MANILA, Philippines - Malacañan does not see an inconsistency between the President's request to keep his love life private and his constant mention of it in his public speeches.

This, after President Benigno Aquino III spoke about his admiration for women in Cebu yesterday, particularly a Korean media personality.

"Ad lib lang iyon its part of trying to. I think pinupuri niya kagandahan ng Bisaya," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacieda said Tuesday.

"I think he spoke in jest. If he's serious about any topic, anything that will involve affairs of his heart, obviously it was spoken in jest and appreciation of the beauty of Cebuanas, which is not undisputed."

Lacierda said the President is fond of talking in jest, characterizing Aquino's humor to be "dry humor."

"Yes, palabiro siya. The President is unang-una palabiro," he said.

Lacierda said the public may just not be used to the President's sense of humor.

"If you noticed, the President's humor is dry. It's something we Filipinos are not used to. If you noticed, he has a dry humor we have to get used to his kind of humor. Essentially, he's a jovial guy," he added.

Aquino earlier appealed to the media and the public to keep out of his lovelife.