Birthday wishes for Noy: A wife, a car

MANILA, Philippines – As President Aquino celebrates his 56th birthday today – with the highest approval rating among all presidents since 1986 (since the Social Weather Stations took surveys) – his family and closest friends wish him the blessings of a “normal” life after his term, with the hopes and joys of a bachelor next door.

“As always, my wish is for him to find a loving wife,” says his younger sister Viel Dee, who is closest in age to him.

“And if she isn’t coming soon, please just allow him to have a peaceful retirement from June 30, 2016,” adds Viel, the shyest, self-confessed “calmest” child of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

Only a loving wife for her brother because, “the best thing about PNoy is his kind heart.”

For his part, the President’s friend since his Ateneo de Manila school days, businessman Romy Mercado has a material wish for his buddy: “I wish Noy finds the right car he will enjoy driving starting July 1, so we can drive from Ilocos Norte to Davao City!”

His househelp Yolly Yebes, who has been with him for some two decades now and had a special place in the gallery during his last State of the Nation Address, wishes “good health and less stress” for her boss.

This “less stress” wish is echoed by the President’s two older siblings, Ballsy Cruz and Pinky Abellada.

“For his birthday I wish he has a peaceful life after he steps down from the presidency and he gets to enjoy things he had to put on hold,” hopes Ballsy, who believes the best thing about her only brother is “selflessness.”

Ballsy hopes her brother can look forward to some time for himself because, “Ever since I can remember, he was always so giving – of himself and whatever little he had. And he would be the last to claim any credit for himself.”

A “more joyful” next chapter is Pinky’s wish for her brother.

“As he becomes ‘Private Citizen Noy,’ I wish him a still fulfilling but less stressful and more joyful next chapter,” says Pinky, who wishes to thank the President especially today for being “very dependable especially during trying times.”

On a personal note, she adds, “I appreciate, too, the many times he was guardian when the children were growing up and how they can still run to him when they feel the need.”

Somebody who sees the President perhaps more often than his sisters do is Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras, whose office is just a few feet away from his at Malacañang. He greets the President every working day with a stack of briefing papers, all urgent.

“I wish the President a peaceful and restful birthday and beyond his term, I wish him a more peaceful and relaxed life, with less stress,” says Almendras, a former Ayala and Citibank top executive who has known the President since they were at the Ateneo.

Benigno Aquino III was born at the FEU hospital 56 years ago, the much awaited son of Ninoy and Cory. His father wanted to be president, and his namesake fulfilled that dream for him.