MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is set to turn 52 this Wednesday.

Asked what his birthday wish would be, Aquino said he would just be thankful if the number of concerns that is brought to his attention would ease. If not, he said, he would be ready to face the problems nonetheless.

He added that he would also be thankful if people would pray for him. He said his birthday is a working day for him, even in the evening when he said he would still be attending to work.
 
“Alam n’yo, ‘pag ikaw ang chief public servant ‘yung wishes mo hindi masyadong importante lalo na on a personal basis. So kaysa nagkaka-frustration e hindi na lang tayo nagwi-wish. Pero kung tahimik ‘yung araw na ‘yon, baka bawas ‘yung ipapasang concern sa atin, baka hindi natin tinatalakay ano ba ang nangyayari sa Strait of Hormuz? Ano na ba ang nangyayari sa Syria? Tapos na ba ‘yung Yemen? ‘Yung Japan ba ay nakabawi na ng kanilang ekonomiya?... Baka kung ‘yung araw na ‘yon ay mabawasan ‘yung concerns, ‘di thank you na rin ‘yon," he said.

"Pero kung hindi, ready naman tayo. It’s the same day for me. On Wednesday, I intend to work fully. I intend to spend the evening studying on other matters that need my attention. And then kung may mga magdadasal para sa akin, e ‘di thank you. Kung may babatikos sa akin, ganoon talaga ‘yun. Wala namang day off sa birthday.”