An 88-year-old painting by national artist Fernando Amorsolo displayed at a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental stolen on July 3, 2024, was returned over nine months after.

The painting dubbed “Mango Harvesters" was stolen from the Hofileña Museum, but was found on July 12, 2024, by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed how two suspects took the painting off the wall at the second floor of the museum, fled, and traveled toward the North Terminal in Bacolod City on board a pedicab.

The NBI turned over the painting to the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila after a thorough visual inspection.

The painting was returned formally to the Hofileña family on April 25, 2025.

“Malaki ang ginastos ng nephews at nieces ko upang maibalik lang ang painting. Promise namin na ibalik siya sa house. That was the last will and testament ng brother ko,” said Rene Hofileña, brother of the owner of the painting.

The return of the painting is significant to the Silaynons (people of Silay) as the Hofileña Museum is its “home.”

The cooperation of the pedicab driver, identified as Joey Daquila, to the authorities was recognized in the formal turnover.

“Kung minsan ma-recall ko, nakikinig ako sa kanilang pinag-uusapan. Kahit papano naibalik ang painting sa Hofileña family,” Daquila said.

The museum has already imposed stringent security measures, inside and outside of its premises, to avoid a similar incident.