P-noy on Bianca: Dinner, no date

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Ñ A cook, a book, but no cookbook with recipes to win over beauty queens.

President Aquino refused to call his dinners with former Binibining Pilipinas- Universe Bianca Manalo as dates and clarified there was nothing going on between them.

But he gamely answered a question on who he would want to be with if given the chance to hide away on a beach. His answer? A cook. He will also bring a book if there is no one to talk to.

“I met her (Manalo). I met her and we had a

subsequent dinner with a lot of other people who were with us. I don’t know if you consider that a date. But we were introduced and we had another dinner subsequently. That was several months ago,” Aquino said in a briefing with the media Wednesday night at the Philippine embassy here.

He also said he was not thinking of anybody in particular when he mentioned – while on a trip to Cebu – that he had not been to the beach and would love to visit one for a vacation.

By coincidence, actress-host Manalo also tweeted that day she would love to be whisked away to a beach.

“I was in Cebu. I was staying in Shangri La-Mactan. They gave me a room overlooking the beach and downstairs there was a swimming pool and there was a kid being taught how to swim, there were also those snorkeling and jet skiing,” Aquino said.

The President said he just remembered that he had been profusely promoting tourism in the Philippines and could not even enjoy the sights.

“That’s my only point. Now if someone tweeted that they wanted to go to the beach, then maybe I am effective in attracting tourists,” the President said.

As to who exactly he wants to take to the beach, Aquino said that in all honesty, that person would be his cook so he would have something to eat.

“If I’m assured of something to eat then I’m fine. If I don’t have anyone to talk for two days but I have a book, that would be okay too, I guess,” he said.

The President said he too was “fantasizing” about a vacation after the campaign and the elections or the State of the Nation Address in July.

“Maybe I can taste even just a bit of tourism in the Philippines even just for three days,” Aquino said.

The President said the reason why he had not been going on vacation was because he did not want to be “cornered” about problems and suggestions while trying to enjoy himself.