Nancy Binay on Poe, Mar & how bashers helped her win
‘Once, someone posted my newest selfie photo, but when I clicked, it was all dark. They were making fun of my dark color.’
Irecen t ly chanced upon Pilipino Star Ngayon columnist Lolit Solis having lunch with 42- year- old Senator Nancy Binay Angeles at a Quezon City restaurant, and the former suggested that I interview her. I requested that the interview would be “no holds barred.”
Nancy is the eldest child of Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, a graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) and St. Scholastica’s College. She formerly served as personal assistant to her mother Dr. Elenita Binay when she was Makati mayor and later served as her father’s personal assistant when he won as vice president in 2010. Here are excerpts of our exclusive interview:
PHILIPPINE STAR: How do you react to your critics on social media such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?
NANCY BINAY ANGELES: I am not angry at them, we are in a democracy. Actually, my honest opinion is that the bashers helped me win in the 2013 election, even those who made personal attacks, because they helped in making more people remember and know my name.
You know, once I read a post on Twitter about “the newest selfie photo of Nancy Binay,” but when I clicked I couldn’t see anything, I wondered why it was all dark. That’s the joke pala (all along), they’re even making fun of my dark color, but what can I do if I’m morena? (Laughs)
What about the accusations by Senator Sonny Trillanes and others on your father’s alleged corruption during all those years as Makati mayor? I think kaya hindi nag-iistick ‘yang mga accusations na ‘yan (the reason those accusations do not stick) is because there’s no concrete proof. Instead, what the public can see are the things my father has done as mayor of Makati, like the modern schoolbuildings, the office building, our public school students enjoying literally free education plus free uniforms every year and other benefits, etc.
How is the relationship now between the Binay and Aquino families? Your father was very close to the late President Cory C. Aquino and I heard the Aquino sisters supported your dad when he ran as vice president?
My father was close to President Cory, I think since his years as a human rights lawyer and activist, also during the 1986 snap election when he actively campaigned for her. He was one of her first appointees. In our family, it is my sister
Anne who is closer to Kris Aquino because of common friends, so they’d go out together… I think in spite of it all, what’s happening in politics, she also values the friendship especially with my sister.
What good things can you say about President Noynoy Aquino?
( Laughs) Puwede bang dial a friend na lang (Can I just dial a friend for that answer)? Seriously, I believe there’s nothing personal about this ( the rift between her dad
and Noynoy). This is only politics, nothing personal. Or actually… this is really due to another person’s political ambition, a person who after losing to my father in the last election still couldn’t move on.
So you think after the 2016 election, there won’t be any rift between the Binay and Aquino families?
Para ho sa amin (For us), the relationship should go beyond politics… All the Aquinos,
lahat naman ng mga magkakapatid, ay mababait (all of the siblings are good people), even the President.
How are things between the Binays and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada? Erap was absent at your UNA launch?
Okay naman kami (We’re okay), during Tita Loi’s birthday, we were there three weeks ago.
How are you with Senator Grace Poe,
who is one of the possible rivals of your father for the 2016 presidential election?
During the last session we attended, we smiled at each other.
How is the relationship between your father, Vice President Jojo Binay, and Poe?
The Vice President was much closer kasi to her late father Fernando Poe, Jr. He was his national campaign manager.
Your impressions of FPJ?
I met him only three times, mabait na tao (he was a good person), simple. Once during his presidential campaign, he went to our house just to ask for hot water, because he had his own baon of coffee but just needed hot water.
When was the last time you met your dad’s political rival DILG Secretary Mar Roxas?
During work only. The last time I met him was at the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano case.
Can you say anything nice about your father’s political foe Secretary Mar Roxas? Any good impressions of him? LOLIT SOLIS: He’s good-looking! (Laughs) NANCY BINAY: (Chuckles) Napaisip pa
ako… Puwede bang dial a friend (I’m forced to think here… Can I just dial a friend)?
Ay! Parang (Ay! It’s as if) I’m not competent enough to comment on him, because I’m not
close to him….
What about the wife of Mar Roxas, TV host Korina Sanchez?
You know, the father of Korina Sanchez used to work for my father when he was Makati mayor in the 1980s. He passed away
na po (already). He used to be a department head. Sobrang bait nung father ni Korina,
tahimik lang (Korina’s dad was a very good guy, a quiet person). I used to see him while growing up.
Is it true that your father has been inviting business leader Manny V. Pangilinan to run as his vice presidential candidate?
I’m not privy to that, but I know the Vice President wants someone who is knowledgeable about business and finance. He wants someone as vice president who can help him with the many problems of our country, and he doesn’t want his VP to just be a spare tire. My father wants a working vice president in 2016.
What about rumors that outgoing threeterm Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto is a possible vice presidential running mate?
Bakit naman ho hindi? May experience na si Governor Vilma (Why not? Governor Vilma already has the experience).
Last question about a rumor I’ve been
hearing since the 2010 election when your father won, claiming that your father is really sick and has to keep undergoing dialysis?
There’s no truth to that old rumor being spread by his critics. He just had a medical checkup, and he’s even healthier than my husband who has higher cholesterol levels!
(Laughs)
My father walks 20,000 steps each day, almost. He no longer has time to play badminton, but he has this gadget which counts how many steps he has done per day. For exercise, he usually walks 10,000 steps daily, but for his meetings the rest of the day, it adds up to about 20,000 steps per day.
One more final question. Your critics accuse Vice President Binay of becoming wealthy while in power. How rich, really, is your father?
The Vice President… how wealthy, I’m not sure about the details of his SALN (Statement of Assets and Liabilities), but I am very sure of one thing: he is rich in terms of friends and supporters, and that is all more important than money.
Thanks for your feedback! E-mail willsoonflourish@gmail.com or follow WilsonLeeFlores on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and http://willsoonflourish.blogspot.com/.