Noynoy in Davao for meeting ahead of ‘spiritual retreat’

Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III on Thursday flew to Davao City, his stop before embarking on a "spiritual retreat" in Zamboanga City to seek guidance on his political plans in next year's national elections. Aquino’s staff could not provide details on the senator's itinerary. In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Maria Carmen Mislang, Aquino’s political communications officer, said all they knew was that Aquino left Manila at about 6 a.m. for Davao. “He will be there (in Davao) for a meeting and then tonight he will fly to Zamboanga," Mislang said. Aquino would be staying at the Carmelite Church and Convent in Gov. Lim Avenue on Thursday night and the whole of Friday, his staff said. But the senator’s sister, television personality Kris Aquino-Yap, said during her television program Wednesday night that his brother would be in Zamboanga City on Friday and Saturday. She said her brother would be joined by the same religious workers who helped them cope with the sickness of their mother, former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, who died last August 1 due to colon cancer. The Carmelite nuns were among those who provided Mrs. Aquino sanctuary during the 1986 People Power Revolution. “Noy is very comfortable with them. Noy knows that they have a direct line with God and Noy feels that whatever it is they will impart to Noy, mensahe din yun ng Mom kaya dun siya pupunta (that will also be my mom's message)," Kris said. The senator is expected to be back in Manila on Sunday, Kris said. A close-in aide of Aquino said the senator would proceed to his home province of Tarlac after the retreat. - GMANews.TV