Rizal's P31-M 'Mona Lisa' National Museum's Christmas gift to nation

In a feel-good moment in this otherwise politically charged season, the National Museum of the Philippines stepped up to buy Jose Rizal's "Mona Lisa" sculpture and make it a Christmas gift to the Filipino nation.

- By LISA GUERRERO NAKPIL

A new law gave it seven days to invoke its right of first refusal and match the winning bid of P31.2 million at the recent Leon Gallery Kingly Treasures Auction last Nov. 30.

When the dust had settled days after a fierce bidding war, the Museum board did just that in time for the hero's 128th death anniversary this Rizal Day, Dec. 30.

The winning bidder, speaking on condition of anonymity, struck a patriotic note and said he "was very pleased that it would be going to a place where it could be shared with everyone.”

Auctions for historically important lots are few and far between because only a handful have made it through the ravages of World War II which leveled the city of Manila. This work is said to have survived because it was buried in a steel drum in the garden of the owner, a descendant of Jose Rizal.

The ones that got away

Two other Rizal sculptures had been previously auctioned off at Leon Gallery. These were the “Jabali” (Wild Boar) in 2016 and “The Filipino”, a basrelief in wood of an athlete, in 2018 which had sold for P16.4 Million and P17.5 Million, respectively. There had been no legal mechanism in those years for the National Museum to acquire these works for the Filipino people until the “National Museum of the Philippines Act” was passed in 2019.