More than nine months after it was stolen on July 3, 2024, the painting known as "Mango Harvesters", an 88-year-old artwork by national artist Fernando Amorsolo that was on display at a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental, was returned.
The painting was discovered by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents on July 12, 2024 after being stolen from the Hofileña Museum.
“We are celebrating more than just the return of a lost painting – we celebrate the return of a story, a memory, and a piece of our cultural heritage that was once taken from us,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
Return to Silay
Following a careful visual examination, the NBI gave the picture to the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila.
On April 25, 2025, the picture was formally given back to the Hofileña family. Its return is crucial to the Silaynons, which are the inhabitants of Silay.
Lacson expressed gratitude to the Hofileña family for their steadfast dedication to conserving Silay and Negros Occidental's rich cultural heritage.
Recognizing the help
When it was discovered that the individuals who got into the tourist pedicab were the ones who stole the Amorsolo painting, museum manager Rene Hofileña recognized the driver with an award for giving the police a lead.
To prevent a repeat of this tragedy, the museum has already implemented strict security measures both within and outside its buildings.
