President Noynoy is making wedding plans?

After being linked to several women, President Aquino finally spilled the beans – somewhat – on his love life Tuesday, saying he intends to finally get married when he steps down from office in 2016.

The country’s bachelor leader shared his desire for marriage, apart from ushering a more progressive nation, by the end of his term during a lake seeding activity in Jala-Jala, Rizal.

The latest tidbit on the President’s love life was made despite his recent appeals to the public, especially the media, to respect his privacy.

“Manalig po kayo: Hangga’t pagkakapwa-tao at hindi panlalamang ang isinasapuso natin, pagbaba ko sa puwesto sa 2016, sana po ay nakapagasawa na (Trust me, as long as I only have human compassion and no ill will against anybody, when I step down from office in 2016, hopefully I will be married by then),” the President said in his remarks, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The 51-year-old Aquino then continued, “babangon kayo sa isang Pilipinas na mas maunlad, mas marangal at mas maipagmamalaki sa buong mundo (You will rise to a Philippines that is more prosperous, honorable and one you can be proud of).”

The President’s latest comment about his desire for marriage was a spontaneous remark inserted in a prepared Filipino speech for the lake-seeding event.

Aquino led the release of 200,000 tilapia and carp fingerlings into Laguna Lake as he expressed hope that this would lead to a better harvest and livelihood for the people. He also made an appeal to the communities surrounding Laguna Lake to take care of the lake and avoid illegal fishing and dumping of garbage.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte, meantime, underscored that the President has the prerogative to share some details about his love life despite his appeals for the public to stop prying into his personal business.

“There are some things he shares and there are others that he would like to keep for himself,” Valte said in a later press conference in the Palace in trying to explain Aquino’s penchant to volunteer information about his personal life.
“Sometimes he would like to share and joke about the status of his love life,” she added.

Valte acknowledged that the President has often been asked about his love life and “there is a very high interest in his personal life because he is a bachelor President.”

Recently, the President appealed to the public, especially the media, to stay away from his personal life after he was seen dating a lady friend during a band concert.

By GENALYN D. KABILING