Image: Instagram/@michaelleyva_
If there is one thing Kris Aquino considers as the greatest gift her latest movie “Crazy Rich Asians” has given her, it is how the film gave her the opportunity to make Filipinos “feel good about ourselves.”
The Queen of All Media uploaded a photo of the back of the gown she wore as Princess Intan in the Hollywood film. The photo of the yellow gown created by Dubai-based fashion designer Michael Cinco was uploaded via Instagram yesterday, Aug. 8.
“I chose this picture as my last post before we fly home because for the rest of my life I shall look back at the experience of being part of @crazyrichasians [Crazy Rich Asians] as a turning point,” wrote Aquino.
“I felt when auditioning for this that there was absolutely nothing left to lose [and] whether I was included or not — I gave it my very best,” she said.
She then said that her experience during the Hollywood premiere made her see the greatest gift the film provided her with. “[Seeing] the proud, smiling faces of all our fellow Filipino Americans lining Hollywood Boulevard made me realize that the greatest gift this movie gave me was that it gave me that special opportunity to make us Filipinos feel good about ourselves and our contribution to the global workforce.”
“There’s a point in the movie when Rachel (Constance Wu) is told that she would never be ‘enough’ — a part of my heart felt that many of us at one point in our lives have all been made to feel that,” Aquino said.
She credited the team of Filipinos for her Hollywood look, noting that each of the people hailed from different parts of the Philippines. For her look in the premiere, Michael Leyva created her gown in Rizal, her jewelry came from Cebu and her hair and makeup team had roots in different provinces. Similarly, her appearance in the movie was thanks to dedicated Filipino stylists and makeup artists.
With their concerted effort, as well as the many fans in the premiere, she said, “I felt we [Filipinos] are special because iba ang Filipino pag sumuporta at magmahal (Filipinos are exceptional when they support and love).”
‘Yellow is a representation of my mom and dad’
Of course, netizens were quick to react to the photo of her gown in the movie. One fan asked if Aquino was responsible for choosing her wardrobe in her scenes in the film. Aquino replied that she was, but “they” — perhaps the film’s staff — suggested the color palette of the clothes she would wear.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@krisaquino
Another fan humorously commented on her yellow gown, saying, “The anti-dilawans (anti-Yellows) are shaking.” Aquino responded by saying that the color yellow represents the legacy of her parents which her brother, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III carried on.
“I am proud of the fact that regardless of the demolition job being done to undermine the legacy of my parents — in the United States of America, the country where as a 9-year-old I learned the value of freedom and democracy — I proudly got to wear something to honor them,” she wrote.
Aquino’s father, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. staunchly opposed martial law in the country. After being imprisoned for his views, he went to the US on a self-imposed exile along with his family where he remained to be critical of the Marcos government. The yellow ribbon was used to symbolize Ninoy’s return from exile — and it seemed Kris paid tribute to this with the “prominent” yellow ribbon in her gown for the premiere.
She described the ribbon as “a lasting, meaningful symbol of sacrifice and the Filipino worth dying for, fighting for, and living for.”
Aquino also revealed that she got tired of avoiding wearing yellow gowns and formal wear; after all, it is her right to wear whatever color she wants to. She candidly added that color yellow complements her fair skin.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@krisaquino
One fan asked Aquino why she was not included in the group photo of the “Crazy Rich Asians” cast. The Queen of All Media said she was too shy to intrude and that she was occupied with talking to the Filipino-Americans who went to the Hollywood premiere of the movie to support her.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@krisaquino
In another post, Aquino shared that she is on her way back home with her two sons and her team.
“Crazy Rich Asians” is slated to hit Philippine cinemas on Aug. 22. NVG
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