2 precious art works rotting away in Palace

Government troops are scouring the hinterlands of Palawan and Mindanao to rescue hostages seized by bandit groups. But at Malacañang, a different rescue mission is about to take place, and it involves priceless treasures being ravaged by unseen enemies.

President Arroyo recently ordered the "rescue" of two precious paintings that adorn the presidential palace – the "Blood Compact" of Juan Luna and the "Harvest Scene" by Carlos V. Francisco.

The two paintings have fallen prey to amag or molds and have lost their original luster due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance.

Ruby Agulto, the head of Malacañang’s internal housekeeping affairs, said the President has ordered her to look for experts to restore the two art pieces.

"We’re still in the process of looking for professional art curators who can restore and preserve these two oil paintings," she said.

Luna’s "Blood Compact," originally titled El Pacto de Sangre, is two meters by three meters in size and welcomes visitors to the second floor lobby of the Palace. It depicts the ceremony that marked the sealing of friendship of a Filipino warrior and a Spanish leader before Spain colonized the Philippines.

Francisco’s "Harvest Scene," on the other hand, is a bit larger – two meters by seven meters – and also hangs on the second floor lobby, at the left side of the stairs. It shows farmers celebrating as they harvest their crops. – Marichu Villanueva