Looking back: The Kris-Robin love affair
MANILA, Philippines- As the song goes, they had the right love at the wrong time. This is what happened to the love story of controversial actress-host Kris Aquino and action star Robin Padilla almost two decades ago.
It was in the early 80`s when Filipinos watched how the youngest daughter of slain senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. captured the hearts of the nation.
Padilla said he first saw Kris during the February 1986 People Power revolution that installed Aquino`s mom, Cory, to the presidency.
"Crush na crush ko talaga si Kris noon. Sabi ko nga ang gandang bata," he told StarStudio magazine.
Padilla finally had the chance to meet Kris when the latter did a TV special "Kris at 18" in 1989. At the time, Padilla was beginning to make a name for himself as an action star and future "Bad Boy of Philippine Movies."
As luck would have it, the action star was invited as a guest in the TV special.
Padilla said he decided to woo Kris by first sending her a love letter.
"Sinulatan ko po yon (si Kris). Nanligaw po ako para kaming naging poor boy-rich girl (na fairy tale plot). It was you and me against the world," he said.
The love affair, however, was controversial from the very beginning. There was talk that then-President Cory Aquino did not want Padilla for her daughter.
Padilla said that he will never forget how Kris fought for their love. The young Aquino even brought Padilla in some events in Malacañang after her mother won the presidency.
At one point, he said Kris even confessed how her family was against their relationship.
"Sabi ni Kris hindi niya kaya. Hindi niya pinaramdam (ang takot) kaya hindi rin ako natakot," Padilla said.
The love affair soon ended with the two parting ways.
Padilla said his addiction to drugs was partly to blame for the end of their relationship.
"Ako ang may kasalanan noon. Adik ako nun. Hindi ko na value ang ginagawa niya (Kris). Nung tapos na, saka ko na-value. Ako ang may diprensiya," he said.