MANILA – Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III admitted that he finds his role as principal sponsor or “ninong” to Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas and Korina Sanchez as an odd development in their friendship.

Aquino called himself a “reluctant ninong” in Wednesday’s much talked about wedding of Roxas and Sanchez.

Nonetheless, he gave his blessings to the couple.  He said he hopes they remain strong and that their love for each other will last. 

He said he acceded to the request of the couple in remembrance of his mother, the late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

The former president was chosen as on of the principal sponsors in the Roxas-Sanchez nuptials before she passed away on Aug. 1.

Aquino noted that his initial reluctance was due to the “pamahiin” or Filipino belief that unmarried men and women should not serve as wedding sponsors. Aquino, 49, added the fact that he is younger than the 52-year-old Roxas.

Meanwhile, a relative of Roxas told abs-cbnNEWS.com that Mar is “not bothered and not self-conscious” of the fact that Sanchez and Aquino dated in the past.

Aquino, meantime, even joked that his own wedding could follow suit soon. He is presently dating Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad.

The other principal sponsors in Roxas-Sanchez wedding are Chief Justice Reynato Puno, former Senate President Jovito Salonga, ABS-CBN CEO and Chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, Jorge Araneta, Rosa Rosal, Helen Costales, Ruby Roxas, Cecilia Lazaro, and Maria Fores. – With a report from Mario Dumaual, ABS-CBN News