●19 JUN 18•

I was lying on the couch not too long ago, re-reading José Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" for the 30-something time now, when Pampanga stopped by my house, much to my surprise.

"Hoy, Laguna, I just stopped by to drop off some paperwork from Maynila. He says he needs these back ASAP."

I groaned as I got off the couch and closed the book. "Yun lang? Sige, sige, I'll take care of these from here." I walked over to him and took the papers off his hands.

Pampanga nodded as he turned around to leave, when he stopped abruptly just by the door.

"Pamps? May problema ba?"

"I have a feeling that it's someones birthday today, bit I just can't seem to put my finger on who it is..."

I stared at his back as he stood there, deep in thought, for a few seconds.

'How could he forget...?'

He shrugged the feeling off before I could even say anything.

"Ah, oh well, it'll come to me sooner or later." He opened the door. "Paalam, Laguna." And left.

All I could do then was sigh sadly.

I looked at the stack of papers from Manila and saw an envelope  sticking out.

'That's odd..' I thought. 'Ano toh...?"

It was a letter from Manila.

Laguna,

I couldn't send you all this paper work without sending my birthday greetings to Dr. Rizal. Unfortunately, as your fabulous capital, I'm too busy to do it personally.

I wish you and his spirit only the best today.

Sincerely,
Manila, the one and only~

'Heh. At least someone remembers...

I looked up at my ceiling and smiled. "Salamat sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sa bayan, Doc."

"Aming ligaya ang mag may mang-aapi
Ang mamatay lang dahil sa'yo."
-Lupang Hinirang