Grace Lee denies Vera Files story

MANILA, Philippines–Korean-born TV host Grace Lee  wants journalist Ellen Tordesillas to “formally apologize to the public” for a report that quoted Lee as saying she hopes her relationship with President Benigno Aquino 1V would last ‘the full length.”

In her tweet  @gracelee899, Lee described the article “very false n vile.’ The tweet was posted around 10:30am Monday.

In an earlier tweet @gracelee899 also said the article titled “Grace Lee sees herself marrying PNoy” was a ‘lie.’

Grace Lee News

Grace Lee sees self marrying the President

 

The altar.

That’s where Grace Lee says her relationship with President Benigno Aquino III is headed.
In her morning show, “Good Times in the Morning,” on Wednesday, the Korean-born radio and TV personality was asked by her New York-based coanchor, Mo Twister, how long their relationship would last.
She replied, “The full length.”

Needled further on where she expected their dates would lead to, Lee answered, “The altar.” She added, “I’m praying for this.”

Mr. Aquino celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the same day Lee said they were destined for the altar.

Malacañang was mum on Lee’s latest statements. “We do not comment on the President’s private life,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Saturday.

Skepticism
The romance between the 29-year-old Lee and the 52-year-old Mr. Aquino has been met with skepticism by many who have become used to the President’s short-lived romances.

Among those linked to him in his almost two-year presidency were Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad, who recently married Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, stylist Liz Uy, stockbroker Len Lopez and teacher Bunny Calica.

During the program, Mo Twister predicted the relationship to last until August.
He then opened the phone lines to the question, “How long will this (Aquino-Lee) relationship last?” One listener replied, “May.”

Media interviews

The bachelor President admitted two weeks ago that he had been dating Lee.

While Mr. Aquino asked media to grant him the privacy that, he said, he was entitled to, Lee was forthcoming in media interviews. She disclosed that she and the President would talk animatedly for three to five hours.
“He’s brilliant. He is the most intelligent man I’ve met in my life,” an obviously smitten Lee enthused, even describing the President as “a walking encyclopedia.”

Lee revealed in an off-camera talk with a TV host that the President had offered to provide her security, courtesy of a team from the Presidential Security Group (PSG). This prompted presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte to say that the Palace would still have to review whether the PSG mandate could cover even persons outside the President’s official family.

Lee’s talent manager, Arnold Vegafria, said the radio and TV jockey first met the President on June 27, 2011, at the inauguration of a plant of Korea Electric Power Corp. in Barangay Colon in Naga, Cebu. Vegafria said the President was heard to have remarked that Lee was guapa (pretty), mistaking her to be a Cebuana.

Their second meeting took place during the state visit of Korean President Lee Myung-bak in November, where Lee was in Malacañang as an interpreter and host of the event.


Palace interview
Before the end of 2011, Vegafria said the President granted Lee an interview in Malacañang for her radio show. “And that’s it,” he said.

In an earlier exclusive interview with TV5’s Luchi Cruz-Valdes for the show “Journo,” Lee admitted that the 22-year age difference between them sometimes bothered her. “But the more I get to know him, the less I feel the age difference,” she said.

Asked by Cruz-Valdes if she saw the relationship “pushing through already,” Lee replied, “I don’t think we’re playing around. We’re both not at the age to be playing around.”

In her radio show, Lee said she would try to convince the President to stop smoking.

She has met with two of the President’s elder sisters, Ballsy Cruz and Pinky Abellada, but has yet to meet his movie-and-TV-star sister, Kris Aquino.

Lee denied earlier rumors linking her romantically to Kris’ former husband, basketball star James Yap. With a report from Christine O. Avendaño

(Editor’s Note: VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. “Vera” is Latin for true.)

 Grace Lee News

Grace Lee wants journalist to apologize for ‘I will marry Aquino’ story

MANILA, Philippines—Korean-born TV host Grace Lee  wants journalist Ellen Tordesillas to “formally apologize to the public” for a report that quoted Lee as saying she hoped her relationship with President Benigno Aquino lll would last “the full length.”

In her tweet  @gracelee899, Lee described the article “very false n vile.’ The tweet was posted around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

In an earlier tweet @gracelee899 also said the article titled “Grace Lee sees herself marrying PNoy” was a “lie.”
Later in the afternoon, Lee tagged @dziq990 in yet another tweet: “I’m deeply offended that a journalist like Ellen Tordesillas would write an article of lies to sensationalize one’s private life. I have never said anything remotely close to what her write-up says I did.”

Lee also asked Tordesillas to identify the source “who claims to have spoken to me regarding the PSG issue as this is not to be taken lightly.”

Lee would follow this with a lighthearted tweet around 3 p.m.: “Ok enough na…. can’t let this affect me the whole day.  natatalo positivity ko! let’s cook! haven’t eaten whole day.”

Grace Lee News

No rest day when Aquino turns 52

No day off when he turns 52 on Wednesday but maybe a special date on Valentine’s Day?

President Benigno Aquino III couldn’t help but smile broadly when asked what his birthday wish was.
“If you are the chief servant, your wishes are not that important, especially on a personal basis,” the bachelor President told reporters Monday. “So as not to have any frustrations, I will not make any wish anymore.”

Mr. Aquino said he would be thankful if his birthday would be quiet and marked with fewer concerns than usual, as he rattled off many issues facing the country.
“But if not, I’m still ready [to face them],” he said.

Working day
Anyway, Wednesday will still be “the same day” for him—a working day.
The President said he intended to “work fully” and spend Wednesday night “on other matters that need my attention.”

It would be the second time Mr. Aquino will be celebrating his birthday as President.
“If there will be some people who would pray for me, thank you. If there will be some people who would criticize me, that’s how it is. I have no day off on my birthday, thank you,” he said.

Asked whether he expected to have a colorful Valentine’s Day next week, the President couldn’t help but laugh, apparently because the import of the question—an allusion to his admission last week that he was dating radio-TV personality Grace Lee, a Korean—was not lost on him.

He pointed out that he always tried to prepare his answers to media questions but that this particular query put his preparations to waste.

“So can we just watch and wait whether something will happen or not instead of planning for nothing, don’t you think so? Let’s just wait OK? And Happy Valentine’s to all,” the President said. Read more on Grace Lee News.

HEARD: Grace Lee

Korea-born TV news co-anchor Grace Lee, interviewed on GMA 7’s “24 Oras,” on how she and P-Noy (President Benigno Aquino III) got together: “Basta nangyari ang nangyari.”

 Read more Grace Lee News here.