Chapter 21

'Good afternoon, constituents!" That was Jovie's greeting to her classmates in their video call. That group chat was created for the upcoming medical mission they discussed during the celebration they had at Pure Act Café. The group includes Joshua and the other members of Pure Act Dancers, as well as Carla, Edmalyn, and Ria. 'Jov, I really never thought you'll become the mayor," Joshua said. Jovie smiled at what he said. 'Mayor Jovie!" James called. 'I still can't believe that you're the mayor now, Jov," Mark said. 'Start believing," Jovie said. 'When we were in high school, you're the most mischievous among us," Mark said. 'I'm the nicest back then," Jovie disagreed. 'You remember one time, you hid that fake snake inside the drawer of Sir Arguilles? He almost had a heart attack when he saw it," Mark recollected. Everyone laughed at Mark's story. 'That fake snake was not mine," said Jovie who also cannot contain her laugh. 'But you're the one who put it inside," Mark said, also laughing. 'Hey! Mr. Arguilles still remembers that," said Carla. 'One time, he became my patient in TGH. I was happy he still remembered me. Then he asked, ‘Isn't your class the one who put a fake snake inside my drawer?'" Carla laughed again. And her classmates laughed with her. 'But, is Mr. Arguilles okay now?" Ria asked Carla. 'He is. He is just hypertensive, but it's still manageable. We gave him some maintenance meds that time," Carla said. 'He was always hypertensive," Jovie said. 'Remember, he's a terror teacher?" 'That's why you pranked him," Joshua said. 'Well at least, you enjoyed it," Jovie said. The others laughed again. 'Wait! Let's stop this reminiscing and proceed with our meeting. I have another meeting later, a real one," Jovie told her classmates. 'Hey! This is also a legit meeting, Mayor. You're so mean to us," Ria said to Jovie. 'Because you're so impish," Jovie said. 'If you're the one I'll meet up every day, for sure my head will explode." 'Mayor, we can be your advisers," Mark suggested. 'We're good, promise." 'Let's just start, okay?" The group is still laughing, but they followed Jovie anyway. They stopped fooling around and started the meeting. 'So, the medical mission will be held at Brgy. Loria. As you all know, they are still in the recovery phase after the flash flood and landslide that happened last year. This medical mission is the project of the local government of Tarlac City, but when Carla mentioned that you want to participate, I thought we could include a feeding program, and we could also give them supplies because they also need those." 'So, I talked to James beforehand, and he agreed to donate meds and medical supplies for the medical mission," Jovie continued. 'Carla is part of the medical team. Tats will help in assisting the patients." 'We'll be in charged of the food, Mayor," Joshua said. 'Pure Act will take care of that." Mark and Jeralhd agreed. 'Madame, you take care of the groceries," Jovie told Ria. 'Me? Just me?" Ria asked. 'One of us here owns a supermarket chain here in Tarlac." 'We're taking care of the food for the feeding program, remember?" Mark said. His family owns some grocery stores around the city. 'You should donate groceries as well," Ria said. 'Mayor, kindly reassign Mark, please." 'Okay, but you donate the rice," Jovie told Ria. 'Mayor, that is too much!" Ria complained. 'Of course not! It's just 253 families, and you do not need to give them one full sack. Just half of it." Jovie smirked. Ria laughed at what Jovie said. 'Okay, that's final," Jovie said. 'I will report you to my mom," Ria said. 'It's okay. She might even increase your donation," Jovie said. 'Do we need to assist in the feeding program?" Jeralhd asked. 'Much better," Jovie answered. 'So that I don't have to ask my staff and give them OT pay." 'You're really stingy, Mayor," Mark said. 'And you won't even pay us for this?" 'You're rich already so it doesn't matter," Jovie told Mark. 'But my time is very precious! My schedule is full," Mark said. 'Then don't go on a date that day," Jovie said. 'Why do you know that, Mayor?" Joshua asked Jovie. 'But of course!" Jovie said. 'I have a lot of channels of information." They all laughed. 'You are a gossip, Mayor," Mark said. 'If you are the mayor, you have to be on top of the social issues of your jurisdiction. It just happened that you, Mark Joseph Velasco, belongs to one of the well-known families here in Tarlac City. I can easily get news about you," Jovie said smugly. 'Whoa! Mayor is kind of scary," James said. 'So you should not do anything stupid," Joshua told James. 'That's right, or else she will discuss it on our next video chat," James said. 'Can we have another video chat?" Edmalyn asked. 'This is so fun." 'I agree," said Carla. 'Then, let's do this every day," Ria suggested. 'Dr. Carla can't do that," Edmalyn said. 'When she's on duty, you just can't disturb her." 'I'm also very busy," Jovie said. 'We will ask an appointment from you, Mayor," Ria said. 'You're so fussy, Mayor," Joshua commented. 'We even need to get an appointment from you?" 'That's just how it is," Jovie said. 'Oh well, so that's your duties on our outreach program. By the way, the call time is 7AM, because travel time is forty-five minutes. We need to start early because we can't stay long there. The road is difficult, and it is still under repair. It's very muddy especially when it rains." 'But it's accessible, right? Are there public transport going there?" asked Joshua. 'Yes, but only until 6PM. The way is dark because there are no lights on the road," Jovie said. 'Mayor, why don't you put light poles there?" Mark asked. 'We're doing what we can," Jovie answered. 'Right now, our priority is the housing project for the residents there. I know you're heard that the place was totally devastated by the flash flood and landslide. There are a lot of casualties." Everyone became silent after hearing Jovie. 'That is why this outreach program is really a great help. Carla and her colleagues already did a medical mission in the place last year after the disaster," Jovie said. 'We promised that we will come back, especially since health and hygiene is not the priority," Carla said. 'They are literally trying to make ends meet." 'How are they doing now, Mayor?" Ria asked, pertaining to the residents. 'Well, they were trying their best to start anew," Jovie answered. 'Some of them have gone back to work, some put up small businesses like selling and retail stores. But more than financial and physical, it's the emotional ang mental state that is very hard to recover. It was a month before Christmas when it happened." It was November last year when a typhoon hit the country, and the epicenter was in Region 3. Brgy. Loria is in western part of Tarlac, and it is relatively low as compared to the neighboring barangays. That is why it serves as a catch basin when there is flooding throughout the city. In fact, the residents there are used to such floods, but something else happened during the last disaster. The flood that plunged into the said barangay was muddy water. 'How many families did you say reside there?" Joshua asked Jovie. 'Two hundred fifty-three families, for a total of five hundred sixty-seven residents," Jovie asked. 'Ria, where will you buy the rice?" Joshua asked again. 'From the dela Rosas," Ria answered. 'They could give you 253 sacks?" 'I could find a way," Ria said. 'Wanna share?" 'Okay. Make it one sack per family," Joshua answered. 'Wow! Joshua Socorro is the man," Mark commented. 'I will also be adding to the grocery supplies that Mark will provide," Jeralhd said. 'Oooh! Je as well, huh?" Mark said to his friend. 'And I will donate hygiene supplies, aside from medicines and medical supplies," James said. 'Speaking of hygiene, you might have some clothes that you don't wear anymore," Edmalyn said. "That's one of the things I'm taking care of for this outreach program, in cooperation with UrbanShop." 'I'll look in my closet," Joshua said. 'I have some clothes that the sponsors gave me that I don't wear." 'Count us in," James said. 'Right, Je?" 'Yeah," Jeralhd answered. 'Hey, Ri! Your mom is a designer," Mark said to Ria. 'If they wear gowns and suits, I can ask Mom to donate some of her creations," Ria said sarcastically. 'Whoa! That was supposed to be a joke," Mark said. 'I'll also give spare clothing," Ria said. 'How about you?" 'Yes, Mark," Jovie said. 'Everyone upgraded their donations, except you." 'Should I match their donations? They are rich, you know," Mark said. 'Mark Velasco, your family is on top 10 richest families in the province," Jovie said. Mark scowled at what Jovie said. 'Fine! I'll give 10 gallons of water per family," Mark said. 'Will that be enough?" 'So it's true," Ria said. 'What do you mean?" Mark asked, quite irritated. 'That the Velascos started a water refilling venture," Ria answered. Jovie answered for Mark. 'It's true." 'Mayor! How did you know about that?" Mark asked. 'Because the venture applied for a business permit in my office," Jovie said. 'Ah, yes," Mark said. 'Well then, so everything is settled. I will expect your pledges, okay?" Jovie said to her friends. 'Mayor…" That's Ria. 'What? You want to add some more?" Jovie asked. 'Seven AM is very early." Ria scowled. 'If you can't make it to the call time, then just go by yourself," Jovie said. 'You have your own car, right?" Ria had no choice but to accept that. 'Okay. Let's end this here because I have another meeting," Jovie said. 'We're very blessed that Mayor was able to accommodate us," Carla teased. 'Mayor, is that a legit meeting?" James asked. 'What do you mean?" Jovie asked. 'It might not be a meeting, but instead, it's a date," James said. 'Ooh! Mayor, huh?" Mark teased. 'Stop teasing me," Jovie said. 'My date is waiting." Everyone laughed at what Jovie said. They then started teasing her. 'Okay! Meeting adjourned!" Jovie said. 'Mayor, let's chat again on this group, okay?" Ria asked. 'Yes," Joshua agreed. 'And let's set up a reunion." 'Okay, just tell me when," Jovie said. 'Noted, Mayor," Ria said. 'Okay, I'm out of here," Jovie said. 'Bye!" said the others. The meeting ended as one by one, they left the video call.