Palace job easier if there's FL - Noy

BALER, Aurora, Philippines – Someone to stand by him. This is what President Aquino said would make the presidency less taxing – a first lady to help him run the affairs of state.

Speaking at the capitol grounds here yesterday on the occasion of the 33rd founding anniversary of the province coinciding with the 124th birth anniversary of former first lady Aurora Aragon-Quezon, Aquino said his job would be easier and a lot different if someone were helping him out.

“Iba po siguro talaga ang may inspirasyon (Maybe having an inspiration is really different),” he said, drawing cheers from Aurorans.

The President, however, did not indicate if he was referring to Korean TV personality Grace Lee, who was reportedly his date on Valentine’s Day.

He cited the case of the late former President Manuel Quezon, who he said was lucky enough to have Aurora by his side during the Commonwealth Era.

Aquino extolled the former first lady and expressed regrets that she met her death under tragic circumstances, referring to the ambush by Hukbalahaps that also killed a daughter and a relative years after her husband died toward the end of the Pacific War.

Aquino led the wreath-laying rites at the statue of Aurora Aragon-Quezon at the capitol grounds. He also inaugurated the Aurora Memorial Hospital.

Sen. Edgardo Angara gifted him with a book on the biography of Mrs. Quezon.  

When newsmen asked him about getting married, Aquino candidly admitted that he is still hoping to find a wife and that he had long wanted to marry since he was in college but had not been lucky.

“I never had the luck to find someone,” he said.

The 52-year-old bachelor President was in a jolly mood when he answered queries about his love life.

While he previously admitted dating Grace Lee, Aquino played coy to a specific question on his inspiration nowadays.

“Kung sino iyon, aalamin natin iyon (Whoever that is, we will find out),” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

But the President reiterated that he is “married” to the Filipino people.

Given the burdens of office, Aquino said it would be better if there was someone he could talk to in order to ease the pressure. – With Delon Porcalla