HONOLULU, Hawaii (via PLDT) -- President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has accepted the invitation of Prime Minister Julia Eileen Gillard to visit Australia by middle of 2012.

During a coffee with Manila-based reporters late Saturday night (early Sunday evening in Manila), President Aquino said preparations are underway for his visit in Australia, but he refused to give more details about the visit.

“We are already working on it and preparations are underway,” he told the Manila-based reporters at Hilton Hotel.

President Aquino thanked Gillard for commending him in introducing reforms in the Philippines by promoting open governance, fighting corruption and engaging in ethical business practices, among others.

“I don’t want to delve on praises but of course we are thankful to them. But this is not my own workings, it is a collective effort of the people seeking reforms,” said President Aquino.