NEWSFLASH

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LIVE TV REUNION: PRINCESS PUNZALAN AND MACHO DANCER BROD

Manila, Oct. 17, 1998 - Talk shows have become regular fare for Manila's TV stations, with movie stars sitting in as talk show hosts during the day and newspaper journalists doing the job for late night shows. Their topics and guests match the hosts and the expected viewership cross sections: show business oriented guests and topics for daytime and heavier stuff (such as politics, the economy, legislation) for the evening shows.

Kris Aquino, whose sudden rise to movie stardom was one of the immediate effects of the EDSA Revolution, has found her niche in the entertainment world as one of the more intelligent show business personalities playing talk show host on TV. Her daily show on ABS-CBN is brightened by her wit and astute observations, even (and some say especially so) when she makes her famous "taklesa" (as in tactless) remarks.

But in yesterday's episode of ABS-CBN's TODAY WITH KRIS, the host was completely eclipsed by the show's guests and the true-to-life human drama that unfolded before live, nationwide TV cameras.

Kris had as guests dramatic actress Princes Punzalan, who had just received the Star Awards Best Actress trophy for her superb performance as a villainess in the telenovela "Mula sa Puso" also of ABS-CBN. With Princess was her brother Ruben, who had just been exposed as Joel, one of the most popular professional macho dancers (stripper) in a gay bar.

Asked by Kris about the recent expose on her brother's nocturnal profession, Princess burst into tears and sobbed as she said: "He's still my brother and I accept him although I may not be happy about his work. He did not have to do this (work as a macho dancer)."

Ruben walked in and embraced his older sister, who has been surrogate mother since the death of their mother Helen Vela several years ago. He himself was in tears.

"I never mean to hurt anybody," he sobbed, "ano mang desisyon ang ginawa ko, I'm accountable for them, I'm responsible for whatever move I made... Siguro ang mistake ko lang is I didn't consider what effect it would have on people around me..."

With her brother's head on her lap, Princess, a devout Christian, stroked Ruben's hair and said: "Just pray God will heal all your wounds from the past. I hope you will see your worth not in all these things (his work) but in how God sees you..."

It was more dramatic than any episode of the TV series Princess received an award for. Even host Kris Aquino had tears in her eyes.

The emotional episode was replayed as a show business news item on last night's ABS-CBN Evening News.

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