PNoy wishes Shalani luck on TV hosting job

(Updated 6:12 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Monday wished his Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad well on her decision to join popular TV host Willie Revillame's new game show, Willing Willie, as a co-host. "We wish her really well. I understand she looks at it as a perspective to broaden her ability to serve her constituents so sana yung upside will be fully attained, she finds fulfillment and happiness in it, yung downside naman of being in showbiz hopefully will be very mitigated or non existent," Aquino said in an ambush interview with reporters in Malacañang. When asked whether he will watch Soledad in her debut as Revillame's co-host, Aquino said: "It depends on how much material I will be given tonight to study." Aquino quickly added, however, that he has to study a lot of issues related to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Japan later this week which he will attend. Earlier in the day, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino hopes Soledad will find fulfillment and happiness in her new endeavor. "Sana ang hakbang na ito ay magpalapit sa pagtamo niya ng kaganapan kung saan siya magiging tunay na masaya (I hope this step will bring her closer to fulfillment where she will be truly happy)," said Valte, reading Aquino's text message. Soledad will debut as Revillame's co-host on Monday night. Although there has been no confirmation, it is widely rumored that Soledad's relationship with Aquino has ended after two years. Incidentally, Revillame, who is in the middle of a legal battle with his former station, ABS-CBN, was a known supporter of Senator Manny Villar Jr., Aquino's closest rival for the presidency during the campaign season for the May 10, 2010 elections. Aquino said nothing regarding Soledad joining a show hosted by a supporter of his erstwhile rival. While both Soledad and Aquino have yet to categorically say in public that they have called it quits, the 50-year-old Aquino, the country's first bachelor president, hinted last month that he went on a date with a new woman. Aquino is currently being linked to his stylist Liz Uy. Soledad was always warmly welcomed whenever she appeared in Aquino's sorties and events during the campaign period. However, she and Aquino were rarely seen together since he took over the presidency in June, and rumors that the two have parted ways began to surface around September. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV