Amorsolo Paintings Turned Over to PH Consulate General in San Francisco

Left photo: Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr (leftmost) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King (second from right) unveil the Amorsolo paintings. Right photo: Two of the Amorsolo Paintings donated to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on 22 November 2019. (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO 16 December 2019 — Two paintings by Philippine National Artist Fernando Amorsolo were turned over to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations’ Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Investigations Division on 22 November 2019.

Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto Jr. received the paintings on behalf of the Philippine Consulate and signed a Deed of Donation with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King for the turnover.

In his remarks, Consul General Bensurto thanked the HSI for its work and welcomed its officers and guests from the Filipino-American community to the formal turnover of the Amorsolo paintings.

Consul General Bensurto emphasized that the Museo ng Lahing Pilipino or Museum of the Filipino Race is being developed by the Consulate General to impart to younger generations of Filipinos in the United States the rich Philippine history and cultural heritage.

“Through the Museo ng Lahing Pilipino and programs of the Philippine Government, particularly the Sentro Rizal in San Francisco, we aim to increase awareness and appreciation of our Philippine history and culture,” Consul General Bensurto added.

Indonesian Consul General to San Francisco Simon D.I. Soekarno, the Filipino-American community, and media attended the event.

Master painter Amorsolo is the Philippines’ first National Artist. The Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made a significant contribution to Philippine arts.

The anonymous San Francisco Bay Area-based donor turned over the Amorsolo paintings to the HSI. The paintings had themes of harvest time in the Philippine countryside. The donor’s father procured the Amorsolo paintings when he served as a military policeman in the Philippines. He passed on a few years ago, and the family deemed it necessary that Filipinos appreciate the Amorsolo paintings. According to the HSI, there were no nefarious activities associated with the turnover of the Amorsolo paintings.

The HSI’s work involves investigating crimes, such as the illicit importation and distribution of cultural property and art. The office has also been coordinating with foreign governments for the return of cultural objects that were illegally acquired by some traders under its jurisdiction. END

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Tatum King (left) signs the Deed of Donation for the Amorsolo Paintings while Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (right) looks on. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Tatum King (right) and Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. sign the Deed of Donation for the Amorsolo Paintings on 22 November 2019. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (center) and Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King (rightmost) with Indonesian Consul General to San Francisco Simon D.I. Soekarno (leftmost) while the paintings are displayed during the turn over event on 22 November 2019. (San Francisco PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.