PNoy still looking for his 'palangga'

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, who usually refuses to talk about his love life, admitted Friday that he is still looking for his ‘palangga’ – an Ilonggo word for “loved one" or “lover." In his speech at the ceremonial distribution of social services in Iloilo City, Aquino said there were so many beautiful girls in the province. “Madamo gali sang gwapa diri sa Iloilo," he said, adding: “Dahil ako po ay naghahanap pa ng palangga. Kadalasan po palanggana lang ang nadatnan natin." In an interview with reporters after the event, the President said he has been looking for the “right one" for about 33 years. Aquino is now 51 years old. “About 33 years ko nang ginagawa ‘yan. Hindi mo naman puwedeng sabihin priority ko pa iyon, pero kapag bigla na lang magmilagro isang araw dumating bigla diyan, ikaw ang una kong iimbitahin. Ngayon ikaw naman ang hindi iimbitahin kung hindi naman matuloy," he told the reporter who asked about his remark during the speech. Asked if somebody broke his heart, he said many girls did. “Kapag tinitingnan ko naman [karanasang] iyon, hindi naman ako pinersonal," he said, adding that they were just not meant for each other. “Kapag ganoon po, hindi kayo tugma, ganoon lang po iyon, naghahanap ako ng partner for life, hindi naman puwedeng partner for the next two months, for the next six months," Aquino added. He said Senator Franklin Drilon and Iloilo Governor Art Defensor were lucky because they were able to find their partners in life. “Nahanap nila ang kanilang mga partners in life right away. May balance din naman sa mundo, siguro darating din iyong time ko," he said. Before the distribution of social services, President Aquino attended the inauguration of 2 x 82-megawatt coal-fired power plants held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC), Barangay Ingore, also in Iloilo. 'Clean' coal-fired plant The construction of the newly-inaugurated coal-fired power plant, which uses "clean coal" technology, began in January 2009. It will also be the first base-load power plant to be operated in the country. The power plant uses the latest circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler technology which ensures practically negligible levels of emissions (95% and higher efficiency in removing sulfur dioxide and practically zero nitrogen oxide) and capture of total solid particles at 99.9-percent efficiency. PEDC's power plant is in line with Global Power’s campaign for cleaner transitional technology. In his keynote speech, Aquino underscored the significance of having a reliable source of energy to a nation’s progress, even as he encouraged the local residents to explore other sources that will lure more investors and eventually uplift the economic development of the province. He also stressed the important contributions the new power plant will bring, not only to Iloilo City but also to its neighboring provinces. “Indeed, this new found security in energy will eventually spur both investments and tourism, thus, uplifting the economic stature of the localities," the President said. “This is both a good sign and a challenge. With this power plant in place, the next step forward is to augment the projected power requirements in the whole Visayas grid with new and appropriate energy technologies. We should also start exploring and harnessing the potential of renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydro power, among others that are abundant in your area", he added. The Chief Executive said reliable source of energy is a foundation of progress. “Lack of access to sustainable energy is a drawback to economic and social development of a country," he added. Aquino also thanked the PEDC for investing in the P20-billion peso coal-fired power plant. The new power plant, the President said, heralds a new era of electric generation in Panay for it will serve as a great boost to the entire Visayas grid, providing reliable, secure, and reasonably-priced electricity to the region. — LBG, GMA News