Two gold artifacts from the Philippines recently went on display at a famous museum in United Arab Emirates (UAE) in an effort to signify the country’s rich gold heritage.
The installation of two artifacts—a golden funerary mask from Butuan province and a golden cup from Nabua—at the Louvre Abu Dhabi was witnessed by Philippine Ambassador to UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana on June 27, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The items were on loan from Ayala Museum in Makati.
Quintana said the country’s collaboration in the exhibit shows how effectively the Louvre Abu Dhabi, as a cultural beacon, plays its role of “bringing different cultures together to shine fresh light on the shared stories of humanity. It only proved that the museum is truly universal.”
According to the DFA, the Philippines has the second largest gold deposits in the world.
However, its rich gold heritage is rarely talked about, even locally.
Quintana expressed her gratitude to the leadership of UAE as she “felt honored to be part of the narrative of world civilizations.”
“The showcasing of this magnificent private collection from the Philippines’ premier museum, the Ayala Museum, represents a fascinating facet of Philippine history which adds great significance as we celebrate this month the 124th anniversary of Philippines independence and this year, the 48th anniversary of Philippines-UAE diplomatic relations,” she added