No official event for PNoy on Christmas Day, just family time

There will be no official event for President Benigno Aquino III on Christmas Day because he will be spending it entirely with his family, a Palace official said Friday. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang said Aquino won't attend a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) event, which the Palace had proposed to be part of the president's Christmas activities. "Hindi na siya matutuloy... he's going to be spending the time with the Aquinos and the Cojuangcos, so wala na siyang official event," Carandang told Malacañang reporters in a phone-patch interview. Carandang said Aquino, a 50-year-old bachelor, will also spend noche buena with his family, although the Palace official said he was not sure whether the president will spend the day with his maternal or paternal relatives. Aquino has four sisters, all of whom have children. They are: 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. Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. had said Aquino wants to continue his tradition of spending the occasion with his family. "Usually he spends the day with his family, which for him should come first," said Coloma. Aquino's next scheduled official event is the signing of the 2011 budget in Malacañang on December 27. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV