EDITORIAL — A happy ending, but also not yet the end

There is a good development in the saga of the pulpit panels stolen from the Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Parish Church in Boljoon town, Cebu; the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) said they will return the panels to the church where they were filched in the late 1980’s.

These four panels were earlier donated to the NMP by art collectors.

"The NMP said its board approved the return of the panels, subject to certain terms, “which are envisaged to form part of a comprehensive agreement between NMP and the Archdiocese of Cebu in support of the Boljoon Church Complex as a National Cultural Treasure and candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Inscription,” Rappler said in an online news report.

While this is indeed a happy ending, it’s also not quite the end, because not all panels are coming back for now.

In all, six pulpit panels were stolen. One has already been recovered, the four currently with the NMP are expected to be returned to the church soon, while the whereabouts of the last one are still unknown.

It is also not quite the end because this whole episode should also serve as a cautionary tale that we should safeguard our priceless works of art.

How many more priceless art pieces are unguarded out there in different churches, old municipal buildings, small museums, tourist attractions, or other such places? How many have been stolen from under the noses of parish priests, parishioners, municipal employees, or constituents?

It should also be a call to action that we should go after those who think that they can make off with these priceless art pieces, whether for a quick buck or just to add them to a collection that no one else can see.

We got lucky this time that the stolen panels resurfaced after the art collectors who bought them decided to donate them to the NMP. Even luckier that public outcry was for the panels to be returned. But we are sure this won’t happen for all the items that just suddenly disappear from where they ought to be safe.