Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, Kris fill role of Aquino’s first lady

THE AQUINO sisters (from left) Viel, Pinky, Kris and Ballsy INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/Edwin Bacasmas

AGAIN, IT’S going to be one of those days when a first lady would be needed. But there being none, President Aquino’s sisters would be around to quickly fill the role.

Presidential sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abelleda, Viel Aquino-Dee and Kris Aquino will be on hand to make sure the wives of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum will have a memorable stay in the Philippines.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., director general of the Apec National Organizing Council, said President Aquino being a bachelor, “his sisters are hosting all of the spouses of the leaders who are coming here.”

“The Presidential sisters are planning and making suggestions as to how they’d like to host the spouses who are coming,” Paynor told a media briefing.

In all likelihood, all eyes would be on the youngest of the Aquino sisters—the gregarious Kris, who is even a bigger celebrity than her brother.

From her clothes to her one-liners, Kris Aquino has the uncanny talent of turning an ordinary event into an interesting one.

Kris, even as a celebrity, and her sisters have all managed to keep a low profile when it comes to being part of the first family.

They are hardly seen at the Palace, except for official functions, when the presence of a first lady, or in their case, a “first sister,” is required.

Paynor said the President’s sisters would host a lunch and a tour of Intramuros, the historic place “being part of our heritage,” for the leaders’ spouses.

“They will be allowed to have their own time to go shopping,” Paynor said.

Unlike in 1996, when Manila hosted the Apec meeting, there won’t be any forum this time for the spouses. That time, then US first lady Hillary Clinton was the most awaited spouse, with all eyes as much on her as on her husband—then President Bill Clinton.

Hillary delivered the keynote speech at the Women and the Economy Forum sponsored by the National Council of Women of the Philippines.

The Inquirer then reported that in their eagerness to see Hillary, even the perfumed set stole each other’s seats.

Paynor said it was “understandable” why there would be no spouses’ forum this time, given that Mr. Aquino is a bachelor.

“But more than that I don’t recall having a spouses’ forum in the Apec meetings that I have attended thus far,” Paynor said.

Paynor said that Apec was now also giving more “importance” to the Apec Business Advisory Council and the CEO Summit.