MANILA, Philippines - Kris Aquino and Robin Padilla’s love affair was one for the books.

It might not have been a match made in heaven but it was exciting just the same.

Will there ever be a sequel to it?

Kris Aquino and Robin Padilla host the new noontime TV show "Pilipinas Win na Win." Credit: ABS-CBN

 Now that Aquino is seeking a declaration of nullity of her marriage with basketball player James Yap, and Padilla has divorced with wife Liezl Sycangco, is a second wind breezing in after the storm?

Will love indeed be lovelier the second time around for both of them?

Deo Fajardo, Jr., Padilla’s discoverer and manager, admitted that Aquino and Padilla were former lovers but claimed he doesn’t know when the affair started or if they have already called it quits.

“Hindi ko alam kung kailan sila naging mag-on at hindi ko rin alam kung kailan sila nag-break. Parang wala akong alam na nag-break sila. Hindi ko alam,” quipped Fajardo.

He also isn’t saying anything as to when he last talked with Aquino. “Ayaw ko nang magsalita. Lalo na ‘yong after the James Yap episode. Kasi, ayaw kong sa akin manggaling. Baka kasi sabihing sa akin nagsimula. Ayaw ko no’n. Mahirap na,” he cautioned.

“Kung kay Robin, mas marami akong masasabi,” he added.

“Pag nagkikita kami no’n ni Kris, lagi ‘yan, gusto niya, gawa kami ng project. Ako naman, gusto ko, maidirek din sila pero hindi pa nga nangyayari,” he lamented.

But he is very happy, admitted Fajardo, when he learned that Aquino is being paired off anew with Padilla on the tube.

“Kasi, sila naman talaga ang nagsimula ng team nila sa TV. Ganyan na ang ginagawa nila,” Fajardo commented.

Now that the duo is renewing their love team on screen, this time, on ABS-CBN's new noontime show, “Pilipinas Win na Win”, which first aired on Saturday, memories keep rushing in.

Wasn't it only yesterday when Padilla and Aquino were introduced to each other by the late Inday Badiday, boob tube’s Queen of Intrigues for three decades?

“Di ba, si Inday pa natin ang nag-guest noon kay Kris on her show and it made history? Ang taas ng rating no’n ng show ni Luds,” recalled Fajardo, referring to the pet name of Ludy Carvajal, Badiday’s real name.

How the romance started

Everything happened so fast. Aquino and Padilla were already a hot item in the romance department of the grapevine.

“Simple lang manligaw si Robin. Madalas lang ‘yang makipag-usap kay Kris. Kuwento lang siya nang kuwento,” said Fajardo.

There was one time, according to the talent manager, when Aquino felt she was the prettiest damsel in the middle of a tension between former beau Richard Gomez and newfound boyfriend Padilla.

Fajardo was witness to the memorable incident when Gomez and Padilla were called to the Arlegui Mansion, where the Aquinos were staying during the time of the late President Cory Aquino, to thresh out personal kinks between them.

“Magkasama kami noon ni Robin. Si Richard naman, kasama si Douglas Quijano dahil manager niya. Naku, di, kuwentuhan, hanggang bigla na lang, nagsuntukan sina Richard at Robin sa may swimming pool.

“Nagkagulo. ‘Yong mga maids nina Kris, nagulat. Tapos, tumawag sila ng tulong. Nagulat na rin si Kris. Tapos, si President Cory, nakita ‘yong eksena. Sabi niya kay Kris, 'the guys are punching each other.' Sabi naman ni Kris, hindi raw. ‘Mom, they’re just acting.’ Hindi naniwala si President Cory. Ang ginawa niya, sinabihan niya sina Robin at Richard na wag aalis hanggang hindi nase-settle ‘yong gap nila. Hanggang ‘yon, nag-settle sila," said Fajardo.

“Hindi ko talaga makakalimutan ‘yong eksenang ‘yon. Ang ganda-ganda at ang haba-haba ng buhok ni Kris. Hindi pa nagtapos ‘yong eksenang ‘yon do’n. Nagsu-shooting kami ni Robin ng ‘Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum Part 2’ sa Baguio City no’n.

“E, may Star Olympics no’n. Si Maristela [Fontanos, a girl Friday of Badiday], may dala-dalang mga diyaryo. Ang dami-daming nakasulat. ‘Yong isa ro’n, ‘yong sinabi raw ni Richard na lampa si Robin. E, nabasa ni Robin. Naku, alam mo ba, umalis si Robin sa shooting namin, Baguio ‘yon, ha, bumaba siya. Sabi ko, may shooting pa siya. Sabi niya, babalik daw agad siya. ‘Yon pala, pupunta siya sa Star Olympics. Do’n, nagsuntukan uli ‘yong dalawa. Nakakaloka talaga,” recounted Fajardo.

During their romance, Aquino fought for Padilla when Tita Cory was reportedly against him.

Aquino might also have influenced Padilla to get involved in civic work although the actor has been socially conscious of his fellowmen all along when he was going around with Badiday doing outreach programs for the indigents and victims of calamities.

The duo even helped a leukemia victim when they were still romantically involved in 1991.

As a confidante, especially of Padilla, does Fajardo foresee any chance of a rekindling in the romance between Aquino and Padilla?

“Tingnan natin,” said Fajardo.