Makeover for brother: Kris wants a more fashionable Noynoy

From a baby sister to a stage mom? Television host and actress Kris Aquino-Yap wants a makeover for her brother, Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III, who is being urged to run for president in next year’s elections. Noynoy’s youngest sister says that since she is the most fashion-oriented among the siblings, she has decided to take charge of improving her brother’s image from head to toe. Lahat ng shirts niya kasi, ako nagpatahi. Lahat noong black. Kasi pangit ‘yung fit, kaya pinasukatan ko siya ng maayos. (All his black shirts, I had them made for him. His shirts before did not fit him well, so I made him fit better ones)," says Kris in an interview aired Tuesday night over GMA Network’s 24 Oras, adding that she had asked fashion designers Paul Cabral and JC Buendia to take care of Noynoy’s formal wear.

Aside from helping her brother improve his getup, Kris says she had also encouraged her Noynoy to undergo hair treatment. “Matagal ko na siyang kinulit tungkol sa Mesoscalp (treatment to stimulate hair growth). He said, ‘Huwag na.’ If you do that, kakapal ‘yung hair, ayaw niya (I have been encouraging him about Mesoscalp. He said, ‘No, thanks.’ If you do that, your hair will thicken. But he refused)," says Kris. Kris also says that despite her request for her brother to remain single, she is willing to finance Noynoy’s wedding if he decides to get married with his girlfriend, Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad. “Kung saan siya magiging talagang maligaya, 100 percent ang support ko. Kahit ‘yung buong wedding, ako ang magbabayad (Whatever makes him really happy, I support him 100 percent. I am even willing to bankroll his entire wedding)," Kris says. On Tuesday night, Noynoy’s camp sent a late advisory to the media that the senator would make a public announcement in relation to the 2010 elections on Wednesday, 7:30 a.m., at Club Filipino’s Kalayaan Hall in Greenhills, San Juan City. September 9, marks the 40th day of President Corazon Aquino’s death. The hall where Noynoy will make his announcement is the same venue where his mother was sworn in as the 11th president of the Philippines. But the senator remains mum, and those close to him declined to make a categorical statement about Noynoy’s decision in relation to next year’s polls. “I can’t give any indication on whether he would announce his presidential bid. I only have hopes and dreams that he would do so tomorrow," Jose Luis Martin “Chito" Gascon, Liberal Party (LP) director-general told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. Gascon said Noynoy “seemed to be at peace and in good spirits" when he came back to Manila from a two-day retreat in Zamboanga City last week. Rico E. Puno, Aquino’s consultant since the 1980s, told GMANews.TV in another phone interview that the senator “is expected to make a big announcement." “Why on this significant day, the 40th day of President Cory’s death? Why in Kalayaan Hall? I think the writing is on the wall," said Puno. Sen. Manuel “Mar" Roxas II was quoted in news reports Tuesday night as saying that though he did not want to preempt Aquino’s announcement, he was convinced that Noynoy would join the presidential race. Roxas, LP’s anointed standard-bearer, backed out of the race last September 1 and threw his support behind Aquino to become the party’s presidential candidate. - ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMANews.TV