Christmas is family time for Noynoy

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino said he would spend time with family during the holidays but was mum on whether he would have a date.

He said there would be reunions with the Aquinos and Cojuangcos even as meetings and official engagements would also continue.

Yesterday was set for the Aquinos, after which his sisters and their families would be joining him for the Christmas Eve celebration.

Pinky Abellada said earlier that she and her sisters would visit the President, their only unmarried sibling.

Asked whether the President was also experience the “holiday blues” being single, Abellada quipped: “You’re fishing (for information).”

Today, the President said he would meet with the Cojuangcos and again with his sisters and their families.

He said he was also scheduled to have meetings, visit an orphanage and government employees who would be on duty such as policemen and soldiers.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also prepared an activity for him. But Malacañang declared the President’s schedule was “private.”

The President said he was very happy with the good news he has been getting about improvements and positive developments in the country, and that the wrinkles on his forehead have lessened if not disappeared.

“When I was in the Senate, my brow was like this,” he told The STAR, indicating a deeply furrowed brow.

But he has not been able to go out and buy personal gifts for his sisters because much of the time would be spent posing for photographs with people if he would go to a mall.

“So I don’t attempt (to go out) anymore,” Aquino said.

Aquino had eight meetings on Thursday and said these meetings would continue until the New Year, although he hoped to have some time to rest before welcoming 2011.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters that Aquino has six official engagements, including a lunch date with his sisters and their families at the Bahay Pangarap in Malacañang Park.

Aquino said the job of a chief executive is 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When asked if Aquino would be meeting with his rumored date, stockbroker Len Lopez, Lacierda said the best person to ask would be the President’s youngest sister, television talk show host Kris.

He said he is not aware if Lopez will join any of Aquino’s Christmas gatherings.

Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Office for Strategic Planning and Development said Aquino deserves to have a holiday break.

“I personally feel that the President should be given a Christmas day off to spend with his family. But that’s his decision and he hasn’t made a decision on that yet. As far as I know, the schedule on the 25th has not been finalized,” Carandang said.

“Definitely he’ll be with his family and close friends, whether or not he’s going to have any official functions is something that is being discussed by the office,” he added.

Lopez reportedly attended the Christmas party of the Cabinet members last Dec. 15 at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang, which Lacierda confirmed but Carandang was unsure of.

“Wala naman si Lacierda duon,” said Carandang, who noted that there were three female guests present but he was uncertain if one of them was Lopez, especially since the President didn’t introduce her to him.

“I won’t confirm or deny because there were some people there na hindi ko kilala. Iyung isa duon parang kamukha niya (that I don’t know. One of them sort of looks like her) but I’m not sure if it was her,” Carandang pointed out.

Aquino’s sister Kris said that her only brother introduced Lopez to all of them – Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and herself – and that she was impressed with how svelte Len was.

“I don’t think he would be mad that I confirmed that he’s dating Len because she’s not a public person. She works in a private industry. In the spirit of Christmas, maybe we could give him the gift of privacy until January,” Kris added.