James Yap (left) and son Bimby Aquino | Image: Instagram/@jamesyap18, @krisaquino
Basketball player-politician James Yap revealed he hasn’t seen his son, James “Bimby” Aquino-Yap in 10 years, but he was tightlipped when asked if he has anything to say to his son.
Bimby, who is planning to join show business like his mother, Queen of Talk Kris Aquino, is said to be toying with the idea of dropping his last name and use only the nickname he has been given.
Speaking to reporters during the filing of his certificate of candidacy as reelectionist councilor of San Juan City, Yap said that he has lost communication with Bimby, especially since the latter joined his mother in California in the United States to seek treatment for her autoimmune diseases.
“No more. It’s been 10 years, but that’s okay,” Yap told reporters when asked if he has been in touch with Bimby.
The PBA legend also refused to say more when asked how Bimby shows support for his candidacy or if he has any message for his son, saying, “No, it’s okay, thank you.”
In June 2023, Yap told in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Bimby reached out to him after eight years.
“I’m super happy to hear from Bimb after eight years. I’ve been praying for this day to come. I’ve missed Bimb so much! It’s the best Father’s Day gift ever,” he shared at the time.
The following month, Aquino revealed via Instagram that Bimby made her proud for his initiative to “rebuild his relationship” with his dad.
“Yesterday [on] Father’s Day, my bunso (youngest child) made me proud. He’s had the number to contact for almost a week, and the reluctance was so real, yet he took the first step towards rebuilding a relationship that I know will require some time to repair. The most important thing is that he made the move,” she wrote at the time.
“I don’t want it to be said that I am stopping Bimb. My own childhood was fatherless because of martial law, so why would I subject my bunso to the same fate?” she further said. “From the time Bimb was 8, he had the freedom to decide… Now at 16, I told him, ‘When someone reaches out after 7 years and there’s a chance for peace, then everyone wins.’”
Aquino and Yap had a civil wedding in 2005 before welcoming Bimby two years later. The former couple separated in 2010, and their marriage was annulled two years later.
The actress-host has another son, Joshua, from a previous relationship. She recently revealed that she is dating a doctor. Meanwhile Yap is with Michela Cazzola, with whom he has two other children.
In September, Aquino and Bimb returned to the Philippines after four years of undergoing treatment in the US, saying she needs the support of her family and friends in the Philippines in the next chapter of her health journey, where she is set to be introduced to a new treatment that may affect her internal organs, especially her heart.