James “Bimby” Aquino-Yap, son of Kris Aquino, considers fashion designer Michael Leyva a father figure, with Leyva offering steadfast support for both Bimby’s homeschooling and Kris Aquino’s medical treatments. Kris’s close friend, Dindo Balares, shared this bond in a recent Instagram post, revealing a heartfelt birthday card Bimby wrote for Leyva, in which he referred to him as “Dad.”
Leyva, known for his work with major celebrities and politicians, has been a strong support for Aquino’s family over the years. Balares mentioned that Leyva often covers expenses for Bimby, Aquino’s elder son Josh, and Kris herself, even during challenging times. Kris, grateful for Leyva’s generosity, shared that he has embraced Bimby and Josh as his own family. Despite his success, Leyva’s close connection to Aquino has remained steady, and he credits her for helping him early in his career.
Leyva has designed iconic looks for Kris Aquino, including her gown for the final State of the Nation Address of the late President Benigno Aquino III and her red carpet attire for the Crazy Rich Asians premiere in 2018. He has also created pieces for high-profile figures such as Heart Evangelista, Regine Velasquez, and former Vice President Leni Robredo.
Bimby’s biological father, basketball player James Yap, revealed earlier this month that he hasn’t seen his son in 10 years, adding context to Bimby’s connection with Leyva.