LAGAWE, Ifugao – Substitute smoking with chewing betel nut and help promote the “nganga” industry. In a nutshell, this was the unsolicited advice of betel nut growers here to President-apparent, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III, as they, too, voiced concern about his health-threatening smoking habit.

Betel nut, popularly known as “moma” in the highlands of northern Luzon, has been instrumental in helping smokers kick the cancer-causing vice by replacing it with the habit of chewing the nut.

Betel nut chewing has been part of the tradition of Cordillera people and it has been proven by many to be an effective replacement to the habit of smoking.

Community leaders in this world heritage province said they wish to air their unsolicited advice for Aquino in the interest of looking after the better health of the country’s next apparent Chief Executive.

Likewise, they are excited at the prospect of Aquino setting an example and, thereby, promote the chewing of betel nut not only in the country but also internationally.

Aside from helping one get rid of smoking, chewing betel nut could also help a person have sturdier teeth like the local elders, here, who have aged with healthy teeth.

NOYNOY GOES TO THE MOVIES WITH FAMILY, GF

Going to the movies with his girlfriend and his family was certainly one of the things Sen. Aquino missed for over half a year so last Friday night he just dropped everything and packed everyone to Rockwell Cinema 3 in Makati City.

It was a rare occasion and a special one because it was the premiere screening of the independent-documentary “Noy,” which was based loosely on his election campaign.

In tow were his sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, and Kris Aquino-Yap; nephews Joshua and Baby James; and his girlfriend reelected Valenzuela City 2nd District Councilor Shalani Soledad.

“I’m happy that I’m spending time with them and I got the chance to drift away from all the serious things that I’ve been thinking about, lately. It’s something different for us that we are almost complete,” the senator said, apparently referring to the absence of Viel Aquino-Dee.

Given his hectic schedule since throwing his hat into the presidential contest, Aquino admitted he missed going to the movies since his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino, died on Aug. 1, 2009.

He said he relished the occasion away from the political limelight and praised the film starred in and produced by award-winning indie actor Coco Martin.

“It was worth it. Maybe this will help in solving a lot of problems faced by our country—it has meaning and substance,” he told reporters after watching the movie.

“The topic (of the movie) is not that simple it is really profound because it wakes you up and makes you think and in that sense we remember the adage art for man’s sake,” he added.

“Noy” is not a movie about the life of Aquino, but of a journalist named Noy (Martin) who, forced to find a job as his family’s breadwinner, poses as a journalist commissioned to come up with a documentary following the campaign trail of his namesake, Senator Aquino.

The film, infused with actual documentary footage of Aquino’s actual campaign sorties, inter-cut with dramatic scenes deals with themes of poverty, survival and hope for the Filipino family.

“If I can just complement all the people involved, the actors and actresses... the roles that they portray,  I am really impressed,” Aquino said.

The movie also stars Cherry Pie Picache, Erich Gonzales, Joem Bascon, Vice Ganda, and Baron Geisler.

According to Aquino, sitting beside his nephew Joshua is hard.

“You know that he is lightweight and he wants to hold hands while watching with his hands on top of mine. But it was fun,” Aquino said in light banter.

“I was able to spend time with my family and it is really different when I am with them again without the tense atmosphere,” he added.

Although submitting to the likely prospect of him finding hardly any time to spend with his family once he is buckled down to the affairs of the president, Aquino said that if he had it his way, he still prefers to stay at their family residence at No. 25 Times St., West Triangle, Quezon City instead of at Malacañang Palace.

“My belief is that all of those who stayed in Malacañang have been negatively affected by staying there. Malacañang affords more and more isolation, which might not help in becoming a good governor and will promote the good governance we want. There has to be some way of maintaining relations and touching base with the people at the end of the day,” he said. (Roy C. Mabasa and Kris Bayos)