James Yap's mother defends son from Kris

The mother of basketball player James Yap has come out into the open to defend her son in the controversy involving him and his wife, actress-TV host Kris Aquino. In an exclusive interview aired over GMA Network’s Showbiz Central Sunday, Mrs. Annie Yap said James had been honest with Kris. Mrs. Yap said her son even told the popular celebrity about his child from a previous relationship before they got married five years ago. “Oo, meron siyang nabuntis, pero alam naman yun ni Kris (He got someone pregnant before, and Kris knew all about it)," Mrs. Yap said. She added that James told Kris about his child with another woman when they were still dating. She also said she was not in favor of James’ relationship with Kris even before they got married. “Sa totoo lang tutol talaga ako. Alam mo naman si Kris. Iba kami. Mahirap lang kami, sila mayaman (I was not in favor of their relationship because she’s from a wealthy family and we’re just ordinary people)," she said, adding that Kris has never been “close" to the Yap family.

She also said the Yap family was not informed of James’ marriage with Kris, and only learned about it belatedly. “Nagulat ako kasi hindi (siya) nagpaalam sa amin. Ipinaalam (niya), tapos na ang kasal. Ina niya ako tapos hindi niya ipinaalam sa akin kaya nagalit ako (I was surprised to learn that he’s already married with Kris. I got angry mad because as his mother, I should have been informed about that)," she said. She said her son chose to be with Kris, the youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino III and daughter of the late President Corazon “Cory" Aquino, even though he already had a child with another woman. “Mas pinili niya si Kris kasi mahal niya. Pero hindi naman nagkulang si James sa obligasyon niya sa anak niya sa iba (James chose to be with Kris because he loves her, but he did not forget his duties to his other child also)," Mrs. Yap said. Mrs. Yap belied Kris’ allegations that James had extra-marital affairs with other women, saying it is only normal for James to be linked with other women since he is a popular basketball player. “Once basketball player ka, sikat ka at maraming babae ang mag-idol sa iyo. Pero hindi totoo yan, hindi nambabae ang anak ko (When you’re a famous basketball player it is only normal to be idolized by women, but that doesn’t mean my son is a womanizer)," she said. She said James himself had denied to her that he had extra-marital affairs through the course of his five-year marriage with Kris.
“Tinanong ko siya, ‘Totoo ba yun? 'Wag ka magsinungaling sa akin.’ Sabi niya, ‘Mama ‘wag ka maniwala, Hindi totoo ‘yun’ (I asked him, are those reports true that you’re having extra-marital affairs. Don’t lie to me.' And he said, Ma, they’re just rumors)," Mrs. Yap said. Mrs. Yap said she decided to break her silence after hearing Kris on TV blame James for their marital problems. “Parang lahat ng kasalanan ay ibinubunton niya sa anak ko. Sana ‘wag naman kasi hindi naman tayo perfect. Kung may kasalanan ang anak ko, natural lang siguro sa mag-asawa na mag-away ‘di ba, pero ‘wag naman niya lahat ibunton sa anak ko," she said. (She’s putting all the blame on James, which is unfair because nobody is perfect. If James committed a mistake, then it’s only natural for the couple to have a disagreement. But please don’t put all the blame on him.) She added that she is saddened by Kris’ tirade against James. “Nalungkot talaga ako. Naawa ako sa anak ko kasi mabait ang anak ko (I pity James because he’s really a good person)." Mrs. Yap urged Kris not to discuss their marital problems on TV, and instead resolve her issues with James privately and in the most amicable manner. “Sana, kung maghiwalay man kayo, mag-usap kayo. Ayusin niyo sa mabuting usapan, kasi nasaktan kami sa dami ng mga balita (If you’re really going to end your marriage, do it privately because we get affected by the news)," she said. Mrs. Yap said the Yap family did not know James was having marital problems as he seldom talked to them about his personal life. She added that the family is nonetheless behind James. “Ikaw lang ang nakakaalam kung paano mo (aayusin) ang problema mo. Andito lang kami na sumusuporta sa iyo. ‘Wag ka mawalan ng pag-asa (Don’t lose hope, son. We’re all here right behind you)," she said. - KBK, GMANews.TV