Philippine Pop Culture — Personalities
Kris Aquino: The Queen of All Media (Talaga ba?)
By: Dominique Tirado, 4P5
In the realm of Philippine media and entertainment, several individuals whose names are always seen in various media outlets undoubtedly have the power to draw massive attention from the general public. One of those well-known names is Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino, commonly known as Kris Aquino, who is hailed as the “Queen of All Media.” Aside from coming from a reputable political family, she is known for her impactful and record-breaking projects on the Philippines’ media channels. She has established a significant personality in the entertainment business by being a prominent figure in print, film, television, and social media throughout her career. But how was she able to reach this level of fame? The better question is, does she truly deserve the title?
Kris Aquino kicked off her career with the help of Regal Films with Pido Dida, Sabay Tayo as her debut motion picture. She later shifted into other roles, notably with massacre. Her shift to this genre, which at that time was popular, helped her earn the title of the ‘massacre queen’. Her biggest break in the entertainment film industry was her Mano Po series, where several award-giving bodies honored her as Best Supporting Actress. Afterwards, she starred in blockbuster movies, especially when she shifted to horror films, starting with Feng Shui, Sukob, and many more. She was also able to co-produce her films Dalaw, Segunda Mano, and Sisterakas until she established her own production firm in 2013, K Productions, with its debut movie Instant Mommy. She also starred in My Little Bossings with her son and other notable artists (“Kris Aquino,” n.d.).
Kris Aquino is also an established host of various live shows in the industry. She co-hosted the classic “Boy & Kris” morning talk show with Boy Abunda, and the highly-rated and controversial show business discussion program, “The Buzz”, alongside Boy Abunda and Ruffa Gutierrez. Interestingly, she left “News Ngayon” and “The Buzz”, following ten years of being the shows’ regular host. This was due to her decision to lie low and depart from her work to spend time with her family and avoid any problems with her brother, Benigno Aquino III, who was the president of the Philippines at that time. However, she still hosted ABS-CBN’s noontime variety show, Pilipinas Win Na Win, even after her decision to leave to have more time with her family (“Kris Aquino,” n.d.). With these accomplishments, GMA Entertainment claimed that this made her the most trusted and highest-paid product endorser of consumer products, contributing to the many reasons why she deserves the title ‘Queen of All Media,’ a term that signifies her wide-ranging influence and success across various media platforms, including film, television, and endorsements.
There is no doubt that she has skillfully cultivated an enormous influence and representation of Filipinos on various international screens, adding more to her several remarkable contributions to Philippine entertainment. She also charmed her way into the viewers’ hearts and minds with her ‘genuineness’ and ‘empathy,’ which she constantly showcased on live television back then. She is also frequently distinguished by how she talks, the way she laughs, and the way she speaks out her thoughts frankly. Regular viewers know that this trait of hers often makes her the center of several misunderstandings, controversies, and mishaps in the show business industry. She stirred up a lot of issues with her unfiltered opinions, words, and actions. Yet, she remained in the spotlight, sought after by opportunities, projects, and even a million pesos worth of endorsements.
Critically speaking, it is important to consider her craft’s caliber and relevance in our entertainment industry. Throughout her career, she has worked endlessly with projects prioritizing mainstream storylines and poor entertainment value over unique substance and quality. Even though she has been successful as an actress, TV host, and social media star, her roles and performances often lack substance and versatility. It can be asserted that rather than fully immersing herself in an array of personalities or narratives, she usually showcases varying versions of herself. This restriction in scope and adaptability strengthens the criticism that her contributions to the entertainment industry are limited and one-dimensional. She frequently reverts to well-known cliches and actions that support her preexisting perception. Her lack of versatility in acting paints the picture that her artistic work lacks depth and fails to touch, tackle, and portray art in its most profound issues. This superficial level of quality further diminishes her worthiness of being the “Queen of All Media” and makes us question whether she should really be hailed as one.
Much of her media presence focuses on her personal controversies, from talk shows to tabloid-worthy personal dramas, frequently thematically lacking noteworthy lessons. We must also point out that as a host, she tends to expose much of what should be filtered and get into public arguments, depicting her tendency towards sensationalism over having profound discourse.
Despite these, one cannot fully discredit her enormous contribution to the Philippines’ entertainment industry. Beyond her notable personal and professional success, she has become a leading trendsetter and cultural icon whose influence stretches beyond regular media. She has secured a spot in Filipino popular culture with her unique style, active presence on social media, and the trends she sets.
The quest of this editorial initially aimed to assert her being undeserving of the title. However, the process was challenging and was met with great resistance, for along the lines of writing and researching, only reasons as to why she deserved, and still deserves to be hailed as the Queen of All Media were discovered. Even though her career lacks depth as an artist due to her limited range, her legacy radiates through many successful projects. While criticized for her problematic takes and turns, her films have undeniably resonated with the Filipino people and contributed to the success of the Philippine entertainment industry. Her capacity to remain influential and relevant over several decades attests to her relentless influence and ability to sustain high levels of engagement across a variety of media platforms, demonstrating her indefinite dominance in the media.
References:
Kris Aquino movies. (n.d.). Scripts.com. https://www.scripts.com/actor/kris_aquino#google_vignette
Kris Aquino. (n.d.). Sweetslyrics. https://sweetslyrics.com/kris-aquino/biography#google_vignette
Rodriguez B. (2017, June 28). 2 Reasons why Kris Aquino is the ‘Queen of All Media’. GMA Network | News and Entertainment. https://shorturl.at/agTYZ
