Philippine Embassy Hosts Artists Talk and Exhibit on Philippine Heritage Jewelry
Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano introduced Ms. Ma. Angelica Santos-Bermejo, jewelry designer and dedicated preservationist of national heirlooms, and encouraged everyone to appreciate jewelry as a reflection of Philippine life and culture, at the Artist Talk and Exhibition about Philippine Jewelry on 15 November 2024.
21 November 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan and Sentro Rizal-Tokyo, in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), hosted an Artist Talk and Exhibition about Philippine Jewelry on 15 November 2024 at the official residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan. The event brought together artists, culture enthusiasts, and members of the Filipino and Japanese communities to reflect on the history and heritage embodied by Philippine jewelry.
The talk featured jewelry designer and preservationist Ma. Angelica Santos-Bermejo, whose presentation was based on her authored book, ALAHAS: Philippine Heritage Jewelry.
“In ALAHAS, we tell the story of these masterpieces as symbols of resilience, empowerment, and beauty. For Filipino women, especially, jewelry has always been more than just an accessory. Jewelry has been a way to express strength, identity, and self-worth,” Ms. Bermejo said.
She also noted the resurgence of interest among younger generations in reclaiming this legacy, creating a new appreciation for heritage jewelry in contemporary culture.
Ms. Ma. Angelica Santos-Bermejo presented each jewelry piece, sharing a brief background on its history and significance.
“It is my fervent hope that the empowered Filipina, just as our esteemed Japanese counterparts, continues to hold her head high, standing tall with unwavering grace, inspiring others with her presence, and that her jewel, her beauty, her brilliance forever catches the light,” she concluded.
In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano described jewelry as a medium of cultural expression. She emphasized the deep anthropological roots of jewelry in Filipino culture, noting how adornments such as talismans and amulets reflect both historical and spiritual aspects of Filipino life.
“Jewelry in the Philippines is more than adornment; it is a vessel of our history and identity, bridging generations and preserving our heritage,” the Ambassador noted.
Guests were treated to a viewing of rare jewelry pieces that traced the evolution of Filipino adornment, and highlighted the Filipino artisans’ mastery of materials and techniques across pre-colonial, colonial, and modern jewelry-making traditions.
Ma. Angelica “Gigi” Santos-Bermejo is a prominent Filipina jewelry collector, designer, and preservationist with over 38 years of experience in the field. She has gained recognition for her extensive work in documenting and celebrating Philippine heritage jewelry, culminating in ALAHAS: Philippine Heritage Jewelry that was launched in February 2024. It features 290 archival and contemporary photographs, along with reflection essays that delve into the significance of jewelry as a form of art and identity.
Last March, ALAHAS earned the Red Award in Image Making from the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry’s Good Design Awards, inspired by Japan’s own Good Design Awards.
Pieces of Philippine heirloom jewelry were displayed to complement the Artist Talk and Exhibition about Philippine Jewelry on 15 November 2024 at the Official Residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan.
