ACTRESS and TV host Kris Aquino, who took on official duties during the presidency of her brother Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, said Thursday that they reconciled before he passed away, without detailing the root of their rift.
Kris mentioned a past conflict with her brother, as she faced members of the press at the Heritage Park in Taguig City, where Noynoy’s remains were cremated.
After announcing plans for a June 26-funeral for the late chief executive, Kris turned emotional as she recalled being able to heal her ties with her brother before he died.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na napatawad ako at minahal ako, and to the end, ang tinuring niya sa akin ay ako ang kaniyang bunso,” she said.
Kris, the youngest of five siblings, has been open about her “complicated relationship” with her brother over the years. In mid-2018, she revealed they were not on good terms without divulging the reason. The rift lasted two years, during which they had no communication.
In February 2020, the two siblings finally came to face when they attended a family friend’s wedding. While they spoke, Kris said then that it would still take a “long journey needing mutual inclination and effort to communicate, understand and rebuild.”
In May 2021, Kris’ rare public mention of her brother, through a social media post, hinted that they finally mended ties.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Kris also shared a vow she had made to her brother: “Pinangako ko sa kaniya na gagawin ko ang lahat to just be even one percent of what he is as a man and as a Filipino.”(ABS-CBN News)
