Photo credit: Beauty Gonzalez Crisologo

Actress Beauty Gonzalez faced severe criticism from a respected curator after posting a photo of herself wearing Philippine ancestral gold jewelry during the #GMaGala2023 event. The picture featured Gonzalez adorned with a centuries-old gold neckpiece and earrings that she referred to as "Excavated Eye and Mouth Covers" from historical locations like Butuan and Surigao. The jewelry was redesigned in a contemporary style by her favorite jeweler, @riquezajewellery.

In her caption, Gonzalez expressed her appreciation for Philippine ancestral gold. However, her seemingly well-intentioned post ignited Marian Pastor Roces to post her disgust. She pointed out that the items Gonzales referred to as "eye and mouth covers" were, in fact, grave robber artifacts. She emphasized that legally excavated pieces would belong to institutions like the National Museum or the Bangko Sentral.

Roces questioned the choice of death masks as a fashion statement and the implications of wearing jewelry crafted from multiple individuals' excavated artifacts. The sentiment echoed by several netizens was that such practices disrespected cultural heritage and treated these artifacts with crassness.

Gonzalez's Instagram post also received comments expressing disapproval, with some netizens expressing concern for the preservation of cultural value over commercializing historical treasures. Many questioned the wisdom of turning these artifacts into jewelry, rather than preserving them in their original form.

As the debate continues to simmer, Gonzalez's choice of jewelry for the high-profile event has brought the complex issues of cultural heritage, fashion, and ethical considerations to the forefront of public discourse.