• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More than nine months after it was recovered by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, the stolen painting of national artist Fernando Amorsolo is now back in a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
The 1936 year old painting “Mango Harvesters” was stolen by two guests at the Hofileña Museum at Cinco de Noviembre street in Silay City, Negros Occidental, on July 3 last year.
It was recovered by NBI agents on July 12, 2024, from two people attempting to sell it for P3.5 million in Quezon City. The two suspects who stole it have remained unidentified as of this time.
On April 25, the stolen painting was returned to its original spot at the museum, following unveiling rites in the presence of Hofileña family members and guests. It can now be viewed by the public, although with tighter security.
The market value of the painting is pegged at P8 million to P12 million.
Negrense art collector Ramon Hofileña converted his family ancestral home into a museum in 1962.
The Hofileña Museum is a repository of art finds collected by Ramon, who asked that their ancestral home remain a museum even after his death in 2021.
“Also on display at the museum are works of Filipino artists like Juan Luna, Jose Joya, Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo, Vicente Manansala, Ang Kiukok, H.R. Ocampo, and Benedicto Cabrera.
The museum also has a sketch by Jose Rizal made during his student days that was given to Ramon by Bobby Ongpin.*
