TIMELESS ICON: The roles that made Kris Aquino’s return worth the wait 

For years, Filipinos knew exactly where to find Kris Aquino.

She was on television—asking the questions audiences wanted to be answered, laughing with guests, hosting games, telling stories, and even screaming her way through some of Philippine cinema’s most unforgettable horror films. With a voice that could fill a studio and reactions that were unmistakably her own, Kris had a way of turning every appearance into a moment.

After years away from the spotlight while focusing on her health and family, the “Queen of All Media” is slowly stepping back into the frame. A recent Netflix appearance, where she playfully took on the title of “Chief Head of Insight and Kontent Analysis (CHIKA),” offered fans a lighthearted glimpse of the personality they had long missed.

But a career as colorful as Kris Aquino’s cannot be summed up by one screen or one genre. 

From talk shows and game shows to horror, comedy, and even an international role in Crazy Rich Asians, she has moved effortlessly across different corners of entertainment. As she enters her next chapter on screen, it is worth revisiting the shows and films that made Kris Aquino one of the most recognizable names in Philippine entertainment.

Kris TV

From 2011 to 2016, Kris TV brought Kris Aquino into Filipino homes through a mix of lifestyle, travel, celebrity interviews, food, and candid conversations. The ABS-CBN morning show became a multiple-time winner of the  Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Television and Golden Screen TV Awards, taking home honors for Best Lifestyle Show and Best Lifestyle Show Host.

But its biggest draw was never just the format—it was Kris herself. With her animated reactions, candid storytelling, and unmistakable personality, she made a morning talk show feel like a conversation viewers were personally invited into. 

And whenever something caught her off guard, two of her most recognizable reactions—“My God!” and “Nakakaloka!”—could turn an ordinary moment into something instantly memorable. Kris TV became one of the clearest examples of why audiences did not simply watch Kris Aquino—they watched for Kris Aquino.

The Buzz with Boy Abunda

Long before showbiz “chika” lived on social media, The Buzz was where Filipinos went for the latest celebrity stories. As ABS-CBN’s groundbreaking and longest-running Sunday showbiz talk show which ran for 15 years until it concluded on April 5, 2015, it became a television institution, frequently winning Best Showbiz-Oriented Talk Show at the PMPC Star Awards for Television.

Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda became one of the station’s most recognizable tandems, bringing contrasting but complementary energies to every interview. Boy’s probing questions met Kris’ candid reactions, creating conversations that often became the next day’s biggest showbiz headlines. The Buzz did not simply report the conversation; it became the conversation.

Deal or No Deal

When Deal or No Deal premiered on ABS-CBN in June 2006, Kris Aquino became the original host of the Philippine adaptation of the international game-show franchise. With its rows of mysterious briefcases and the ever-present banker, the show turned every decision into a high-stakes television moment.

Yet what made the Philippine version unforgettable was Kris’ unmistakable energy. Her reactions, playful exchanges with contestants, and dramatic delivery of “Deal or No Deal?” became part of the show’s identity. She did not just host the game—she gave it a personality, making every briefcase, every offer, and every decision feel like something audiences had to experience with her.

Pido Dida

Released in 1990, Pido Dida: Sabay Tayo paired Kris Aquino with comedy star Rene Requiestas in a film that became her breakthrough acting role and earned her the Box Office Queen title. It marked an explosive beginning to a film career that would eventually include some of Philippine cinema’s biggest hits.

Looking back, Pido Dida captures Kris before the talk shows, the game shows, and the “Queen of All Media” title. It was the beginning of a career that would prove she could command not just a television screen, but the big screen as well.

Feng Shui & Feng Shui 2

Then came Feng Shui—and Kris Aquino became the face of Filipino horror. Directed by Chito S. Roño, the 2004 blockbuster turned Joy Ramirez and her cursed bagua into pop-culture staples, while its success helped cement Kris as the “Box Office Horror Queen.” A decade later, Feng Shui 2 returned as an official entry to the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival, becoming one of the festival’s highest-grossing films.

But ask audiences what they remember most, and the answer might not be the bagua. It is the scream.

Kris’ piercing, unmistakably dramatic screams became almost as iconic as the film itself—so memorable that they became part of the fun of watching Feng Shui. She could make audiences laugh in a talk show, root for contestants in a game show, and then turn around and make an entire theater scream with her. That was Kris Aquino: never just one kind of star.

