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'Happy ako pero hindi siya happy ngayon,' she tells DZMM

MANILA - She was more than willing to accept her surprise appointment as tourism secretary, but her decision may have jeopardized her relationship with politician Carlos 'Charlie' Cojuangco.

"Happy ako pero hindi siya happy ngayon," Bernadette Romulo-Puyat shared with DZMM this Friday, talking about her boyfriend's reaction to her taking on her new job.

She revealed that they had already been struggling to find quality time together, and her heading the tourism department will no doubt make it doubly difficult now.

"Sabi niya sa akin, 'Nako, wala ka nang oras dati sa akin, mas wala nang oras ngayon,'" the former agriculture undersecretary said.

There were worrying signs as early as the days following her appointment last week, recalling how she failed to make it to a get-together at a friend's house because she was tired from her media appearances. It turned out that Cojuangco had prepared a sweet birthday gift for her then.

"He's trying to be patient," said Romulo-Puyat. She recalled asking her friends who were at the get-together for help in convincing Cojuangco to not break her heart. "Pakisabi sa kanya na please be patient."

Both Romulo-Puyat and Cojuangco were previously married.

Romulo-Puyat was widowed in 2010 when her husband, lawyer David Puyat, died following a heart attack; Cojuangco lost his partner, actress-host Rio Diaz, to cancer in 2004.

Cojuangco is currently 1st District representative of Tarlac.