Ang Ikalawang Emperador ng Pilipinas

12 - Pag-Asa Island

Himala nang mabalitaan naming sinuportahan ni Don ang aming pet project. In fact, nagpahabol pa siya ng insertion sa GAA para taasan ang budget ng IHS to P1.5 billion. Siyempre natuwa kami, pero nung nag-press release ang New Executive Office, pinalabas ng Prime Minister na dinagdagan ng Monarchist bloc sa Congress ang budget bilang tugon na rin sa pangangailangan ng karagdagang pondo para raw sa aming mga proyekto. Aba ang hinayupak, pinalabas pa niyang kami ang humihingi! Nanggalaiti si Bai nang marinig niya ito, at hindi siya nagpakita sa sumunod na weekly meeting with the Prime Minister sa Malacañang at imbes ay nakisama sa isang farmers' market sa Bukidnon para i-promote ang agricultural products ng mga magsasaka.

"Galit pa rin ba si Bai sa akin dahil binasted ko siya nung high school?" tanong ni Don nung nasa Rizal Office kami. "Parang napapadalas ang di niya pagsama sa meetings natin."

Nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay. "Matagal na yun. Busy lang si Bai."

Napahalakhak si Don. "Joke lang, pards! Sorry kung na-offend ka." Pagkatapos ay biglang nag-iba ang anyo ng mukha niya. "Seriously, though. We have to prevail upon her to attend these meetings—even if she thinks these are a waste of time."

"I don't think she thinks these are a waste of time. She just has more important things to do."

At doon naglaho ang jovial mood ni Don. "These are more important than whatever she's doing! Official meetings ito! Dito kayo binibigyan ng instructions."

Nanlisik ang mga mata ko. "Instructions?"

"Your itinerary!" he corrected himself. "Look, you have duties to perform."

"Are we not doing our duties?"

"The duties that the government deems important!" Bahagyang natigilan si Don para huminga, marahil ay pinipilit na pakalmahin ang sarili, ngunit napabulalas pa rin siya ng: "Ambot sa inyo!" Pagkatapos ay napasulyap siya kay Mina, na naka-upo sa likod namin. "Naibigay mo na ba sa kanilang Kamahalan ang schedule nila for next week?"

Napa-upo nang tuwid si Mina habang naglabas ng isang papel mula sa isang folder. "Yes po. We have already briefed the Emperor about the inauguration on Monday of the monorail connecting the Guadalupe Station of MRT and BGC. And then there is the groundbreaking of the new windfarms in Batanes on Wednesday. We shall depart from Villamor Airbase at 6 AM."

Don then nodded in my direction. "Andres, we need to put the spotlight on these infrastructure projects. The government is counting on its Emperor and Empress to do just that. Kaya kayo nariyan."

Parang biglang nagka-unos sa aking isipan. Never mind na feeling ko ay parang mascot na kami ni Bai. Never mind na nagsimula ang mga proyektong ito sa previous administration pa. Never mind na nag-sacrifice na kami ng careers namin. Pero kaya kayo nariyan? Teka, this was not part of the original plan, di ba? Kung hindi ko lang kaibigan si Don, marahil ay nabulyawan ko na ito.

Ngunit nagtimpi na lang ako. Sabi kasi ni Mina, a constitutional monarch—even an accidental one—should be an epitome of calmness.

"Have you also briefed the Emperor about his state visit to South Korea in January?"

"Yes, Sir."

Bigla akong parang naalimpungatan. "Ah, about that. I still don't get why I have to be dragged along as part of the entourage of the AFP Chief of Staff."

"Officially, he will be part of your entourage. You're the Head of State, after all."

"I get that. But why can't you join General Nazareno instead of me? If the government is trying to get some support for the AFP, shouldn't you be the one negotiating?"