Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat sure knows how to squeeze the truth out of her son, Vito.
Puyat shared a short video on her Facebook Saturday, Feb. 13, which showed her interrogating her son on whether or not he was "taken". Although the video appeared to be a late post and was meant to greet Vito on his birthday, she conspicuously uploaded it a day before Valentine's Day.
The thing is, the doting mother didn't ask straight up if the 24-year-old Vito had a special someone--she used an indirect route that probably made the latter feel like a slice of orange inside a juicer.
"Is there any body else, aside from the two girls in front of you (his mom and his sister Maia), is there any other girl you love?" Puyat asked.
The smiling Vito gave a very clever answer in "Biggie," which was actually Puyat's pet female pug. "Na tao (I'm talking about humans)," the Cabinet official clarified, her voice turning a bit sterner.
The boyish and wide-shouldered young man then replied "Yaya Elvie," to which his mom said, "Aside from Yaya Elvie. Wala na (Is there no other)?"
Headshake number one from Vito.
"No girlfriend ha?" asked Puyat in a serious tone. Headshake number two from Vito, who wiped off his own smile in an attempt to give a similarly serious response.
The tourism chief's caption on her video post was more tongue-in-cheek, although one would get the impression that she still means business: "Happy 24th Birthday Vito♥️ Remember that all your girls (Me, Ate, Yaya, Miyuki, Kahlua & Biggie) love and miss you very much! No need to add to the "girls" list
."
Vito has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. He graduated with honors two years ago.