Aquino gets mountain bike as New Year gift

Manila: Philippines President Benigno Aquino was very happy to receive a mountain bike as a New Year's gift since he feels it will help him fulfil his resolution to be physically fit this year, a report said.

The president received the gift during a family reunion at the presidential mansion in Baguio City, a summer capital in northern Luzon, Colonel Ramon Dizon, head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) said in a radio interview.

The president and his family were in Baguio City on New Year's Eve and celebrated New Year's Day there, Col Dizon said.

It was a working visit, but Aquino did not bring his cabinet members to Baguio City. He reportedly studied annual reports submitted by cabinet members in preparation for 2011.

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Reporters were banned from following the president around. They said that Aquino had dinner in a middle-class restaurant near Burnham Park on December 31.

He had a midnight snack with family members at Baguio's Mansion House.

Aquino's trip to Baguio was kept a secret from palace reporters.

Traditionally, presidents hold a New Year bonfire with reporters in front of the office of the Philippine Information Agency across from Mansion House.