ALDUB: Treasure of the Hearts

Petro Glyphs (Part 22)

Alden and JOWAPAO are preparing to attack but Maine suddenly joined the parade that was happening. The guys followed her lead and joined also. They hide under the moving carriage for a certain saint. They stopped in the church on the second block from the villa where they got held. Finally, they were able to breathe normally. They sat on the bench outside the church and took a rest.

Paolo asked them to tell him the real story so he can understand the whole picture. Jose and Wally alternately explained it to him. They also asked him to recall the words that Doc Joey asked him to remember.

"Ang huling clue na nakuha namin ay: lumang kasulatan sa Angono, ikaw ang malapit dito. Iniwan ni Doc ang clue malapit kung san tayo nakatira." Jose explained.

Wally looked at the church infront of them, "San ba makakakita ng lumang kasulatan, di ba sa mga simbahan?" Wally suggested.

"Wala talaga akong matandaang lugar o salitang binilin sa akin ni Doc." Paolo said.

Maine asked, "Kung walang ibinilin sa iyo si Lolo, may itinuro ba siya sa iyo na lessons?

"Ay marami! Eh kasi sa aming tatlo, ako talaga yung pinakaimportante ang ginagawa kaya maraming tinuro sa akin si Doc." Paolo proudly said, then he enumerated all the skills that Doc Joey taught him. "Alam nyo bago nga nya kami tinanggal, tinuturuan nya akong magbasa ng petro glyphs kaya lang natigil nung bigla syang magdesisyon na magbakasyon grande. Sad nga lang at kanina ko lang nalaman na pumanaw na pala si Doc. Condolence ha." Paolo told Maine.

"Bakit ka nga pala tinuruan ni Doc magbasa ng petro glyphs?" Alden got curious.

"Mmm, nabanggit ko kasi sa kanyang interesado ako sa Archeology at tinanong ko kung pwede nya akong isama sa mga expeditions nya. Kaya lang sabi nya retired na daw sya, irerefer nya na lang daw ako sa mga kakilala nya after ng work ko sa kanya. Then a month before nya kami tanggalin, inumpisahan niya akong turuan magbasa ng petroglyphs para may daw edge ako kung mag-aapply ako as member ng archeological expedition. Medyo nakakabasa na ako ng petro glyphs bago nya kami sisantehin." - Paolo's lengthy explanation.

Jose and Wally were annoyed by Paolo's bragging but they just kept quiet. They don't want to join the discussion about the petro something. It's a nosebleed topic for them.

"So marunong ka na magbasa or mag-interpret ng petro glyphs?" Alden asked.

"Oo naman!" Paolo said confidently.

Alden asked Maine to bring out the note from the 2nd box. He looked at the note again.

He noticed that there are symbols around the notes. He thought those were just designs.

"...lumang kasulatan sa Angono, hindi kaya petro glyphs ang mga ito? Baka pwede mo maitranslate?" Alden showed it to Paolo.

"Oo, petro glyphs nga ito." Paolo excitedly confirmed then he paused. "Kaya lang wala akong kodigo. Di ko naisave yung bigay ni Doc. Sorry." Paolo apologized and felt embarrassed by his bragging earlier.

Jose smirked, "Mmm kanina confident ka na kaya mong basahin ha, ngayon uurong ka!"

"Eh, ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng petronics?

Kanina nyo pa yun pinag-uusapan pero di ko maintindihan?" Wally honestly clarified.

"Petro glyphs ang tawag sa sinaunang pag-ukit gamit ang bato upang magpahayag ng nais or makipagkomunikasyon." – Maine's simple explanation to Wally and Jose.

"May petro glyphs site dito sa Angono baka pwede mo icompare and deduct the meaning of these symbols." Alden suggested.

"Malapit yan dito. Sige itatry ako. May konti pa akong natatandaan." Paolo confirmed.

The group traveled to Angono Petro glyphs Museum. Paolo took pictures of the petro glyphs. They sat on a vacant bench with table and Paolo started comparing symbols to its meaning. When Paolo has already deducted some letters, they saw some goons running towards them. They quickly got up and went to the car they rented. They opted to rent to avoid involving another person in danger. Alden is the one driving.

"Pao, bilisan mo na! Ano na ba yang nabuo mong salita?" Wally is panicking already.

"Quezon! Quezon ang nabuo ko nang salita."

"Saang Quezon? Quezon City o Quezon province?" Jose was confused.

"Malamang Quezon City yan! Sa malapit lang iyon ilalagay ni Doc noh." Wally suggested.

"Ahh!" A gunshot almost hit the car. The 3 men shouted out of their panic. Alden has to do some maneuver that made his them uncomfortable. It was impossible for Paolo to compare the remaining symbols.

To be continued...