PNoy Confirms Dating Grace Lee

MANILA, Philippines — It’s confirmed.

President Benigno S. Aquino III admitted Wednesday he is dating Korean television and radio host Grace Lee.

“Well, we’re seeing each other,” was the 51-year-old bachelor President’s answer when asked on the real score between him and Grace Lee.

He, however, did not disclose other details, saying that he has a right to privacy.

“Sa Constitution po natin may nakalagay na privacy, eh. Baka pwedeng mabahaginan din ako ng karapatan na yon under Article III [There is a right to privacy under our Constitution. I hope you could accord me that right under Article III],” Aquino said, referring to the Bill of Rights under the 1987 Constitution.

For her part, Grace Lee affirmed that she is dating the Chief Executive.

“What the President said is true,” Lee said in the noontime newscast Balitanghali aired on GMA News TV Wednesday, where she hosts show business news Starbites.

“I don’t think may room for clarification kasi very simple and truthful naman yung sinabi ni Presidente [I don’t think there is any room for clarification because what the President said was simple and truthful],” she said.

Asked, however, when they started seeing each other, Lee’s only reply was “Secret.”

Earlier, Lee said she will leave it to the President to speak on the matter. The Palace had also been mum on the issue, saying that it does not comment on private matters concerning the President.

It was radio disc jockey Mo Twister, in his Twitter account, who revealed that he was able to make Grace Lee squeal on her date with the Chief Executive.

President Aquino and Grace Lee met in an event in Cebu last year. Lee was the event’s emcee and President Aquino acknowledged Lee as “gwapa” (beautiful) before he delivered his speech.

Several women had been linked to the President when he came into office, starting off with his former girlfriend, Valenzuela councilor Shalani Soledad, who is now married to Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo; stylist Liz Uy, stock broker Len Lopez, and teacher Bunny Calica.

President Aquino was also being matched with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who visited the Philippines last week but the President dismissed the issue.

source: mb.com.ph

Grace Lee calls for restraint amid ‘dating’ rumor

MANILA, Philippines - Radio and TV host Grace Lee has shed light on allegations that she went on a “date” with President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

In an interview with "Balitanghali" on Friday, Lee denied that she started the rumor herself.

‘Wala pa akong nirerelease na statements and I have never spoken of him [the president] publicly yet,” said she.

She urges people to be discerning of what is being reported about her.

“Huwag po muna kayong maniwala sa lahat ng nababasa ninyo lalo na ‘pag ang article na ‘yun ang sinasabi ay si Grace Lee ang nagsabi or according to her,” she pleaded in the same interview.

That said, Lee seemingly hinted that there’s more to the rumor than she is letting on by saying, “You know, I have the highest respects for the President and I respect his privacy. I leave it up to him to speak on the matter.”

“[The] best thing to do now ay abangan na lang nila [kung] ano ang sasabihin ni President,” she added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang seemed reluctant to comment on the issue.

"We do not comment on private matters of the President. So we cannot comment on that. You can ask me every time but you know our position on that matter," Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a recent meeting with the press.

The whole shebang apparently started when Mo Twister posted on his Twitter account Jan. 26: “Just asked Grace Lee if it’s true that she had dinner with President Aquino. She said she did.”

Twister added, "we are talking about Grace Lee's date last night with President Aquino."

Friday, a newspaper bannered a story claiming that Lee had been "telling her colleagues that Aquino, a 51-year-old bachelor, is her textmate, and that the President tries to visit her if he has time."

Lee refuted the story via Twitter Jan. 27.

"@PhilstarNews I never said we dated. Nor did I say we are text mates. Nor that he comes to visit me," she posted.

This was followed by, "@PhilstarNews and I don't speak cebuano!!"

"@PhilstarNews one more thing, I'm 29, not 28... How can you guys publish an article on the front page with so much wrong information?"

She then admonished Mo Twister via the same platform.

"@djmotwister look what you did!!!!” she posted.

She later added, "@djmotwister you owe me!! Wait until I visit you in NY!!!"

Rumors of a brewing romance between the president and the Korean expat started mid-2011, during the inauguration of the KEPCO-SPC power plant in Cebu, wherein Aquino expressed her admiration of Lee in a speech, describing her as "gwapa" (beautiful).

source: mb.com.ph