BSP unveils book on Surigao gold treasures
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has launched a book documenting pre-colonial gold artifacts from Surigao, highlighting the craftsmanship, trade networks, and prosperity of early Filipinos.
Titled Bahandi: The Surigao Treasure and Related Finds, the book was launched on 22 October at the BSP head office in Manila. It features artifacts preserved by the BSP and the Ayala Museum for future generations.
“Bahandi is a celebration of a historical treasure. More importantly, it is also a celebration of the people who preserved it across time,” BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said.
The artifacts were accidentally discovered in 1981 during an excavation for an irrigation project in Surigao. They include finely crafted jewelry, ritual objects, and symbols of prestige.
BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said she hoped the book would inspire greater appreciation for the country’s cultural heritage, particularly among younger Filipinos.
“These treasures are not simply reminders of our history. They are reminders of what Filipinos have always been capable of,” she said.
The book examines gold pieces from the BSP’s and Ayala Museum’s pre-colonial collections and traces their links to similar discoveries in the Butuan and Agusan regions.
Among the featured artifacts are a long gold chain made of interlocking kamagi necklaces and a four-kilogram upavita, a ceremonial sash. The objects demonstrate the skill and artistry of early Filipino goldsmiths.
Bahandi: The Surigao Treasure and Related Finds was written by art historian Dr. Florida Capistrano-Baker, with essays by Dr. Ligaya Lacsina and Tenten Mina. It also includes a foreword by former Central Bank of the Philippines Governor Jaime Laya.
The book will be available online and through the BSP Online Store at a later date.
The launch was also attended by Monetary Board members Benjamin Diokno and Romeo Bernardo, as well as BSP deputy governors Zeno Ronald Abenoja, Lyn Javier, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Elmore Capule.