Beauty Gonzalez’s look for the 2023 GMA Gala received flak from the public and some academics, who pointed out the inappropriate use of the excavated artifacts.
“My look for #GMaGala2023 is an appreciation for Philippine Ancestral Gold,” the 32-year-old wrote in her Instagram post on July 22, ahead of the event.
Beauty opted for a simple yet elegant ensemble, wearing a nude corseted gown by Mara Chua. She accessorized her look with a gold neckpiece and earrings from Riqueza Fine Jewellery by Erica Concepcion Reyes.
“My Centuries old Gold Neck Piece and Earrings are Excavated Eye and Mouth Covers from distant places like Butuan and Surigao, beautifully reworked in this modern setting by my favorite Jeweler @riquezajewellery,” she added.
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A post shared by Christine Gonzalez-Crisologo (@beauty_gonzalez)
In case you didn’t know, gold death masks were primarily used for various reasons, such as “to prevent evil spirits who are afraid of gold’s brightness from entering the dead body, to guide the newly departed into the ranks of their ancestors; or to protect them from ‘the profane eyes of the living,’” as stated in a VERA Files report.
The Encyclopedia of Philippine Art by the Cultural Center of the Philippines also said that “gold orifice covers are unique to Coastal China, Taiwan, and Island Southeast Asia.” These were used “to usher the dead into the ranks of their sacred ancestors, to show their divine radiance, or to protect them from the profane eyes of the living,” among others.
EPA also noted that excavated gold covers that the National Museum of the Philippines recovered in 1973 were “the first of its kind to be systematically recovered and declared a National Cultural Treasure.” They added that “the largest quantities and the widest range of gold ornaments” come from Butuan and Surigao—where Beauty mentioned hers were from—and Samar in Eastern Visayas.
With its cultural value, this sparked the question of whether the actress inappropriately used the artifacts. Historian Alvin Campomanes, on the other hand, explained the importance of the jewelry pieces. He said that if it’s proven that the jewelry is indeed authentic, it’s a problematic issue.
“Ayon sa mga antropólogo at historyador-pangkultura, sadyang sinusuotan ng mga ninuno natin ng mga gintong palamuti ang mga bangkay. Madalas, ginagamit itong pantakip sa mga bahagi ng mukha na may butas (i.e. mata, ilong, bibig) upang itaboy ang masasamang espiritung maaari pa ring pumasok sa katawan ng yumao, the UP historian explained.
He also cited the “Oton Gold Death Mask” as an example, saying that the funerary mask was discovered by F. Landa Jocano and Alfredo Evangelista in Oton, Iloilo in 1967. The said piece is now kept in the National Museum-Western Visayas.
Cultural critic and independent curator Marian Pastor Roces, meanwhile, called the actress a “fashion victim,” raising her concerns about the supposed preserved cultural value of the excavated gold mouth and eye covers.
“Someone tell this woman that the orifice covers she is paying “homage” to are grave robber stuff,” Marian wrote in her Facebook post on Tuesday, July 25.“Because if these were legally excavated, the pieces would belong to the National Museum or the Bangko Sentral.”
“Or: if the pieces were excavated decades ago and therefore privately owned by sensible collectors before current restrictions, the question still remains: why death masks as necklace?” she added.
Marian went on to stress that although the owners of the death masks are long gone for a thousand years, there is still a question of its ethical procurement, especially since those are artifacts with cultural value.
“This fashion victim is wearing mouth and eye covers: around 10 of them. Which is to say that the necklace was fashioned from excavations of many individuals. That is an astounding number of desecrated graves!” she stressed.
“How on earth is this an homage, exhibiting impunity and crassness? Wearing archaeological gold death pieces, flaunting excess, is odious,” she added.
“Ignorance (blended with arrogance) can’t possibly be fashionable.”
Beauty’s decision to wear centuries-old jewelry sparked a debate on social media, but some people appreciated her gesture as a way to appreciate Philippine heritage.
“Disgusting. Excavating gold from our ancestors and turning them into jewelry instead of preserving its cultural value,” one Instagram user wrote.
“I wish these artifacts [would] have been given more respect by leaving them as it is than turning them into jewelry,” another one wrote.
On the other hand, there are also fans, including some celebrities who complimented her look.
“What a way to showcase and appreciate Philippine heritage,” one user wrote.
“Thank you for highlighting our treasures in the most stunning way,” broadcast journalist Queenmelo Esguerra wrote.
PhilSTAR L!fe has reached out to the concerned parties, but is yet to receive a response.
