Kris on her marriage to James Yap: 'I give up'

In between sobs, Kris Aquino — popular talk show host, actress, and youngest sister of incoming President Benigno Aquino III — confirmed that her marriage to basketball star James Yap has come to an end, after five years of an often-turbulent relationship. "With finality I can say, ako sumuko na (I have given up)," Aquino said on ABS-CBN's "The Buzz" on Sunday.
Aquino said it was not a "spur of the moment" decision, adding that both she and husband Yap, a popular basketball player, tried to fix their marital problems for a long time. Aquino, who has acquired a reputation for her candor in airing her personal pains and peeves under close media scrutiny, however refused to elaborate on the reasons behind the apparent failure of their marriage. "(Whatever the reason) why this marriage, on my part I'm saying, is over. The only person I will owe an explanation to, and the only person who can demand from me (why we separated), is my son," Aquino said. Aquino has a three-year old son, Baby James, with Yap. "He deserves to hear (the reason) only from me and only from James. We owe it to him... to explain to him," Aquino explained. Rumors of the separation first came out last week after Aquino failed to attend an event in Cebu due to marital problems, according to her “The Buzz" co-host Boy Abunda. The couple went through at least two other controversies in their almost five years of marriage. Early this year, Aquino was reported to have made a scene outside the house of a woman named Mayen Austria, with whom Yap was rumored to be having an affair. Austria and Yap have both denied the rumor. Previous to that, the marriage also made headlines in 2007 following rumors of Yap's yet another romantic affair, reportedly with a Belo Medical clinic receptionist. Aquino married Yap, who is ten years her junior, in 2005. Apart from Baby James, Aquino has a 15-year-old son with actor Phillip Salvador. On the same episode of “The Buzz," Aquino bid farewell to her colleagues after a 10-year hosting stint with the show. Saying it was a "big sacrifice" for her, Aquino is leaving the show to avoid criticism which may affect the administration of her brother, who is set to take his presidential oath of office on Wednesday.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV