MANILA, Philippines—The concert wouldn’t start without the President and when he finally came, he had a surprise with him: A new date who a concert promoter said comes “from Cebu.”
Aides of President Benigno Aquino III refused to identify the woman, with a source close to the President saying this was to give “romance a chance to blossom.”
The country’s most eligible bachelor and his female companion arrived together to watch the Hotdog reunion concert on Monday night at the ballroom of Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
Those who a had close look at the pair described her as having mestiza features similar to those of Shalani Soledad, the President’s former girlfriend.
“They have been friends for sometime now and just renewed their acquaintance recently,” the source said, adding that the 51-year-old Mr. Aquino and his latest date had gone out “several times” before.
Stolen shots
It was the incoming presidential chief of staff, former Sen. Mar Roxas, who bought the tickets for the 34 people who occupied the three tables reserved for the President and his group, according to promoters.
Among those at the presidential table were Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and wife Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and wife Marides, Chair Cristino Naguiat of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and wife Maria Theresa Socorro, and Roxas.
Roxas came without wife Korina Sanchez, who reportedly had just returned the same day from a trip to Korea.
Judging from their smiles and occasional talk, Mr. Aquino and his date seemed to have enjoyed the show—notwithstanding the stolen shots taken by the Inquirer photographer, who said he tried his discreet best not to incur the ire of presidential bodyguards, who kept motioning to him to train his camera elsewhere.
