Jenessa Paulino was in the car with her cousin early Friday when they came across the donne pepper display that was reported stolen from Mangilao.

“I was driving from home headed to work through backroad because it’s a shortcut. It was pouring so hard and I said, ‘what is on the road,’” said Paulino. “(My cousin) said it was and umbrella, and I said, ‘it looks like donne from Mangilao’ and I took a picture.”

She was stunned to find the large fiber glass chili pepper on Chalan Kirida in Yigo just after 6 am before she called her parents.

Her father called it in to police.

“I was really shocked,” she said. “I feel blessed today.”

The display, which has been used to represent the Mangilao Donne Festival, went missing Tuesday morning.

By 8 am today, Mayor Allan Ungacta and his crew had already secured the festival mascot and were transporting it back to their village.

“We are excited. Today is a great day,” said Ungacta. “Thank you for everyone. It’s coming back to Mangilao.”

Jenei Aguon, who was on the festival committee and procured the display six years ago, said she got a call from a friend, Paulino’s dad, that it was located.

“Thank you to Jenessa Paulino for reporting the donne and calling super early to make sure we were informed,” said Aguon. “This is still a criminal case, so it's still not a laughing matter but we are thankful it was found intact and in a decent condition.”