Aquino turns 55; how’d he celebrate before?

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s Chief Executive turns 55 on Sunday, February 8. On this day in 1960, Benigno Aquino III was born in Sampaloc, Manila to then Tarlac vice governor Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr and wife Corazon Aquino.

Since he turned 50 in 2010 – the same year he was elected to the presidency – his birthday celebrations have never escaped the public’s eye. Reports show he’s been having “working birthdays”, except in 2014 when he opted for a quiet, work-less weekend celebration.

Here’s how Aquino celebrated his birthdays in the last 5 years.

2010:  50th birthday

Aquino opened his golden year while embarking on a journey toward the presidency. His 50th birthday fell on a Monday, just a day before the campaign period for the national candidates of the 2010 elections kicked off.

The days leading to the elections were hectic for Aquino, even on his birthday. He celebrated his big day with students of Payatas C Elementary School in Quezon City, where he distributed books and food along with some friends, and promised to make education reform a priority when elected.

He also attended a rally by the Urban Poor Alliance, and even joined them in a simple meal.

Before the day ended, he reportedly met with his then girlfriend, Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad, who gave Aquino an apple pie as a birthday present.

2011:  51st birthday

It was Aquino’s first birthday as Philippine president. He began his day with a personal task – drop by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon City to renew his driver’s license. He reportedly got no special treatment, and underwent the standard procedure for license renewal.

But what followed was a series of tasks, starting with a closed-door meeting with LTO officials. In the afternoon, he dropped by a medical and dental mission held at the Mendiola parking area of Malacañang.

In the evening, Aquino attended the candle lighting ceremony at the Quezon Memorial Circle in support of the peace talks in Mindanao. He also led the ringing of the Bell of Peace and the flying of the spirit lanterns.

His family, friends, and colleagues in government also offered a Thanksgiving Mass for him at the Palace. His sister, TV host and actress Kris Aquino, was even reported to have given him “something to enhance his wardrobe” as a present.

2012:  52nd birthday

Two days before Aquino’s birthday, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Visayas region. The following day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 15 fatalities, 52 injured persons, and 29 missing individuals.

And so on his birthday, he flew in the morning to Negros Oriental to personally visit badly-damaged areas. He spent the day conducting aerial and land inspections in Guihulngan City and La Libertad, along with his sisters and some Cabinet officials.

He also presided over a meeting with the NDRRMC, and personally turned over financial support to the local officials he visited.

Back in Manila, police secured the Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang as militant groups planned to stage rallies to mark Aquino’s birthday. They protested against the price increase in fuel, power, and other basic utilities.

2013:  53rd birthday

Aquino’s birthday came 4 days ahead of the official start of the campaign period, when he was expected to campaign for the Team PNoy senatorial candidates. When candidates of Team PNoy were asked their birthday wish for the president, almost all said: a colorful love life.

It wasn’t a day of romance for the President, though. In the morning, he visited the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) in Quezon City to look at the condition of the hospital and its patients. He also visited a 15-year-old patient who reportedly wished to personally see him.

In the afternoon, he presided over a full Cabinet meeting and discussed economic issues.

On the same day, militant groups again gathered outside the Palace, with one protestor even wearing a big Aquino mask topped by a US-flag hat. They demanded action on issues such as the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Public Private Partnership scheme of the government.

2014:  54th birthday

For the first time since he became president, Aquino chose to celebrate his 54th birthday – which fell on a Saturday – away from work and together with his family and friends. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda reported that the President planned to celebrate quietly in his official residence at Bahay Pangarap in Malacañang.

His birthday was said to mark a break from a very busy week, which included a New York Times interview where he addressed issues on the dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea. His statements elicited a backlash from China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, outside Malacañang, militant groups again gathered and offered Aquino a big “cake”, and criticized the administration’s handling of rehabilitation efforts for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas. – Rappler.com

Sources: Official Gazette, Presidential Communications Operations Office, president.gov.ph, various news websites