SURIGAO TREASURE:Part 7of8 OF GINTONG PAMANA

Part 7 of the Gintong Pamana episode that aired on June 8, 2008 on THE PROBE at ABS-CBN. Video Summary In 1981, Berto Morales, a farmer employed as a bulldozer operator in an irrigation project in Surigao struck gold. He discovered a treasure trove of gold ornaments while bringing down a hill to collect filling materials. The discovery, hitherto unknown to the public, is among the largest collection of Philippine archaeological gold in the country as well as in the rest of the world. Recovered in association with 10th to 13th century Chinese ceramics, the gold ornaments show similarities in form and iconography with artifacts of other cultures in the region. Experts believe the discovery will rewrite history. Nothing of this scale and magnitude and magnificence has ever been seen before, says Dr. Florina Capistrano-Baker, former curator of the Ayala Museum, of the gold find. Gold specialist Dr. John Miksic of the National University of Singapore describes the Surigao treasure as the single most important tangible heritage of the country. Experts say jewelers today cannot imitate or even come close to the quality of the workmanship of the intricate designs of our ancestors gold. Part of the Surigao treasure is the Sacred Thread, which is worn during ceremonies and weighs more than four kilos. Baker says the belt-like object is so heavy a mannequin broke because of its sheer weight. PROBE reporter, Cheche Lazaro, searches for Berto Morales in Surigao. From then on, Lazaro ...



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