Chapter 28: THE PRESIDENT'S PORTRAIT
"Paulo, you have a letter! Ruthie is waving the brown envelope from the mailman.
" What is that Ruthie? Let me see? Where did it come from? Wow, the first time I received a letter in my name! Faster Ruthie!" Paulo so excited can not wait.
"Here I am, What could this be?" Ruthie running to Paulo.
"Who have thought to send me an envelope? What could this be? I'll wait for Papa to read it." Paulo wondering who send him this mail.
Juan was being recognized as one of the top students. He is number 7 of the top ten. Many ladies have an eye on him. One of the young lady professors a genius is also interested to know him. Many are flirting with him, but he never gives much attention except being friendly with them. He is busy with his studies and he is also much involved in his work in the security and detection job.
Ruthie called him and informed him of the letter to Paulo.
"I will go home tomorrow Saturday, I'm excited to know that also. Tell Dad, I'm going home."Juan said on the phone.
Saturday, all of them present in the sala. Tony gave Juan the letter addressed to Paulo.
" The address from Malacañang palace?"Juan surprised.
"Yes, it's from the President. He personally requested Paulo to paint his portrait." Tony said.
"Wow! Amazing! You are truly a famous painter Paulo." Juan proudly said.
"When will be the schedule for this painting?" Juan asked.
"If Paulo will confirm acceptance, then the schedule is next month," Tony said.
"I hope I can accompany you, Paulo. I'll try to ask permission from my boss and ask if I can be excused for two days. I will just accompany you in going there then Ruthie will stay with you until you finished. I will talk to Ruthie's teachers and the principal. I hope our schedule will be approved. Praying for these. This is a good opportunity for you Paulo." Juan said.
Paul nodded and silently very thankful and also for the support of his family.
"Jacky, Paulo was invited by the President in Malacañang to paint his portrait. Pray that my leave will be approved so I can accompany him. I want to see the president in person also. How is Joel doing?" Juan in a video call?
"Wow! That's amazing news. I'm proud of Paulo. He is really famous now. Joel is doing fine, he was promoted to Major lately and he is the head of the anti-terrorism special force. I will be there Next weekend with Dad, we will see each other again. See you." Jacky said in a video call.
"I'm excited about that. Mama is in Europe, I think she has forgotten about us. What if she sees us, can she remember us?" Juan wondering in a video call.
"Let's hope and pray we know God has a right time for everything," Jacky said.
Weekend, Jacky arrived in the farm ahead of Juan, Ruthie and Paulo embraced her, and they talked while waiting for Juan. Jacky gave them some goodies and painting brushes and special oil paints from Japan as her gift to be used to paint the President's portrait.
Juan arrived on his big bike. He looks handsome in the bike as he parked and was embraced by Jacky in surprise from the back. Juan embraced her also and invite her on the bike and they went to the convenience store-bought some food and flowers then they went to the church and they prayed for Martha. They met the Pastor and they gave the food for them and an envelope of money, this is my offering for the last month. "Help us pray for my mother Pastor, she can not remember us. Praying that we can meet and that she can remember us." Juan said.
Juan and Jacky rode on the bike. He tours Jacky to some beautiful high spots of Olympog, they look at the green trees and the golden rice paddies and waited for the sun setting down. Then they went home. Jacky and Juan kissed Tony's hand as Filipino respect to elders.
They grilled the pork belly Juan bought and Jacky made sashimi from the "malasugi" swordfish meat.
Ruthie prepared a passion fruit juice harvested from the garden.
They had enjoyed the weekend with songs, Sunday worship in church, and fishing in the pond. Jacky enjoyed her weekend visit, Juan fetched her to the airport alone in the big bike early Monday because Ely did not accompany her this time. She just had her backpack. Jacky enjoyed riding the bike with Juan.
"I love your bike, I'm sure many ladies want to ride that also. Don't they dare!" Jacky teasing him.
"They will not, I'm so afraid of you!" Juan said kissing her forehead.
"Bye for now, if there is a possibility that I can go with you and Paulo in his painting the president, I'll grab that," Jacky said.
Juan just smiled and wave her goodbye as she entered the airport and flew to Japan.
The painting event is now. They arrived from the airport, they were fetched by the assigned presidential security personnel to their accommodation. They feel like VIP. An elegant room was prepared for them. Paulo, Juan, and Ruthie were there, they put their belongings in the cabinets then a lady told them that they will have lunch with the president, then they will be briefed where the painting will be done and the details of the president's instruction about the painting.
Jacky called: "Juan I can not go with Paulo's painting event. I have to finish some research and experiment to be submitted. Sorry!" Jacky apologize.
"Your package has arrived, we were all stunned to see it's the cutest dog I ever saw. You called her Azila. I love it, no! we all love her. We all thank you." Jacky so happily added.
"No problem, welcome, we are now to meet the president. I'm a bit nervous. But Paulo is confident and happy. Bye for now my love" Juan said.
They were introduced to the president, they bowed, and the President handshake them all, they had a picture with the president, and with the staff.
They had a buffet. The President was so glad to have them and made some special requests about the painting. We will start one hour after lunch. I can't hold you longer because of the busy schedule. "How many days can this be finished?" The President asked Paulo.
If we can start it now, tomorrow we can finish the sketch and foundation paint, then after tomorrow, we can finish the finishing touches without you, sir." Paul said.
"OK, well that's good to hear, I'm excited to start it after lunch. Thank you." The President said.
The President asked Juan what he is doing as of now.
"I'm a student in Mechanical Engineering Sir at Mindanao State University, I'm at the same time working with the Rollo Security and Detection Agency as a messenger. If you don't mind sir, I'll take this opportunity to ask you something." Juan said to the President.
"Go ahead!" The President said
"My mother was lost in Japan, she was there as an OFW, three weeks after she started working, she had an Alzheimer attack as reported to us and we lost contact with her. We have seen a resemblance to her but we can not have access to how we can be sure if she was the woman we saw." Juan explained to the President.
"I want that story. Let's talk about that in detail. I will ask my assistant to get the details and I will help to find her." The president said.
"Thank you, sir. Our family will appreciate that we can locate and have our mother again" Juan said.
The president had a handshake and went ahead.
The president prepared for his official suit for the portrait.
The painting started, Paulo made the sketches of the president and the background. They had a good chat, Paulo while painting the president, had painted her mother in words and in detail to the President that the President had almost had a tear of the sad story.
The president then went to his legal advisers what could be done to find Martha Tiro in Japan.
The painting was so glorious, that the president looks so elegant and royalty.
The president liked it and presented it in for public viewing in the palace.
Paulo's fame as a painter is growing and his paintings are gaining popularity that per piece is priced ₱100,000.
The president promised to help find his mother and gave him a certificate, a plaque, and an open scholarship for anyone Paulo wants to use it for private or for Public University. Paulo publicly said that he will not accept payment for this painting, but the president had given him inserted in his scholarship and business package account a one million pesos from his personal fund.
Paulo is now a millionaire.
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