NEWS

 Maria Janua Polinar's controversial stolen kiss to President Benigno Aquino III

Maria Janua Polinar, 22, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Central Mindanao University (CMU) and one of the 2012 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) awardees, took the liberty of embracing and kissing the President on the cheek soon after she was handed a plaque in Malacañang Thursday.

The crowd of students and academicians at the Rizal Ballroom broke into applause when she suddenly planted a kiss on his cheek.

Polinar explained that she was looking forward to the awarding ceremony in the Palace because of her fascination with the presidency. Meeting with the President became a magical moment for the starstruck Polinar, who is now taking up law.

“He was really fighting corruption, reporting on the improvements in government. Meeting him in person, with all those developments in the Philippines, is like, ‘Wow!’”

“I took political science, so we’re really studying the government … Seeing him in person was, ‘My God! This is the reality!’ This is really political science. You’re studying it, now you’re seeing the physical structure.”

A multiawarded student leader, Polinar was a trainer and facilitator of the Citizen’s Voter Education program at CMU, and the antidrug campaign “Barkada Kontra Droga Advocacy” of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

“Being excellent and outstanding are two things that are equally significant in today’s society. Being excellent is a quality that would undermine inequality, injustice and inefficiency. Being outstanding, on the other hand, is a quality that would undermine disrespect, dishonesty and disobedience,” she said.

Asked to recall what transpired before the kiss, she fondly recalled asking Mr. Aquino’s permission.

She said: “I asked for his permission. She said, ‘Sir, pwede pa-hug (Sir, can I give you a hug)? The president replied, ‘No problem. Sure.’”

The President defended me: ‘No, she asked permission, so it’s okay.’”

Maria Polinar was also a student parliamentarian.

The other TOSP 2012 awardees are: Kenneth Isaiah Ibasco Abante, Ateneo de Manila University; Angelita Adajar Bombarda, De La Salle University; Jerome Ven David, De La Salle University-Manila; John Michael Flores Dellariarte, Ateneo de Zamboanga University; Daniel Philip Villaranda Dy, Ateneo de Naga University; Jay-R Mesa Mendoza, University of Rizal System-Morong Campus; Ruthell Angusto Moreno, West Visayas State University; Maria Janua Bacolod Polinar, Central Mindanao University; Kurt Gerrard Tiu See, De La Salle University-Manila; and Juan Carlo Pe Tejano, University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Source: GMA news online

Comments:

Nothing controversial about this kiss. That was just a simple appreciation and a result of being amazed in seeing the highest official in the country face to face. It could also be a show of a million thanks to the president for being chosen as one of the awardees.