BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental – It’s another romantic scenario for bachelor Pres. Aquino that wouldn’t fade away as yet.
This city’s unmarried Mayor Karen Villanueva, whom bachelor Pres. Aquino referred to as “guapa” during his visit here last September, said talk linking her to the President has made her “uncomfortable” but admitted she found him “charming.”
There are reports the President met her again at Clark Freeport during the national convention of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas last Nov. 12.
Admitting to Punto that she found the President charming, Villanueva, still single at 31, also described him as “entertainingly chatty when you get to talk to him.”
The President’s alleged interest in Villanueva was stoked by his speech during his visit to this city last September to inaugurate a modern P250-million “Mercado de Bais”, a modern public market with a cold storage, an elevator, a “child-minding center” and a multi-purpose hall.
During the inauguration, the President mentioned in his speech twice that he found the mayor “gwapa” or beautiful. “Kaya nga noong kampanya, naalala ko na sinabi ko ang dami palang magaganda rito sa Bais. Pero ngayon, talagang pwede kong sabihin na madami ngang magaganda dito, lalo na si Mayor Karen,” Aquino said in the local language.
Villanueva declined to comment when asked whether she and the President had more communication since the inauguration here. She said, however, that she would welcome any call from Aquino “anytime, of course, anytime.”
Obviously intelligent and rather outspoken, Villanueva said “I have not really delved into it” when asked how she has been affected by talk of possible romantic links between her and the President.
“I feel sometimes that a part of me is uncomfortable, but a part of me thinks naman okay sige, nakilala ang Bais through me and it is one of the challenges I face as mayor of a second class city and we need to make as many people aware of the city, come and see the beauty of Bais to pump growth into it, bring in ideas, bring in people, bring in activity,” she said.
Villanueva also declined to comment on whether she and the President have been communicating via phone calls or texts, but added “I would not mind” if they did.
The city has been busy putting up a revolving Christmas tree at the city plaza for a 40-year-old tradition that would start with its lighting on Dec. 6.
“Somebody suggested that we invite the President again but then, it would be a security concern since the lighting would be at night and in an open space,” she said.
Villanueva said, however, that she and other city officials would probably again invite Aquino in yet another local affair during daytime.
Tourists come here to take boat rides to Tanyon Strait, reputedly the second deepest body of water in the country, to watch dolphins in the wild open seas, as well as to walk of sand bars that appear and disappear according to the tides in the middle of the strait.
Large boats are available for hire here and arrangements could be made for lunch or dinner cooked on board.
