The 1936 “Mango Harvester” of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo that was stolen more than months nine months ago finally returned to its home at the Hofileña Museum at Cinco de Noviembre Street in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Friday afternoon, April. 25.
The painting was unveiled in the presence of Hofileña family members and guests Friday afternoon and returned to its original spot at the second floor of the museum, Jay Jalandoni, one of their relatives, said.
The painting being returned to its original spot at the museum by Gerard Hofileña Gimena on Friday*Aeson Baldevia photo
The 12×18-inch painting was stolen from the museum on July 3 and was recovered by National Bureau of Investigation agents on July 12, 2024, from two people attempting to sell it for P3.5 million in Quezon City.
The two people who stole the painting from museum are still at large.
The National Museum has pegged the price of the “Mango Harvester” at P15 million, Rene “Boy” Hofileña, administrator of the museum, told DIGICAST NEGROS.
It will permanently be on display at the museum, and they have hired security personnel whom the museum cannot afford to pay for from its earnings, he said.
The Hofileña family*Aeson Baldevia photo
“My nephews and nieces will be paying for them, the museum cannot afford to pay them as the museum does not earn a lot,” he said.
They expect to have a lot of visitors with the return of the Amorsolo, he said.
Rene’s brother, art collector Ramon Hofileña, converted their 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, Rene said.
He was surprised that his brother designated him administrator of the museum in his will, which also stated that nothing should be taken out of the house, Rene said.
My brother wanted people to have a place to go to in Silay to see works of famous artists without having to go to museums in Manila, he said.
His brother was a friend of Amorsolo who gave him the “Mango Harvester”, Rene said.
The “Mango Harvester”*
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 , Rene said.
The museum is also home to paintings by Silay artist Conrado Judith.
Rene said he and his family are continuing the legacy of his brother who wanted to bring joy to the people through the museum.
“They call this house a little National Museum,” he said.*
The Hofileña Museum*Aeson Baldevia photo