Both my brothers decided not to have kids.
Kris: Parang feeling niya siguro “Chismosa talaga ’tong babaeng ‘to.” (laughs)
When a fly made an appearance onstage
Kris: Okay, nilalangaw ka.
Trying Jollibee
Kris: You said that you had never tried Jollibee?
Kevin: Always wanted to try Jollibee.
Kris: I do have a Jollibee but it hasn’t opened yet, it’s opening in Tarlac by Christmas… But I have two Chowkings. So the crazy rich, I’m trying to reach that. (laughs) I’ll bring you to Jollibee tomorrow but you have to have Chowking Halo-Halo. Do you know what halo-halo is?
Kevin: Absolutely, I love halo-halo.
Kris: Okay, thank you. You have to have that, okay? So I can make a little money.
Not fighting
Kris: All my sisters, they read the first. The said, “Okay, because you’re there we’re buying the second and the third.” So now they all read it and they said, “Krisy, aren’t you glad we’re not fighting? And we’re not fighting about inheritance?” Then I said, “Yeah, thank God.”
