"Our love is as strong as a lion, Soft as the cuts on you lying, Times we got hot like iron, You and I…"

Such is the opening of September Song by JP Cooper.

Yes, my dear readers, it's kind of a beautiful celebration this month of September. Did you know that most of the legendary hitmakers, stars, and politicians were born in September?

It is indeed full of surprises, this month of legendary birthday celebrants — from the best action stars Keanu Reeves, Will Smith, and Christopher Reed, to famous singers Gloria Estefan, "Single Ladies" Queen Beyonce, music royalty Freddie Mercury, to movie hitmakers Adam Sandler, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and basketball star Kevin Durant.

In the Philippines, two former presidents were born in September — Sergio Osmeña and Diosdado Macapagal, and former Speaker of the National Assembly Benigno Aquino Sr. Yes, you are right, he was the father of Senator Ninoy Aquino and grandfather of former President PNoy. Senators Bong Revilla and Grace Poe are also September blooms.

11 September is the birthday of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was recently visited by Senator Imee Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Of course, the apple does not fall far from the tree, his son, our current President, also celebrated his birthday on 13 September.

From the men and women of the Philippine Ports Authority led by GM Jay Santiago, Happy 66th birthday to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr!
Did you know that September was declared Bamboo Month under Presidential Proclamation 1401 signed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in June 2022?

President BBM, for his part, celebrated his birthday last year by leading a national bamboo planting in San Mateo, Rizal where more than 2,000 bamboo seedlings were planted.

This was after he vowed to create more projects for the environment and the next generation in his SoNA. And, of course, bamboo is one of the future industries being eyed by the government.

Lab as in lab is in the air indeed, sharing is still the best gift anyone can give.

Birthdays are meant to be shared with the people we love, hence, a special project on the birthday of the President was implemented on 13 September 2023. Instead of receiving gifts, the simple man from Ilocos Norte opted to give back to the Filipino people something that would benefit them directly or indirectly today and in the future.

"LAB for all" a special project was launched on the birthday of PBBM. LAB means "Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan," consisting of medical missions, food feedings, and tree-planting activities. It was introduced by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to give Filipinos equal access to high-quality and affordable healthcare while providing financial protection to prevent them from suffering hardship due to healthcare costs.

Speaking of tree planting, PPA set another record after planting more than 8,000 trees for LAB and the birthday of the President. PPA also conducted feeding programs for more than 2,500 beneficiaries at ports in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Did you know that September is also Peace Month? Yes, specifically in the Philippines we celebrate National Peace Consciousness Month under Presidential Proclamation 675.

The month-long celebration is held in various places in the country and is most marked in Mindanao where armed groups used to roam but not anymore. Kidnap for ransom gangs, terrorists, and other extremists in Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao, as well as communist fighters have embraced peace and returned to the fold of the law.

Last Monday, in one of the celebrations in Davao, both the military and former rebels or FR (now called Friends Rescued, so cute and heartwarming) issued statements of support and commitments to peace. What warmed the cold temperature in the mall and touched the audience was the mutual forgiveness expressed by both sides.

Speaking in the vernacular, Awing Apoga, one of the FRs, said, "Our commanders in the NPA always told us that soldiers would torture and kill us if we surrendered but as soon as troops from the 56th Infantry Battalion saw me, they embraced me and happily welcomed me."

That is the beauty of humanity. We can commit unimaginable things but we are also capable of forgiveness, compassion, empathy, and unity.

It doesn't matter what ideological persuasion you pursue or the political fence you sit on, whether yellow or red or green or blue or rainbow, as long as you believe that you are a part of this nation, our nation, we should embrace peace.

Just like the bamboo and other trees that are being planted this month, let us start planting the seeds of peace and not hate or violence.

Today I challenge each one to also plant kindness so we can all reap the benefits.

And just like the boat traveling far on a perilous sea, we are the crew and not mere passengers. We are all responsible for whatever fate awaits this boat called the Philippines.

Yes, dear readers, peace is the responsibility of everyone so that we can have prosperity, sustainable development, true unity, and genuine progress.

And yes, my dears, your guess is right….. we are in the same boat.