AMID the raging Sabah standoff, President Benigno Aquino proved he hasn’t lost his sense of humor even at his own expense.

In his speech yesterday before the graduates of the Philippine Military Academy at Fort Del Pilar at the Pines City,  the Commander-in-Chief blamed his job as President for his forever thinning hair and deepening eye bags. He said: “Alam po ninyo, tatapatin ko kayo, hindi po nakakabata ang pagiging Pangulo ng Pilipinas. May mga nagsasabi ngang kailangan ko nang magbakasyon, dahil nahahalata na raw ang lalim ng aking eye bags at lalo na raw yatang numinipis ang aking buhok.”

He quipped however that his hair, or what remains of it, is still longer than that of the cadets of the academy.

Later, Aquino turned to serious talk, stressing that six years in his job is no joke and it may not even be long enough to implement change. At the same time he said the gains of his administration were buoying him up.

“Halos nasa kalahati na po tayo ng ating termino, at sa harap ng mga tagumpay na isa-isa na nating pinipitas, lalo lamang po akong nabubuhayan ng loob,” he said.

Despite his heavy load and burden at the presidency, Aquino likened himself to the cadets who have to march despite the weight of their sabers.

“Kahit gaano kabigat ang aking dala, basta’t kaya ko pang itulak ang kanang paa, at sundan ito ng kaliwa—lalo na kung alam kong nasa likod ko kayo at ang buong bayang Pilipinong handang makiambag sa ikabubuti ng ating lipunan—tuloy-tuloy lang tayo sa katuparan ng atin pong mga pangarap,” the President  said.

Aquino emphasized to the PMA graduates it is now time to face reality, beyond theory and practice, noting that the graduates’ “vacation” in the PMA is over, drawing laughs from the crowd. Cadets go through strenuous exercises, sometimes letting go of sleep, to graduate from the academy.

“Tapos na ang pagsasanay, tapos na ang teorya, tapos na ang apat na taong bakasyon ninyo dito sa Fort Del Pilar; panahon na para sa tunay na pakikipagsapalaran,” the President said.