No date for Aquino once he returns to Manila

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III dismissed plans of seeing a special someone when he gets back to Manila from Dumaguete City on Wednesday.

Aquino, who is celebrating his 52nd birthday today (Wednesday), flew to Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental to personally oversee the relief and rescue operations being conducted by his officials following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the province last Monday.

The earthquake caused massive destruction on roads and bridges in Dumaguete and landslides in several villages in Guihulngan City and La Libertad.

As the President returns to Manila, he said will be having a small gathering in Malacanang together with his staff and the Presidential Security Group.

"Meron ho akong pinahandang meryenda doon sa nagtra-trabaho sa opisina ko po at saka doon sa PSG nakabantay. So pare-parehong nagtra-trabaho may meryenda ho sila dapat. Sine-serve na yata ngayon," he said in an ambush interview when asked about his plan for remaining hours of his birthday.

He added in jest that he is waiting for a treat from the Cabinet members accompanied him during his visit in Dumaguete.

"Ako po naghihintay lang ako sa kabaitan ng aking mga Cabinet secretary baka pakainin nila ako mamaya," he quipped.

"Pero malamang hindi na ho, magpapahinga na ho silang konti dahil marami silang assignment eh," he further said.

President Aquino earlier refused to divulge his personal plans for his birthday.

The 52 year-old bachelor president has been dating 29-year-old TV entertainment host and radio disc jockey Grace Lee. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)