While watching Alex Eala’s match against Alycia Parks live on television, I could not stop looking at the pink earrings she wore on Centre Court. They stood out each time the camera moved closer.

The match took place on Aug. 5, 2026, during the second round of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 tournament held at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Canada. Alex defeated Alycia, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, to advance to the third round.

After the match, we came across a tribute to Alex on the Kristine Dee Jewellery Instagram account: “What it’s like to be Filipino. Watching you compete with grace, courage, and heart fills us with so much pride. You have become a meaningful symbol of hope for our nation, showing the world what Filipino excellence, resilience, and humility look like. Your wisdom shines not only on the court, but in your words as well. You bring families, friends, and an entire country together, reminding us that there is so much to believe in. Congratulations on this incredible milestone. We’re all cheering you on, Alex!”

We immediately reached out to Kristine, who confirmed that she had made them especially for Alex and personally gave her the pair in Manila before the tennis player left for her tournaments in the United States and Canada. The designer had no idea if and when Alex would wear her gift, so seeing them during an international match came as a lovely surprise. “It was truly an honor that she wore them,” she tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle.

Set in 14-karat gold, the design combines small white pearls and diamonds with a sampaguita hand-carved from pink mother-of-pearl. Kristine chose the section of shell with the richest, most even tone for the center flower. “I felt that particular pink would enhance her beauty and make her glow more, and it did,” she says.

“The sampaguita’s petals are intentional. Eight pieces for luck,” shares Kristine. She added small white pearls for freshness and “bango,” the Filipino word for a pleasant fragrance, and to symbolize grace.

The choice of flower was equally personal. Kristine used the sampaguita to represent Eala’s courage, passion, grace, and Filipino pride. “Just for Alex,” she says of the one-and-only original design. She can create a similar pair upon request, but it will be made “with a twist.”

Kristine describes herself as a big fan of Eala. Giving the earrings directly to the tennis player was already meaningful, but she did not expect Eala to wear them during an international match.

She became emotional watching the nation’s pride play before a packed stadium, with Filipino supporters cheering her on.

“Naiyak ako (I was moved to tears) when I saw it,” she says. “Ang ganda-ganda lalo ni Alex (Alex looked even more beautiful).” For Kristine, the earrings were made entirely out of love.