By Manny Pinol
As the clock ticked a second after 12 midnight marking the start of Christmas today, I celebrated my 61st day not in the comfort of my home and the warm embrace of my loved ones and without the singing of a birthday song.
All that I heard was the whirring of the engine of the Ford Everest of my friend Rene Concordia who tapped my shoulder to wish me happy birthday.
I believe we were in the boundary of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte when I grew another year older.
The whole day yesterday, I joined Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte in his two sorties in Legazpi City, Albay and Naga City, Camarines Sur where he discussed Federalism, an advocacy which he is deeply involved with now.
I and three other people in my group left Naga City at about 11 p.m. to go back to Manila and catch the flight back to Davao City.
Tonight, I will have a simple dinner with people who I love very much and who have loved me in return accepting me for what I am, my human weaknesses and frailties included.
My birthday has never been an extra-ordinary day for me, even when I was a young boy.
Growing up with 10 other brothers to parents who were both poor teachers, there was simply no extra money to celebrate birthdays.
Our birthdays were marked by the simple “Happy Birthday” greetings in the morning.
On rare instances where there would be an extra native chicken running around the yard and just laying eggs everywhere, our birthdays would be special with “tinolang nitib na manok.”
There were no parties, not even cakes with little candles marking the years of our lives.
The traditional simple celebration of my birthday was carried over even when I joined public service.
On Dec. 15, 1998, the evening of my first birthday as Governor of North Cotabato, I learned of a plan by a group of employees to serenade me at dawn of the following day, Dec. 16, my birthday.
I immediately summoned the head of the group, assistant provincial treasurer Rose Aguirre to ask her about their planned “mañanita.” She confirmed that indeed, a group of employees would go to the provincial guest house where I was temporarily staying at dawn to serenade me.
I asked her a question which she was never able to answer.
“Will you still serenade me even if I would no longer be the Governor?,” I asked her and what followed was a deafening silence.
“Please don’t do it because I might get used to it and I would really feel bad if in the future people will no longer serenade me,” I told her.
Today, I marked another year in my life realizing that there are still a lot of people who remembered my birthday and who wished me the best.
Many of the thousands of well-wishers when I was Governor don’t remember my birthday anymore but I don’t feel bad. I had long expected this to happen.
Those who have continued to love me for what I am and in spite of my human frailties are those whose feelings and intentions are pure.
They are the golden grains which were separated from the chaff blown away by the wind of forgetfulness.
Today, as I mark my birthday I silently said a prayer asking God’s forgiveness for transgressions I have committed, willfully or unintentionally.
I am also asking forgiveness from people who I may have hurt or offended and I am begging them to understand that I am just another human being.
Most of all, as I celebrate the 61st year of God’s gift of life, I thank the people who have cared for me and loved me for all my imperfections.
I also thank God for the blessings, most especially the birth of my first grandson, Duane Aniceto, the young boy who has made me realize the great responsibility that rests on my shoulder.
That responsibility is ensuring that the future will be better for him and his generation.
He and the other Filipino children of the next generation are the reasons why I am traveling and working on my birthday.
It is still a long road ahead of me before I take my rest and I will only stop when I have done my best to prepare a better future for my grandchildren.
To all those who greeted me today, thank you very much.
The only gift I am asking from you now is your commitment to help change this country for the better.
Walk with me, work with me. Let’s make the future Filipinos proud of what we have done for them.
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