Filipino artist displays oil painting gift of President elect Duterte

The great grandson of Philippine National Artist Juan Luna has made a painting of Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte, which he hopes to present to the politician as a gift during the official government handover ceremony in Manila on June 30, according to an epa journalist.

In the painting, the tough talking former Davao City mayor stands outfitted in a white shirt against a peach sunset backdrop with the emblem of the president’s office behind him.

“When Duterte decided to run, I thought of creating a portrait of him in case he might win,” said artist Freddie Luna Cruz, adding that throngs of Duterte supporters have tried to buy the oil painting, which took two weeks to complete.

Cruz, the cousin of the Executive Secretary of the Philippines under current President Benigno Aquino III, has given portraits as gifts to past presidents including Joseph Estrada, Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, according to the artist.

‘The Punisher’ Duterte won majority support, millions of votes ahead of the secondplaced Liberal Party candidate Manual ‘Mar’ Roxas, in the Philippine presidential elections on May 9.

Since his victory, a number of artistic endeavors have been launched around him, including a ‘Cafe Latte Duterte’ featuring Duterte’s face in milk foam coffee bubbles on offer by a graphic artist and barista at a Quezon City cake shop.