PNoy to have family lunch on Christmas Day

(Updated 2:02 p.m.) Like many Filipinos, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will spend Christmas Day — or at least noontime of December 25 — with his family, Malacañang said Thursday. In an interview with reporters, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino will have lunch with his sisters and their families in his house, Bahay Pangarap, on Christmas day. Aquino has four sisters: Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Viel Aquino-Dee, and celebrity Kris Aquino. Kris is in the midst of annulling her marriage to basketball star James Yap. Lacierda said Malacañang is still arranging whether Aquino can attend a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) event on Saturday. "May family lunch, confirmed yun, but the event with the DSWD pinag-aaralan pa (The family lunch is confirmed but the event with the DSWD is still being studied)," Lacierda said. Earlier in the day, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino wants to continue his tradition of spending the occasion with his family. "Tulad ng nakaugalian, ang pamilya ang nangunguna sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko. Malamang kasama niya ang pamilya sa kapaskuhan (Usually he spends the day with his family, which for him should come first," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. Aquino had earlier said he may spend Christmas Day working and visiting some government offices rendering public service on that day. — Jam Sisante/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV