Girlfriend to skip Noynoy's proclamation?

Will Shalani Soledad be present during the proclamation of her boyfriend, presidential front-runner Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III? Aquino refused to directly answer the question when asked by reporters Sunday. "Gusto ko 'yung family ko will be there," Aquino said when asked if Soledad, who is also a city councilor of Valenzuela, will attend his proclamation. Aquino is expected to be named the new president either Monday or Tuesday, when the Philippine Congress finishes the canvassing of votes for the country's top two posts from the May 10 polls. He will be sworn into office on June 30. In an interview aired over GMA Network's "24 Oras," Aquino admitted feeling a mixture of fear, uneasiness, and joy at the prospect of assuming the country's top government post. "With the monumental tasks ahead, one cannot be totally joyful at the prospect. It will still be a struggle, a fight, and I think the first two years is more important. It has to be really palpable," he said. Popular fashion designers JC Buendia and Paul Cabral have each come up with their version of the traditional barong tagalog for Aquino, but the senator's camp has yet to decide which one he will wear during his proclamation. Aquino was in a private lunch with his family on Sunday to celebrate the 15th birthday of his nephew Josh, the son of his sister Kris Aquino-Yap. As this developed, Malacañang said it is looking forward to a prompt proclamation of the winners in the presidential and vice presidential race. Deputy presidential spokesperson Rogelio Peyuan said there should be no more distraction as preparations still have to be made for the Independence Day celebration on June 12, and the presidential inauguration on June 30. "Siguro dapat makita ang wakas nito para hindi ma-defeat ang purpose ng automated national election na dapat mas maaga at mabilis ang resulta ng bilangan," Peyuan said on government-run dzRB radio. Last week, leaders of Congress said they expect to proclaim the winners in the presidential and vice presidential race by Tuesday, at the latest. Debates over alleged poll fraud had delayed the canvassing of votes at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City. Peyuan said Malacañang wants to see an end to the canvassing since the incoming president and vice president will need time to prepare for their jobs. "(Dapat silang) mabigyan ng sapat ng panahong maihanda ang sarili at tanggapan nila, sa pagtanggap ng responsibilidad na magmaneho ng bansa," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV