AMORILLO ,DANICA M.
11727381
ARTIFACTS Description of the artifact
1. MAITUM JARS The Maitum Jars of
Saranggani are artifacts
designed and molded
similarly that of a human
head and body. These
vessels were created for the
remains of the deceased. It
was discovered by rebels in
a cave in Saranggani in
1991. These burials jars were
believed to have been
created during 5 BC. The
current condition of the jars
are incomplete chards
because some were sold in
black market. The Maitum
Jars are currently displayed
in National Museum in the
Philippines. Some are kept in
different households in
Mindanao.
2. AGUSAN GOLD IMAGE The Agusan Gold image is
also known as the Golden
Tara. The 13th century
golden statue is known to be
a Hindu- Malayan goddess in
the Philippines. It has a
measurement of 7 inches in
height, 4 pounds, made of 21
karat gold. It was discovered
by Bilay Campos in Surigao
Del Sur in 1917. The artifact
is properly kept and secured
in the Field Museum- Natural
History in Chicago
What does the artifact prove
about the early Filipino
society and culture?
The Maitum Jars depict the
early appearances of native
Filipinos. It shows the features
of the natives such as bone
feature and facial structure of
the natives. This jar is also
symbolic because it showed
the cultural connection of life
and death of the Filipinos. It
shows that we had a rich
culture even before the birth of
Jesus. These jars kept the
remains and are kept sacred
because it was belived that the
soul of the deceased is still
alive. The body may be dead
but the spirit is kept alive.
This Golden Tara is a loved by
many Filipinos and foreigners
because It shows the early life
of Filipinos during the 13th
century. This artifact shows
that the early Filipinos are
believers of anitos, gods, and
goddesses that provides them
bounty and life. We had our
own faith to a higher being
even before the arrival of the
Spaniards.
3. GOLD ARTIFACTS The gold artifacts are
precious accessories such as
earrings,headpieces,
necklaces, belts, mythological
figurines such as the Golden
Tara. and etc. These items
were worn by natives who
belonged in the upper class.
It shows the social strata that
would separate a royalty from
a commoner.It was also used
to beautify the body. The
video showed that some
items were found in a
mountain in Sitio Magroyong,
Surigao Del Sur in 1981. It
was made during the 10th
century. Currently, these gold
artifacts are displayed and
kept in the Ayala Museum
4. BAYBAYAIN STONE/ The Baybayin Stone is a big
MONREAL STONE stone found in Monreal
Masbate. It was accidentally
discovered by students in
Masbate. It was believed that
this artifacts is a proof of the
early writings of the Filipinos
called as Alibata. The stone
manifest the early rituals of
Filipinos in summoning the
spirits. It was assumed that
the stone was created around
1400-1500,
5. LAGUNA COPPERPLATE The Laguna Copperplate is
plate that contains a legal
transaction/ documents of the
early Filipinos. It was found
in a river in Lumbang on
1989. The copperplate
depicts an account of debt of
Namwaran to a datu in
Tondo. It was believed to
have been created in 900 AD.
The Laguna Copperplate is
currently used in academic
These gold artifacts shows that
our country was rich in
precious metals which are
properly mined by that of the
early Filipinos. This tedious
process of mining became a
huge part in their lives because
the amount of Gold you wear
symbolizes your rank in the
society. Even before, the
royalties would wear gold to
separate them from the
commoners. It also shows the
the early natives are intricate
and detailed when it comes to
their craftmanship.
The Baybayin Stone is a proof
that the early Filipinos had a
system of writing even before
the Spanish colonization. It
shows that we value education
and literacy even before they
arrived. Thus, communication
existed during those times. The
baybayin are beautiful symbols
which are syllabicated to
express meaning.
The Laguna Copperplate is a
proof that the early Filipinos
had the culture of commerce
and trade. This early legal
document is a proof that we
value monetary transactions
which are expressed in a
written agreement and not just
through oral agreements.
 studies in decoding the
meaning of the writings. It is
now within the hands of
historians.

6. OTHER ARTIFACTS 1. Hikaw ni Lapu-lapu/ -These earrings show that the

SHOWN IN THE Humabon. This gold early Filipinos exercised
DOCUMENTARY accessory is believed political power. It shows
to have been owned bravery and honor. Even
by Lapu Lapu or during wars, a datu must show
Humabon. It was its strength through the
discovered in a accessories he/she wears.
archaeological site. - The Calatagan Pot is a proof
This accessory that we believe in spiritual
symbolizes honor and healing. We depend on higher
bravery because it beings for our health and
belonged to a datu. safety.
2. Calatagan Pot - This -The Tabon bone is a proof of
clay pot was found in the existence of the early
Talisay, Batangas. It migrants and inhabitants of the
was believed that the Filipinos.
artifact contains a
prayer that summons
the spirit in healing
the people with
illnesses.
3. Tabon Bone- National
Museum
 GMA7's Philippine Treasure Documentary

The series of documentaries made about the artifacts found in the Philippines was
indeed very helpful in uncovering the mysteries of our country’s rich treasures. Although the
videos were short, I felt that the the researchers did a great investigation in depicting the
different artifacts which showed that are heritage is culturally rich. I can recall that the Golden
Tara was being fought by different historians and institutions on who really owns the artifact.
This just shows that our artifacts are wanted for its beauty and cultural value. I cannot help but
to be proud in being a Filipino.

The last documentary presented the ways in which museums played an essential role in
preserving the artifacts for safe keeping. The National Museum is the premiere institution that
have helped preserve the historical artifacts. It also made the artifacts accessible to every
Filipinos because these precious artifacts are when not being taken cared of can go into the
wrong hands and be sold in black markets. As a frequent visitor of the National Museum, I
experienced that the artifacts are well being taken care of. They are under a strict supervision
and tight security measure

Philippine history is constantly under attack. Aside from the constant revision of facts,
material objects like that of houses and artifacts are constantly being destroyed. Despite all of
this, museums have been constantly renovated to serve as the last defense of Philippine
history. Relating it to the documentary, museums allow the preservation of artifacts of great
value such as that of the Golden Tara. It is in these places where they are protected. It is in
these places where they are placed on a pedestal to be looked upon and to allow introspection
by those who view these. These museums allow a cultivation of Philippine identity in the minds
of those who are made to see this.

While efforts have been made to improve museums, the personal regard being given to
these museums by Philippine society is quite problematic. Notably, most museums have been
viewed of as a tourist spot. While there is nothing is wrong with this, museums have somehow
been used as a way of keeping up with pop culture. Instead of focusing on the richness of
artifacts and the insights one could possibly gain, most use these artifacts as a means of
coming up with Instagram posts to boost their social credit online. The reason for one to view
these artifacts does not have to be extremely noble. In fact, this form of response does not in
any way belittle those who post on Instagram as well as take the time to appreciate what they
see. Perhaps, an insight that can be taken from this is the need for a societal consciousness of
treasuring and treating with high regard Philippine museums and the artifacts showcased inside
them. With the proper art education in educational institutions, Filipinos, including myself, would
better understand the value and the richness of Philippine artifacts and be in a position to
appreciate them better. In a time where hybrid identities are constantly being created in this
globalized world, it is of the utmost important for the Filipino to carve a space of identity for
himself which he can truly define as significantly his.