Crazy Rich Asians

Despite only having three minutes of screen time, Kris’ portrayal of Princess Intan—a Very, Very Important Person (VVIP) guest at Colin Khoo and Araminta Lee’s wedding who demanded a whole row for herself—remains one of her iconic roles, especially in an international film. While she only had a few lines, Kris got an entire entrance scene wearing a stunning yellow dress designed by Michael Cinco himself. 

The more shocking detail about Princess Intan is that she was not even in the book in the first place! According to Kris, the producers found a way to include her in the final cut, making her the only Filipina royalty in the movie. 

Her role in Crazy Rich Asians is proof that Kris does not need hours of screen time to leave a mark on viewers. All she needs is herself and the aura she exudes to become one of the main talking points when the movie comes out. 

Segunda Mano

Who could ever forget the role that made Filipinos fear ukay-ukay for a hot minute—scared that they may get a free ghostly item?

Kris plays Mabel, the owner of a high-class, but creepy antique shop, who is haunted by the ghost of her fiancé’s missing wife. This excellently eerie portrayal of the character earned Kris a nomination for the Best Actress Award during the 60th FAMAS Gabi ng Parangal. 

However, despite the earlier belief that Mariela—the ghost of her fiancé’s missing wife—is haunting her, Kris delivers an all-round performance that culminates in the satisfying revelation that it was Ivan–her own fiance–who was killing people, while Marielle served as a telltale sign, warning his victims before he targeted them. 

This role further cemented her talent as an actress, transcending genres and proving that she can thrive anywhere. 

Sisterakas

Just like how Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino complement each other in TV hosting, Kris and Vice Ganda complete each other in films like puzzle pieces. 

Roselle—Kris Aquino’s role—serves as the villain of the movie Sisterakas, as her fashion company is Bernice’s (played by Vice Ganda) main rival. While the audience is not supposed to root for her because of her antagonistic role, Kris delivered her character with such comedic precision that audiences laughed with her, forgetting which side they were supposed to be on in the first place. 

Sisterakas also gave birth to one of her iconic and hilarious lines “Annulled na ako!” before letting out her iconic scream—a jab towards her former husband, James Yap. 

Sukob

Adding to her long list of iconic horror films is Sukob, which tackles the long-standing Filipino superstition that sisters should not marry within the same calendar year, or the couple will be plagued by conflict and misfortune throughout their married life. Unfortunately for Kris Aquino’s character, that misfortune is death itself. 

Sukob earned Kris Aquino, alongside Claudine Baretto, the title Box Office Queens of 2006– an award that has never been given to two actresses by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation Inc. (GMMSF) until then. This came after the horror film grossed more than P200 million, making it Star Cinema’s biggest hit that year. 

This film, along with her other horror classics, proved why Kris Aquino remained one of the country’s most recognizable horror icons in Philippine cinema. Over the years, she became so closely associated with the genre that her name alone was enough to evoke suspense and screams. 

I Love You, Hater

“When you love, you give yourself a chance for an ever after…”

Kris’ role as Sasha Imperial, a media empress, marked as one of her last appearances on national television before she took a hiatus to focus on her health. Just as she always did with her previous films, Kris continues to give us something new, but this film offers something that we have never seen before from her. One particular scene, where Sasha confronted Joko, played by Joshua Garcia, moved the audience to tears. 

It proved that despite her longevity in the media scene, she has never stopped reinventing and developing herself to become the Queen of All Media that she is—and will always be. 

Much like Sasha’s memorable line, Kris’ own journey reflects the same sentiment. Her decision to step away from the spotlight was not an ending, but a chance to heal. Her love for the craft, and for the audience that has supported her through the years, meant choosing to rest so that one day she could return for yet another ever after.

The queen is indeed back

The TV shows and movies listed above are just some of the reasons why her fans and even casual viewers anticipated her return. After many years, she has finally decided to return to television not just as a familiar face, but as one of the industry’s most enduring icons. 

Whether she chooses to be a host, an actress, a media personality, or all three in the years to come, one thing is certain: the country will be watching with excitement and anticipation as Kris Aquino brings back her jolly, witty, and magnetic personality to our screens. 

Because in Philippine entertainment, there is only one Queen of all Media—and queens never go out of style.