Aquino admits marriage on his mind a long time

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BALER, Aurora—Is President Benigno Aquino III seriously thinking of marrying?

The middle-aged bachelor said Sunday he was still hoping to find a wife, saying that it would make him a better leader.

Aquino, who turned 52 this month and recently confirmed he was dating a South Korean woman, Grace Lee, said he had been looking for a wife for years but had never found one.

“I have been planning this for a long time, since college even. But I just have been unlucky,” he told reporters here.

The President’s love life came up again when he spoke at the 33rd anniversary of Aurora province which also commemorates the 124th birth anniversary of Aurora Aragon-Quezon, wife of President Manuel Quezon.

Mr. Aquino marveled at the way Aurora Quezon played her role of first lady during the term of her husband.

“As the first lady she became a partner of her spouse in public service and led efforts in programs that catered to the needy,” Mr. Aquino remarked.

Truly, President Quezon was “lucky” because he had someone with him in running the country “in richness and in poorness.”

“That’s why at times I cannot help but think there is a big difference if you have an inspiration,” the President said, drawing cheers from the audience that included Senator Edgardo Angara, Baler Governor Bellaflor Castillo and Baler Representative Juan Edgardo Angara.

Asked by reporters later what he meant, Mr. Aquino said he was referring to his late parents, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, whom he said would have not achieved what they did “if they had not found each other.”

“I am also aspiring for that,” he said.

Asked who his inspiration was, the Chief Executive said he would find out, as he reiterated that he was looking up to his parents as his “role models.”

He added that he was also inspired by teachings in college about “Christian commitment and theology of marriage.”

“That is, all couples agree to be in one, and the one that is achieved is greater than the sum of its parts,” he said.

He added in Filipino: “Given the burdens of my office, if there was someone you could confide in, someone you could talk to, someone who would tell you, ‘you are still doing OK,’ then of course, that would be a key to your inspiration.”

Asked if  he was thinking of settling down then, he admitted he had planned to get married since he was in college.

“It’s just that I have been unlucky.” With a report from AFP