Being a 50-year-old bachelor, the romantic life of leading presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III naturally attracts much attention and, for his closest friends, immense anxiety.

One relevant issue raised during the campaign was the fact that some people said they would not vote for Aquino because he has never married and has never shouldered the responsibilities of raising a family. They argued that this shows he has shirked from taking on any responsibilities.

Therefore, how could he be responsible for an entire nation.

“What we wish for him is to finally have a partner,” lawyer Galland Diaz told the Manila Bulletin during an interview with him and two other classmates of Aquino.

They all concur that it is really different if the senator from Tarlac has a romantic inspiration.

“That is the only thing lacking in his life. Maybe it is not yet the proper time but we wish it will come soon,” said lawyer Chito Cruz, another of Aquino’s college buddies.

“Sometimes we would talk and Noynoy would tell me ‘My friend I don’t know but maybe it’s too late in the day for me to get married,” I would simply tell him it is not too late,” Cruz went on.

Aquino had always kept his love life private.

Even incursions into his lovelife by his famous sister Kris Aquino earned his admonitions.

During their mother Cory Aquino’s funeral mass, Kris even reminded his brother about her son Josh’s request for him not to get married as yet.

Josh’s supposed request, Kris said, is for his “Tito Noy (to) never get married.”