Aquino to spend New Year's Eve with family

President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III will most likely celebrate New Year's Eve with his family in Manila, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Wednesday. In a press briefing, Lacierda said Aquino will probably welcome the new year with his family in his official residence, Bahay Pangarap, within the Malacañang compound. Aquino, who had also spent Christmas Day having lunch with his family in Bahay Pangarap, will also deliver a brief New Year message, said Lacierda. Aquino's "Ulat sa Bayan" will highlight his six-month-old administration's achievements so far, Lacierda added. "We will definitely inform the public, the people, of the accomplishments of the first six months of the Aquino administration," Laciera said. The Palace spokesman said Malacanang's communications group is still arranging the forum where Aquino will deliver his report. Lacierda had previously said that the president asked Cabinet members to submit performance reports to him by year-end. Aquino had earlier said the biggest achievement of his administration so far is to instill renewed hope in the Philippines' economy. On the other hand, Aquino said the biggest challenge his administration faced so far was dealing with the judiciary branch. Aquino cited several instances when the executive and judiciary branches were on opposite sides of national issues, such as: