Senator Noynoy Aquino III (left), standard bearer for the Liberal Party (LP), leads the oath-taking ceremony for new members of the LP during rites held at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City last Tuesday. (Photo by ROUELLE UMALI)

Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad, current love interest of Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who is seeking reelection in the May 2010 polls, has expressed her readiness to accompany his boyfriend in his provincial sorties to help him win in the presidential race.

The 29-year-old Shalani along with more than 100 other personalities took their oath as new members of the Liberal Party at the Cubao Expo Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

She was joined by movie personalities Marjorie Barretto, who is seeking re-election as councilor of the second district of Caloocan City; and Richard Gomez, who is vying for a congressional seat in the fourth district of Leyte.

Shalani said that she is willing to join Noynoy in his campaign sorties even to far flung provinces to extend him any kind of help she could give to ensure his victory in next year’s election. “Yes, Yes. I hope so. I hope to contribute also to the campaign of Senator Noynoy,” Shalani, a Human Resource course graduate, said when asked by reporters if she’s planning to join the campaign trail of Aquino.

The usually media-shy councilor of Valenzuela City readily faced news reporters when she arrived at the Cubao Expo for the oath taking ceremonies.

Clad in light yellow blouse and denim pants, Shalani said that she decided to defect from Lakas-Kampi-CMD “because she believes in the political ideals Senator Noynoy is pursuing.”

She emphasized that Noynoy, now 40 years old, did not impose on her to join LP. “It was my own decision,” Shalani stressed.

Shalani added that time management will allow her to show up during Noynoy’s campaign sorties and attend to her personal campaign schedules while vying for reelection as councilor of Valenzuela City.