Valerie Tan chooses Kris Aquino as the Filipino celebrity she would suggest to be honored at the Madame Tussauds wax museum in Hong Kong.
Valerie is the host of the GTV travel show I Heart PH, which will premiere its Season 11 next Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Why Kris?
"Kris Aquino is really my idol kasi sobrang ganda niya mag-host. Super talino niya at super witty niya.
"She's grounded and she's super smart and she's very authentic.
"Authentic siya nung hindi pa uso yung word na authentic," says Valerie during the show's press conference held at Winford Resort Manila on October 15.
Valerie Tan gives take on Kris Aquino’s options amid podcast controversy
Kris and her family are suddenly thrust into the center of a controversy because an episode of podcast Machong Chismisan, where host Tito P ridiculed Josh by saying: "Si Bimby sobrang okay na anak, si Josh walang kuwenta, e."
It was also menrtioned during the podcast that Josh gets a cash allowance of PHP3,000 for school on a daily basis.
Tito P candidly commented: "Tapos, nakatunganga lang siyang ganoon?”
Read: Meet the five men in the viral Machong Chismisan episode
When asked for her reaction on this issue, Valerie says: "Yung mga comedians ngayon, they try to push the envelope, but there are jokes na hindi mo na dapat sabihin because hindi na siya joke. Below the belt siya, offensive siya.
"I think whether you're a performer, you're a comedian, you're an actor, you're a content creator, lahat ng nilalabas mo, you should be responsible for them.
"Because your words affect and your words have a ripple effect, especially on a platform like a podcast.
"Dapat alam mo kung ano yung puwede mo i-joke at alam mo yung hindi. Definitely this one, they definitely crossed the line."
Some netizens are saying that Kris should file a legal case against them.
The Autism Society Philippines cited Republic Act No. 9442, which prohibits the public ridicule and vilification of persons with disabilities.
"We all know naman that Ms. Kris has some health issues so I don't know if she would prefer to do that.
"Siyempre, nakaka-stress rin naman na mag-file ng case. But, at the same time, if you don't file a case, how will people learn?
"Iisipin nila na okay lang to do it again. 'Wala naman, e, sumikat pa nga kami kasi nag-viral kami.'
"It's really up to Ms Kris to decide if she wants to file a case. If she does, I think the people will definitely support her.
"If she doesn't, I think the people will understand as well.
"But whether she files the case or not, the people are behind her."
Does she think that an apology is not enough?
Valerie pauses before answering, "I mean, if the apology is sincere. We don't know if it's sincere or not. We don't really know. "
Due to backlash from netizens, political figures, and showbiz personalities, the Pod Network decided to end its contract with Machong Chismisan and its hosts.
The formal statement of the Pod Network dated October 15 said: “We have formally terminated our contract with the Machong Chismisan podcast, and are consequently removing the show from the network, effective immediately.”
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