An 88-year-old painting of Fernando Amorsolo, hailed as the first National Artist in Painting in 1972, went missing from the Hofileña Museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

The painting dubbed “Mango Harvesters” was dated 1936 and is a collection of the late Ramon Hofileña, a prominent local figure in heritage conservation in Silay City and an advocate of cultural tourism. 

According to a staff member of the museum, the painting went missing on July 3, 2024. 

As there was a lack in tour guides that day because of the number of museum vistiors, the tour guide did not notice of other persons who went to the second floor of the museum.

“Ngayon lang nangyari sa amin ito. Nang araw na nawala yung painting, ang kumpare kong hardinero ang pinaki-usapan kong mag-tour guide,” Emilio Rollo, museum caretaker, said.

Rene, a brother of Ramon, said he could not believe that such incident could happen to the artwork.

“Parang they know already. Pag-akyat nila, alam na nila kung saan kukunin. They studied already pati ang timing ng tour guiding,” Rene Hofileña, museum administrator said. 

The Silay City Police has obtained a copy of the CCTV footage at the museum. Two persons of interest were determined, a male and a female.

"Nakasabit lang ito sa dingding. Kinuha lang nang patago habang nakatalikod ang ibang guests na nagvi-visit sa museum,” Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, chief of the Silay City Police Station, said.

Darroca added the footage showed that the perpetrators placed the painting immediately in a bag and left the area hurriedly.

The Hofileña family has appealed for help from the public in order to recover the lost item of the museum’s art collection.

“If you know somebody na connected sa mga painting, please try to help us. The art na ninakaw is very important sa house namin. Ang museum nating ito sa Silay is not only for the Silaynon, but for the whole Philippines,” Rene said.

The Local Government Unit of Silay City has offered a P25,000 reward to persons who can provide accurate information that would lead to the recovery of the painting.