MANILA, Philippines ? Television host Kris Aquino-Yap and husband basketball superstar James Yap faced each other for the first time on Friday before a local court after their split-up for the hearing of Yap's motion for rights to visit their three-year-old son, James Jr.

The hearing at the Makati regional trial court turned into a circus when kibitzers and city hall employees gathered near the courtroom to catch a glimpse of the celebrity couple.

Members of media, however, were barred from covering the proceedings.