He was nearly victimized by a text scam, he doesn't eat chicken, and he loves driving fast cars.

These are among the interesting facts about President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, who still enjoys his high popularity rating after winning the presidency in the country’s first automated elections.

In an up-close and personal chat with the journalists on Tuesday, the President disclosed he was among the many people who receive unsolicited text messages from groups seeking car loans as well as other text scams.

The country’s first bachelor President still uses his old phone but only checks his messages every morning and before he goes to sleep.

During that meeting with journalists, President Aquino recalled how he received a text message seeking load from a supposed relative abroad.

At first, he said, he was concerned about the person and immediately inquired who he was. When the person claimed he was a sibling, Aquino replied that he has no siblings abroad and bade him good night.

“Noong una, naaawa ako na baka nagkakamali ito, hindi pa niya nakausap ang kamag-anak niya. Pero noong naka-tatlong beses na, loko itong mga ito,” he said. (“At first, I felt sorry for him that he has not yet spoken to his relatives. But when I received text messages thrice, I realized they were dishonest.”)

With his phone’s inbox filled with unsolicited text messages, Aquino said he considered changing his phone number but realized he would still distribute the number to his officials anyway.

In the same talk with reporters, the President revealed that he refused to eat “any kind of fowls” after a traumatic experience in childhood. He said that while still a child, he saw one of their backyard chickens being strangled before it was cooked for an adobo meal.

The President said he prefers Japanese food and is not a fan of pastas and other Italian cuisine.

Aquino enjoys all kinds of music, except heavy metal and hip-hop, as a way of relieving stress. Like a regular audiophile, he said he has a “setup” of audio equipment at home on Times Street, Quezon City where he plays his favorites CDs.

To show his musical talent, he even belted out two songs, “Of All the Things” by Dennis Lambert and “Handog” by Florante, during the dinner with the press at the Palace Tuesday night.

Another way to relieve stress is target shooting, according to the President.

Aquino, a gun enthusiast, said he goes to the shooting range to hone his skills when he has spare time.

The son of the late President Corazon Aquino is also getting used to his more than a dozen security escorts wherever he goes. But he sometimes longs to hop on the driver's seat and take control of the car. He said he enjoys driving his car, most recently a beige Toyota Land Cruiser.

“Alaskahan” with family and friends is another de-stress activity by the President. He said he enjoys bonding with his nephews who consider him as barkada rather than a strict uncle during weekends.

Asked about his official day-off, he said he was criticized by some groups when took a respite on Sundays. He claimed he still holds meetings even on weekends.

Aquino was also reluctant to accept supposed comparisons with US President Barack Obama. He admitted that he has “no charisma” and merely projects the dreams and aspirations of the people clamoring for change. He said he is not interested in “glorification,” recalling his stint at the House of Representatives when he was pushed to the sidelines by some overeager lawmakers.

President Aquino also plans to move into his official residence in Bahay Pangarap on July 28. He has been living in the family home on Times Street, Quezon City pending the renovation of the bungalow inside Malacañang Park. He also disclosed that he will continue to refrain from using car sirens to beat traffic, saying he intends to lead by example.

He also said that he now wakes up early so he could go to work and meet his public engagements on time. When he lives in Bahay Pangarap, he could take short drive aboard the presidential car or a quick boat ride across Pasig River to go to the Palace.