PNoy's love interest: Trisha, Barbie, Liz?

PNoy's love interest: Trisha, Barbie, Liz?
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 10/12/2010

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Try as he might, President Benigno Aquino III still fails to keep his personal life private.

The 50-year-old bachelor's lovelife has been in the public eye since last year after rumblings of his presidential run started in August last year.

This month, rumors were rife that the President is dating various women after allegedly breaking up with Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad.

Former child star and now television news reporter Patricia Ann Roque  is said to have caught Aquino’s attention.



In her interview with tabloid “Remate Tonight,” however, Roque expressed confusion as to how her name was dragged into the issue. According to her, she has never met the President face-to-face.

Even the President denied ever meeting the TV reporter.

Aquino did, however, admit being "friendly" at this point of time after being seen with an unidentified woman in a posh restaurant in Makati over the weekend.

The President refused to identify the mystery date, and even hinted that he might have struck out: “’Yong nakasama ko doon, di na kami magkikita muli dahil ayaw niyang center of attraction siya," he said.

The Manila Standard reported on Tuesday that Barbie Palagos  was Aquino's date in the restaurant in Greenbelt last Saturday. However, the manager of the restaurant reportedly said she looks different from the woman who was with the President.

Manila Standard said: "Mr. Aquino was seen with the woman, who answered to the name Barbie Palagos, at the swank Nuvo Restaurant and Wine Bar in Greenbelt 2, and a source described her as 'sweet.'

"But the Barbie Palagos seen with the President that night was not the same woman in Facebook, according to the restaurant’s manager. The Barbie in Facebook was younger than the one who dated Mr. Aquino, and she was 25 to 27 years old."


Image grab of People's Balita photo of President Aquino with an unidentified lady in a Pasay City mall.
The People's Balita also showed a front-page photo of Aquino walking with a pretty woman in a mall in Pasay City.

The third woman to be romantically linked to the President is his personal stylist, fashion magazine editor Liz Uy.

Uy is a former girlfriend of actor John Lloyd Cruz.

Upon the recommendation of Aquino’s youngest sister, actress-TV host Kris Aquino, Uy joined a team that oversees the President’s wardrobe and looks.

Up until today, Uy is staying away from the limelight. Her close friend, actress Anne Curtis, denied the rumors, saying Uy was merely laughing off the speculations.

Curtis further said that it was an old issue, and Uy has long been aware of it.

PNoy’s appeals to stop inquiring about his personal life seem to be falling on deaf ears as the public continues to keep an eye on his love life. -Report from Ginger Conejero, ABS-CBN News


PNoy, Shalani broke up?
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 10/09/2010

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III and Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad have reportedly broken up 2 weeks ago, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A source said to be close to Aquino confirmed to the broadsheet Friday night that the bachelor President and Soledad, his girlfriend of more than one year, have called it quits at the restaurant where they first dated--Alfredo's Restaurant on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City.

No third party was involved, contrary to circulating rumors saying Aquino is smitten with Trish Roque, a reporter of TV5.

When RG Cruz, a reporter of ABS-CBN News, asked Aquino about Roque, he said, “not even sure I have met the individual.” (See story here).

'No comment'

This is not the first time that Aquino and Soledad were rumored to have broken up.

A few months ago, there was talk that the two have called it quits, a report that Soledad vehemently denied.

This time around, though, Soledad--and Aquino--refused to comment on the reported breakup.

In reply to Cruz's question about the issue, Aquino replied via SMS: "Rg let me preserve what little I have of my private life.”

Soledad said almost the same thing: “would rather not comment na muna rg.”

Inquirer also tried to get Soledad's reply, and she texted, "I'd rather not answer that for the moment."

Another source close to the First Family was also asked by Cruz if the report was true. The source said, "Baka nga."

No time for each other?

Speculations have swirled regarding the possible cause of the couple's breakup.

Aside from a possible third party, the couple's busy schedules were said to have affected their relationship.

It has been quite some time since Soledad was seen in the company of the 50-year-old bachelor President.

Although she was present during Aquino's oath taking at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park last June 30, she was not there during his first State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex last July 26.

And last Thursday, October 7 when Aquino gave a speech marking his first 100 days in office, Soledad was not in the audience at La Consolacion College in Manila, where the event was held.

According to the Inquirer, Aquino told a friend that the breakup was inevitable "kung hindi na siya (Soledad) masaya."

It also said that it was Aquino who initiated the breakup.

Inquirer also reported that sources said Aquino is not dating anyone seriously.