Wishing or giving hints? Noy says he may have kids in 5 years

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is not ruling out the possibility of a presidential baby in the Palace before his term is over.

On seeing his friend and political ally neophyte Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo carrying one of his children at yesterday’s awarding of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall, the President hinted that he may have children too – sooner rather than later.

“Probably in five years’ time I’d be like that,” Mr. Aquino said, eliciting laughter and teasing from the crowd of mostly women. 

Quimbo’s wife, UP economic professor Ma. Stella Alabastro, was among the 11 awardees.

When pressed for confirmation that he indeed wanted to have a child by 2015, Mr. Aquino replied with a smile: “I told you before, hope springs eternal.”

After his recent breakup with girlfriend Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad, the President has been romantically linked to his stylist Liz Uy, who is also the editor of Preview magazine, but both parties have remained silent on the issue.

Uy is a close friend of Mr. Aquino’s youngest sister Kris, a popular TV talk show host.

The 50-year-old bachelor President had been saying he is already married to the country and that his personal life would, in all likelihood, take a backseat since he is pre-occupied with problems of state.

Mr. Aquino was seen having dinner with a woman at a Makati restaurant-bar last month, after reports of his break-up with Soledad broke out. He has asked reporters to spare his private life, which he said is only five percent.

“How can I have any love life if I live in a fishbowl?” he had asked reporters.

The girl he went out with, according to him, told him it would be the last time she would go out with him, primarily because she shuns the limelight.

Mr. Aquino’s eldest sister Ballsy has requested the public to allow her brother to have a date at least once a month so that he could also have a family of his own, and not just spend time with his nephews and nieces.

In yesterday’s ceremonies at the Palace, President Aquino vowed that his administration would continue to exert effort to protect the dignity of women through the implementation of just and fair laws.

He also called on the 2010 TOWNS awardees to be the government’s partners in protecting the rights of women and children, and those who have less in life.

The President handed the awards to 11, not just 10, winners this year.

They were Alabastro-Quimbo for Health Economics, Therese Badoy for Alternative Education, Arlene Bag-ao for Alternative Law, Kara Patria David for Broadcast Journalism, Laura David for Oceanography, Jo Enrica Enriquez for Anti-Trafficking of Women, Therese Fernandez for Social Entrepreneurship, Ma. Regina Alampay for Organizational Psychology, Carmela Lapitan for Medicine, Marissa Romero for Science and Technology, and Myla Villanueva for Information and Communications Technology.