Noy: Spare my lovelife, please

MANILA, Philippines - Bachelor President Aquino yesterday requested Palace reporters to spare his lovelife from the eyes of the public, saying this would only prolong his single-blessedness.

“I will appeal to all of you to please keep my private life private. It’s only five percent,” the 50-year-old President said, after he announced in a press conference the results of the review he made of the Aug. 23 bungled hostage crisis in Rizal Park.

“Don’t worry, I’ll invite you – it depends if I can still hold a stag party 20 years from now, or get married in a wheelchair,” he joked. “Would anything happen if I’m in a fishbowl?”

He said that “at this point in time, my priority is focused on the affairs of the state.”

Without confirming whether he and girlfriend Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad have really called it quits, Mr. Aquino joined the Malacañang press corps in a light banter before he finally left the Palace briefing room.

He neither confirmed nor denied if he was dating anyone, such as the woman he was seen with at a restaurant in Makati City.

“I met her several years ago. I’m just being friendly at this point in time. I won’t see her again because she doesn’t like being the center of attention,” he said.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who sought the President’s comment on the status of his lovelife, said what he got was that Mr. Aquino and Soledad were merely preoccupied with their jobs.

Sources said Mr. Aquino and Soledad had a “cool off” period and broke up shortly after the President came back from his United States trip.

No romance between

Win, Shalani

Meanwhile, Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian branded yesterday as “unfair” reports that he is dating Soledad.

“There is no romantic relationship between Mayor Win and Councilor Shalani,” Gatchalian’s spokesperson, Ahna Mejia told The STAR. “In fact Mayor Win said it’s unfair to the councilor. Let’s leave it at that.”

Gatchalian issued the statement following reports that he and Soledad were seen holding hands while strolling in a mall.

Soledad, who left for Cambodia last week, was also quoted by ABS-CBN as having denied the rumor when asked by a follower of her Twitter account. “Not true,” the councilor replied, the report said.

The rumors of a romance between Gatchalian and Soledad followed talk that Soledad and Mr. Aquino have separated. – With Perseus Echeminada