The peaceful and quiet holiday celebrations that united the Aquino and Leviste children is a wish come true for Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste. Together, they celebrated the Christmas season in California. 

Photo credit: Kris Aquino World

In an exclusive interview with PUSH during the Christmas Tree lighting event at The Farm at San Benito, Mark admitted that he wished upon the famed mango tree that the premiere wellness destination at Lipa, Batangas is known for. 

“People say that it’s a lucky tree,” he shared. “That if you meditate there or even hold it, good things can happen.”

The 300-year-old mango tree is said to be an energy vortex, one of the many that exist at the foot of the majestic Malarayat mountains. Many visitors make it a point to visit the tree, finding it a place of solace and many times, of answered wishes. 

Photo credit: Ann Manhit

“My Christmas and birthday wish for myself and my family is continuous blessings, good health, and harmony,” he shared. “Peace of mind, peace in the heart for me and my family.”

Aside from his family, a special person that he always prays for is Queen of All Media Kris Aquino. Kris, along with her sons Josh and Bimby, has been in the US since 2022 to seek treatment for her autoimmune diseases.

“For Kris, I always pray, whether it’s Christmas or not,” Mark added, explaining that wishes for Kris’s well-being are already staples for him. “I always pray for her immediate recovery and immediate return here in the Philippines. Everybody misses her.”

Mark likewise revealed that he was flying out to the United States to spend the holidays in the same place as Kris. 

“I’ll be spending the holidays in LA,” he confirmed then. “Christmas, birthday, and New Year.”

Like many of Kris’s friends, Mark also planned to visit Kris and even had a gift ready for her, too. Photos also showed that he was in Kris’s house in Orange County, California when actresses Kim Chiu and Bela Padilla came to visit recently.

READ: Kim Chiu and Bela Padilla visit Kris Aquino in LA

Mark served as the unofficial photographer and videographer, documenting the visit of Kim and Bela as they spent time with the family. 

Photo credit: Kris Aquino World

Photo credit: Kris Aquino World

Photo credit: Kris Aquino World

Even before news of their relationship came out, Mark was already going to the US to accompany Kris to her treatments. Their friendship eventually developed into something more. 

“Nobody I’ve ever been in a relationship with has ever given me as much love & encouragement,” Kris once said. “He wasn’t only my boyfriend, he became my best friend and confidante.”

READ:Kris Aquino reveals reason for breakup with Mark Leviste: ‘A Pacific Ocean that divides us!’

Yet, while she did confirm their relationship, Kris also explained why she called it quits and decided that it was best for them to just remain as friends. 

“Thank you Marc for being here for me especially when my 2 ‘giants’ went home BUT our reality is that there’s a Pacific Ocean that divides us, a 15 hour time difference, and a 13 hour flight. You know how much I believe in you and the last thing I want is to be an obstacle in your career as a public servant,” she explained. 

Nevertheless, Kris has maintained that Mark’s children are always welcome in her home. 

“Thank you for being so warm, polite, appreciative and so easy to get along,” said Kris in a message to Mark’s kids. “Like I promised while your dad’s not around consider the home we’ve leased to be yours as well.”

While people have been hoping for the two of them to get back together, Kris has maintained that her love life is not her priority right now. 

“A long distance relationship is difficult when undergoing very physically demanding treatments,” explained Kris in her Instagram post dated November 20, 2023.

She added that it was she who initiated their breakup on November 3. 

“It was a well thought out decision based on choosing to do what’s best for me now,” she said. “I’m dealing with so much and my love life isn’t a priority.”

Nevertheless, it is no secret that the two started out as friends and that Kris never wanted their children to be collateral damage despite their parting ways. Thus, it was a happy reunion when the Aquino and Leviste families celebrated Christmas and also welcomed the new year together. 

As for his wish for the new year, Mark kept it simple.

“More love, love, love in 2024,” he said.