Noy on marriage: If it comes, OK

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino revealed yesterday that he would be happy if marriage would come even after his presidency, since a woman would never be his priority over the position that the people have entrusted to him.

The President said that his youngest sister Kris did not have permission to talk about his love life but then, although she had promised to keep quiet, “I guess it’s difficult to change.”

He said Kris had promised to keep her hands off and her mouth shut on his love life but again told media that he had introduced his constant date Len Lopez to her and their other sisters.

“So I asked her what happened to your pronouncement that you’re keeping quiet? But I guess sometimes it’s difficult to change,” the President said.

He told journalists whom he had known for a while that they were witnesses to how he “tried and tried” to find his partner.

“I’d really put things in perspective, perhaps the things I had to do in God’s plan stated it was not yet time for me to find the person, perhaps I needed the independence, I needed perhaps the lack of other considerations to be able to carry out the things He asked of me. I’m hoping by 2016, June 30 noon or actually, 11 a.m. of June 30, which is about five and a half years from now, that would be the end point of the things that he has tasked me to do,” Aquino said.

Aquino said having a family was supposed to be the start of “peace time” but apparently that would not be the case while serving as the country’s leader.

“If it comes thank you, if it doesn’t come, hopefully it will be something else but at the end of the day there is such a palpable opportunity for all of us to change radically and that has to be the priority,” Aquino said.

When asked what he was looking for in a woman and if he would ever give up the presidency for her, the President said no.

“The presidency is not mine to give, in the sense that I was propelled by the people to the position. I could not face those who poured in their talents and courage just to bring about change if it would only lead to something personal. I made a promise to them and I cannot fail them,” Aquino said.

He said there were times he wished he could have some quiet time in a far mountainous place, but then he has an obligation to fulfill.

“At the end of it all, I would want to look back and see that I’m leaving something a lot better than what I found. If I’m able to achieve that then I can already say that my obligation is finished,” the President said.

Aquino admitted he was counting the days and one time remarked to someone close to him: “Five years at kalahati na lang (and a half only), sagot niya sa akin (but he told me) five years and a half pa (to go)!”

He said the prospects were good for the country and that he does not mind the lack of privacy and the lack of opportunity for his love life to blossom if he would become successful in turning the country around.

“Those are the tradeoffs but I expected that,” he said.