A Legacy Of Motherhood And Motherland

There are many ways for a mother to make her love felt forever. In the case of Maria Angelica “Gigi” Santos Bermejo, it is through jewelry. And the love she passes on is not just for her children and grandchildren (though she has only one at present), but for the country as well.

According to Gigi, her mission revolves around the preservation of heirloom traditions. As a Filipina, she firmly believes that rediscovering one’s national heritage through jewelry rekindles a deep and lasting love for our inang bayan or our motherland.

Gigi, as we fondly call her, is a lovable wife, caring mother, doting grandmother, and passionate heritage jewelry collector. She is an accomplished self-taught jewelry designer and dedicated preservationist of national heirlooms, with over 38 years of experience in collecting antiques.

Gigi developed her love for heritage jewelry as a young girl. In her twenties, she met the love of her life. The gentleman named Jun Bermejo who stole her heart, turned out to be an avid collector of Philippine antiques. Their marriage ignited a shared passion as they happily discovered and acquired a multitude of local treasures together. They built their dream home which housed Gigi ’s heritage jewelry collection, Jun’s artifacts and their wonderful children – Cheska, Kara and Marco.

“Modern heirloom jewelry is jewelry that pays homage to the timelessness, beauty, and importance of our past. It’s wearing something that says you are proud of who you are – roots and all. It’s leaving your own personal mark, your taste and personality, no matter the decade. In a way, modern heirloom jewelry is a merging of who we were and who we are today, connecting the dots well into the future, so that future generations can value our rich culture and history through the art of jewelry,” Gigi said in an interview on Nov. 19, 2020 posted on Maria Angelica website (maangelica.com).

Gigi bared in the 2020 interview that she scoured the whole country – and even gone to places she never thought she’d go – “to search for these lovely, exquisite pieces, so that you don’t have to.”

“The result: beautiful pieces with equally beautiful stories to tell!” she stressed.

In the same 2020 interview, Gigi said she’s in love with both pre-colonial and colonial jewelry – “and not one particular piece, because as a collector, no piece is alike.”

“Each one presents a different shape, surface, or symbolism, and I enjoy wearing them interchangeably. But if I really have to pick something from my collection, I have to say I am most enamored by tambourine necklaces. I like the romance that that period brings. The tiny details that each bead possesses, carrying with it the special skills our goldsmiths had during the Spanish colonial era. I like to imagine them whiling their time away, intently making each piece by hand. It is amazing to think how the tambourine necklace has become such an integral part of our ancestors’ lives, and how it is surely finding its place as modern heirloom jewelry for future Filipinas,” Gigi disclosed.

“Not many know that a tambourine necklace has many different beads; the structure of which tells its age or the period when they were made. Some beads can still be made today, but there are several types that even the best of our goldsmiths cannot replicate. Some even refuse because of the design intricacy and the time needed to produce just one bead,” she explained. “I am proud to wear a tambourine necklace that has been handed down to me by my lola (grandmother). Knowing full well that this symbolizes decades of artistic mastery, I’m sure that my children and grandchildren will be just as thrilled as I am to wear it.”

But it was during the COVID-19 pandemic when Gigi pondered on a special legacy that she could leave behind her grandchildren and descendants in general.

“One fateful day in the midst of a pandemic, my daughter gave birth to the first grandchild in our family – a momentous occasion that I yearned to celebrate by her side,” Gigi said. However, circumstances kept them apart and Gigi tearfully recalled how her joy got shrouded in disappointment. She was in the US and could not fly back to Manila to be with her grandchild because of the lockdowns.

She then embarked on a project – a book entitled “Alahas: Philippine Heritage Jewelry” and launched it on Feb. 17, 2024 at Comuna Makati.

“In today’s digital world, where tangible connections are often absent, I envisioned this book as a valuable resource for the youth who motivated me to pen its pages,” Gigi said. “The major challenge was entering into book writing which is uncharted territory for me. Where do I even begin?” Gigi recounted asking herself.

Fortunately for Gigi, her son-in-law Tomas and daughter Kara de Carcer have a wealth of experience in the multidisciplinary field of design, having honed their skills during a decade of immersion in New York’s dynamic design scene. Bringing them onboard for this project felt like a natural fit because of their expertise.

Ever the supportive husband, Jun was consistently amazed by the multitude of roles his wife juggled. While she had previously written business letters for him, delving into book writing presented an entirely new challenge. From day one, Gigi felt his exuberant love overflowing as he served as the unwavering wind beneath her wings, providing the encouragement and spirit she needed to push forward.

“Are you sure?” she asked her husband. Without a shred of doubt, Jun replied, “You start it, and so you finish it, and that’s an order.”

“My daughters, in many ways, mirror aspects of myself. Did they want to be me? It was a fleeting thought, perhaps too ambitious?” Gigi continued to ponder. “The Filipina has consistently demonstrated her kin-centric nature, industrious spirit, and innate leadership qualities. My daughter Cheska exemplifies this, as she played a pivotal role in bringing the book to fruition. With her background in hospitality, orchestrating two book launches came effortlessly to her.”

Alongside only son Marco and his colleagues from the dental medicine department, the entire Bermejo family celebrated this achievement with immense pride. For Marco,  witnessing her mother and siblings partake in this milestone created a poignant moment – one that transcends mere gratitude. For Gigi, it symbolized the culmination of her answered prayers and heartfelt appreciation.

According to Gigi, “Alahas: Philippine Heritage Jewelry” is an artistic and historical endeavor to inspire readers with a deep appreciation of self, community, God and motherland through the treasured art of jewelry. Rather than a conventional history book, it is a lively collage that explores, illustrates and photographs jewelry in various forms. The more than three- year creation process was enriched by numerous collaborations, resulting in a diverse and compelling storyline.

“Serving as a cherished legacy for our family, ALAHAS extends its embrace to every Filipino, connecting to our memory, nostalgia, and roots, igniting inspiration for generations to come,” Gigi said.