Kris interviews Shalani

MANILA, Philippines - Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, the girlfriend of presidential frontrunner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, has disclosed details about her personal life in an interview with Aquino’s sister, talk show host Kris Aquino-Yap.

In the episode of ‘The Buzz’ aired yesterday, the 30-year old councilor also revealed her feelings about the constant pressure on them to get married, now that Aquino has virtually won the presidential race. Aquino-Yap had previously hinted disapproval of Soledad’s relationship with Aquino when she said on national television that her son, Joshua, would not want his uncle to get married.

In the episode aired yesterday, Aquino-Yap said her relationship with Soledad changed when she saw how her brother’s girlfriend campaigned for him despite the physical discomforts and intrigues that came with it.

 In the interview, Soledad talked about her middle class upbringing. Born on April 27, 1980, she was raised by her grandparents because her mother, who was separated from her father, had worked in Kuwait for 20 years and could only go on vacation for two months every year.

Growing up, she became close to her uncle, aunt, and her cousins. She was not able to have a relationship with her father because he is not on good terms with her mother.

“There was really no relationship, but yes, I know him. It’s because he and my mommy are not on good terms,” she said.

In school, Soledad described herself as an average student. She, however, developed a passion for telling Bible stories to younger students.

Because of her early immersion in politics, she has not yet completed her human resource management course in De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, where she has still a Physical Education course to complete.

She said, however, that she does not regret her decision to work as a public official at a young age.

“I thought it was showbiz cliché, to talk about sense of fulfillment. But I found it here,” Soledad said. “Ang sarap, sarap ng feeling (It’s a good feeling).”

Soledad met Aquino when she worked as a staff member of Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

In a meeting at Alfredo’s restaurant in Quezon City, Aquino’s staff took the telephone numbers of all the staffers, including Soledad’s.

Aquino later invited them to have coffee, during which he told Soledad about the time he was injured in an ambush during an attempted coup against his mother, former President Corazon Aquino. He survived because some of his aided were killed.

“I told him: Senator, maybe it’s not yet your time and he said, maybe it’s because he would meet me 20 years later,” Soledad recalled, smiling.

She and Aquino had their first date on July 28, 2008, during which they watched the movie “For the First Time” at SM Valenzuela.

“But that was the first and last (movie of that kind),” Soledad said, laughing.

Soledad said she decided to give Aquino a chance because his presence makes her feel giddy and because he is “honest and true.” She said she had learned from previous relationships and wanted someone who would not fool her.

She said her mother has warned her to be cautious of her relationship with Aquino because of the family’s social status. “(My mother said) we are not rich, they might look down on you,” Soledad said.

They are now together for one year and eight months and have been together since Sept. 5, 2008.

Soledad said Aquino would go with her and her cousins to Time Zone and dine with them almost every night.

Soledad admitted that her relationship with Aquino became rocky when his mother was at the hospital and she did not know how to deal with Aquino’s despair.                                                      

They eventually made up and maintained closeness during the pressures of the campaign period by regularly exchanging text messages. Soledad described her boyfriend as “sweet” but occasionally “mataray” (snooty).

One time in the middle of the campaign, she called him up to say she was missing him. Aquino scolded her saying: “You called just to tell me that? I’m in the middle of a conversation…” Nevertheless, she campaigned for Aquino because she believed in him.

“I wanted to be of help to Noy,” Soledad said. Now that Aquino has practically won the presidential race, the couple is also pressured to tie the knot soon.

Soledad said they already have a “deep commitment” for each other but she also understands that Aquino would have to focus first on the task of leading the country.

Asked if she can wait for six years, she replied: “I hope… As long as you love the person, you will wait.” She admitted, however, that she was hurt when Aquino publicly declared that marriage would not be his priority if he wins the presidential race.

Soledad said any woman would want her relationship to be for the long term and end up in marriage eventually, but she would support what Aquino needs at this time. “Whatever happens, I’m here,” she said. “Kay Noy, super love kita.”