MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino, the country’s most eligible bachelor, celebrated Valentine’s Day yesterday with friends, but refused to baby-sit his nephews Joshua and Bimby.
The 54-year-old Chief Executive did not say if he spent Valentine’s Day with anyone special.
He celebrated the occasion with close friends, after he greeted his youngest sister, celebrity-host Kris Aquino, who also celebrated her birthday yesterday.
The President said he would get together with some friends for a simple celebration, but added, “Siguro, hindi naman idedeposito sa akin ni Kris yung kanyang mga anak (I hope Kris won’t leave her kids with me).â€
Aquino also took the opportunity to thank Sen. Sonny Angara, who greeted him and reminded him that it was Kris’ birthday.
“Perhaps if it were not for him, I would have forgotten that it’s Kris’ birthday,†the President said.
In a previous chance interview, Aquino diverted queries on his love life, saying that as President, it is his job to ensure that journalists – like the rest of Filipinos all over the country – enjoy their dates and have a “peaceful celebration†of Valentine’s Day.
Couples exchange vows
But Valentine’s Day became even lovelier for the dozens of couples who got married yesterday.
In Bicol, 150 couples exchanged vows during a mass wedding at the Cagsawa Ruins Park eight kilometers from Mayon Volcano.
The mass wedding was one of the highlights of the month-long celebration of “Cagsawa Dos Siglos†or the 200th anniversary of Mayon volcano’s most violent eruption on Feb. 1, 1814.
The park was filled with the parents, relatives and grown-up children of the newlyweds. Fr. Jun Barquez, parish priest of the Our Lady of the Gate parish in Daraga town, officiated the wedding.
The godparents were Daraga town Mayor Jerry Jaucian and municipal councilors Mabel Tan, Buddy Llamasares, Teresa Bausa, Neil Montallana, Joey Marcellana, Maning Comia, Mark Magalona and Christopher Dalaguit.
At the St. Joseph Chapel in Camp Crame, 12 couples exchanged “I do’s†in a mass wedding. They had Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo, director of Police Regional Office 7, as one of their principal sponsors.
One of those who got married is Senior Superintendent Romulo Esteban, 52, who finally wed his partner of 25 years, Yolanda. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Celso Amo