President Aquino can’t quit smoking yet

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III is not ready to follow the advice of former President Fidel V. Ramos for people to quit smoking.

“Not at this time, not yet,” Mr. Aquino told the Inquirer on Monday night at the wake for Josephine Martinez Ramos, daughter of the former president, who succumbed to lung cancer.

“Can it (smoking) induce stress?” Mr. Aquino quipped when asked what he thought of Ramos’ advice to people not to smoke that he gave in a TV interview, citing what happened to his daughter.

Jo Ramos was a talented athlete and musician. She brought honor to the Philippines as a competitive water skier. She was a singer and musician in bands and a backup dancer for Gary Valenciano. She also smoked. Although the cancer was discovered in November last year, she kept it from her family until five weeks ago, Ramos said.

Told that he might suffer the same fate, Mr. Aquino said, “Alam mo lahat naman may tadhana (You know we all have our own fate).”