Did Kris Aquino mean Vilma Santos harm with Instagram post?

By: 10 years ago

Photo from Kris Aquino’s Instagram account

MANILA, Philippines—Did TV host-actress Kris Aquino mean Batangas Governor Vilma Santos harm when she posted on the photo-sharing site Instagram the Star for All Season’s message for her containing misspelled words?

Aquino on Thursday took to her nightly talk show Aquino and Abunda to clarify that she did not mean to humiliate Santos with the photo she shared on her Instagram account.

“Ako I take offense du’n sa nagsasabi na I meant her harm by posting that. I didn’t. You know I’m a fan. You know I’m a Vilmanian,” Aquino said.

“[They] (mistakes) did not bother me. Ako po ‘yung recipient ng card. Kung ako nu’ng binabasa ko, ‘di ko chineck, ‘di ako nagpaka-English teacher du’n sa card na ‘yun (I was the recipient of the card. I did not read it as if I were an English teacher). What touched me [were] the honesty, the sincerity, and the genuine kindness that she showed me,” she added.

She went on to offer a public apology to Santos for the bashing she got from many of Aquino’s Instagram followers.

“I love you, Ate Vi (Santos). I apologize, Ate Vi, du’n sa stress na binigay nito sa iyo (for the stress that this issue gave you). Sinabi ko nga (Like I said), you’re too blessed to be stressed,” Aquino said.

Aquino’s co-host Boy Abunda lamented that some people pay too much attention to the syntax, when the message should be more important.

“For as long as you are able to deliver the message you want for the other person, para sa akin ‘yun ang importante (for me, that is more important),” Abunda said on the show.

On Monday, Aquino posted a photo of the box of ensaymada that Santos sent her. The box of pastries came with a note from Santos that read, “Dearest Kris, Thank you sooo much for believing in me! I truely appreciate it friend…Life is short…Enjoy it—You are so bless. God is good! Smile. I love you!”

Many of Aquino’s followers bashed the two for different reasons—the actress-governor for her “wrong spelling and grammar,” and the host-actress for posting the message even if she had already possibly noticed the flaws in the syntax.

On Tuesday, Aquino posted on her Instagram account Santos’ reaction to the criticisms she got from the presidential sister’s followers.

“Hi Kris…I am being bashed because of your post. Hahaha. I guess marami pa akong dapat matutunan. I take all of these as constructive criticisms. Tao lang; nagkakamali. Sa mga bashers…Salamat po..Again, thanks for believing in me. Until next time…,” Santos said in a text message which was screen captured by Aquino.

(Hi Kris…I am being bashed because of your Instagram post. Hahaha. I guess I still have to learn a lot. I take all of these as constructive criticisms. I am just human, I make mistakes. To my bashers, thank you. Again, thanks for believing in me. Until next time.)

Many of Aquino’s followers defended Santos amid her mistakes, saying her grammatical flaws were no big deal. Santos’ ex-husband Edu Manzano and close friend Ai-Ai delas Alas also came to her defense.