James: Thank you, Lord!
“Thank you, Lord!”
That was all that James Yap could say when his lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, informed him by text last Friday that the court has restored his visitation rights over his namesake son (Bimby) whom he last saw a few weeks ago during a meeting in court for the hearing of a Permanent Protection Order (PPO) his ex-wife Kris Aquino has filed against him.
The decision is very timely because Father’s Day will be celebrated two Sundays from now, on June 16.
“It was an answered prayer,” James told Funfare Update in a phone interview from Escalante, Negros Occidental, where he was bonding with his family
during the town fiesta. “’Yan naman ang palagi kong ipinagdarasal… ang makita at makasama ko uli ang anak ko.”
However, the court sustained the decision that prohibits James from getting within 100 yards from Kris, which is okay with James who wants only to be with Bimby.
During that chance meeting in court, lasting no more than eight minutes, James gave Bimby a mini iPad as belated birthday gift. Bimby turned six on April 19 and the hearing was set April 21.
“We were in separate rooms,” recalled James. “Nagulat siya nang makita ako. He ran to me. I told him, ‘I have a gift for you.’ He asked, ‘What is it?’ I said, ‘Secret!’ He opened the gift at sobrang tuwa niya when he saw the iPad. Nakakandong siya sa akin at nilaro kaagad niya. I missed him so much that I wished that moment would last forever.”
For sure, a lot of parents could identify with how James felt. On Bimby’s birthday, since the PPO (for Bimby) was pending in court, all James could do was greet Bimby via social media, saying how much he missed hugging him and reminding him “na mahal na mahal ka ni Papa.”
According to Atty. Lorna, James may now see/visit Bimby three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Last Saturday, James hurried back to Manila from Escalante, hoping to pay Bimby his first court-approved visit.
“We will follow the schedule to the letter. I’m happy not only for myself but also for my family, especially sa Lolo at Lola ni Bimby na finally makikita at mayayakap na nila ang kanilang apo,” added James. “Dati-rati, nakikita lang nila si Bimby sa TV at sa mga billboards. My cousins will now also see Bimby in person.”
Feeling vindicated, James said that all he really wanted is to be a father to Bimby. Lawyer Frank Chavez was quoted in newspaper reports that Kris herself was vindicated when the PPO (against James getting near her) was upheld by the court.
“Kumbaga, makilala niya ako na Tatay niya. Gusto ko naman na nasa tabi niya ako habang lumalaki siya, even if my relationship with his mom didn’t work out. That was what I was fighting for, ‘yon ang talagang ipinaglaban ko. Ang sakit isiping lumalaki ang anak mo na inilalayo sa’yo.”
And how would he react if Bimby asked him to reconcile with his mom?
“As friends, walang problema sa akin ‘yon,” replied James who has moved on and found a new love in the person of a pretty Italian who’s connected with an international bank.
Still and all, the good-natured James said that he would keep reminding Bimby, “You should love your mom, kailangan bantayan mo mama mo.”
(Note: Funfare Update tried to contact Kris for her comment but she could “not be reached.” Or maybe she has changed her celfone number.)
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