Stories

In an exclusive interview with MEGA, Maria Angelica Santos-Bermejo shares the purpose behind the search for heritage jewelry for almost 38 years

In an exclusive interview with MEGA, Maria Angelica Santos-Bermejo shares the purpose behind the search for heritage jewelry for almost 38 years

TIMELESSNESS
is definitely a major factor in making good investment choices when it comes to fashion, and that includes jewelry.  During this pandemic period we are given time to rethink our spending habits and focus on the important things in life.  Like good things to wear that keeps. 

I simply love fine jewelry. Growing up, I would see all the elegant women in my family wearing beautiful, timeless pieces. As time went by, my love for jewelry grew more and more. Eventually, I started my own collection.

A jewelry lover or collector will come across a loose stone, some broken jewelry, or an outdated design at least once in his or her life. It could be a rositas set that has been in the family for generations but can be considered dated.

Devotion is the catalyst for change, and while there’s no mistaking that the search for power and riches was among the driving forces that led Spanish conquistadors to sail across the world

It is not hard to fall in love with jewelry—especially if it is antique jewelry. The intricacy of detail and craftsmanship that goes into each piece made over a hundred years ago is drastically different from the jewelry that we have today.

Filipino heritage jewelry pieces are precious treasures often passed down from one generation to the next. They connect us to a storied past full of history, meticulous artistry, and culture. These days, Filipino heritage jewelry artifacts are highly coveted by modern-day jewelry enthusiasts and collectors.

Long, straight, jet-black, and adorned with gold. History books are filled with accounts depicting the hair of the early Filipinas—a fitting canvas for the striking pieces of jewelry that adorned these dark tresses then and well-throughout the colonial years.

A collector’s story more than 35 years in the making, Maria Angelica is both hunter and gatherer—delighting in the discovery and mastery of rare, vintage and antique finery. It is a passion that has honed her eye for design, mindfully reviving heritage techniques to create the new wave of Filipiniana jewelry. She is a purveyor, offering the unique chance to own bespoke, one-of-a-kind pieces, inspired by history.

Spanish influence in the Philippines dates back as early as 1565 when Ferdinand Magellan first landed on Philippine shores. It was a rather unique era of the Spanish empire where both Church and State had the power to rule. This rare participation of the religious…