THE STORY OF THE MISS MULTIVERSE® CROWN
What kind of crown is worthy to represent a multi-faceted, multi-talented, multi-skilled, capable and empowered woman? It is no less than a Mandala inspired crown! In Sanskrit, Mandala means “Circle” and its definition reflects wholeness, perfection, and eternity. It is a cosmic diagram reminding us of our relation to infinity. Mandalas are incredibly versatile – a characteristic that best suits a Miss Multiverse®.
The gemstones that will adorn the Mandala inspired crown are Sapphire and Garnet. These are chosen because of the stones’ significance to what Miss Multiverse® represent. Sapphires are gems of destiny, guiding one’s way to the stars. They are a symbol of power and strength, as well as kindness and wise judgment. Specifically, the Blue Sapphire embraces order and self-discipline, ideal for accomplishing goals and manifesting ideas into form. Garnet, on the other hand, is a powerful, energizing and regenerative stone. It balances, strengthens and protects. Any sort of crisis is turned into a challenge under the Garnet’s influence. It promotes self-confidence and allows one’s inner spirit to radiate. It makes the red light of positivity shine and success to flourish.
BACKGROUND STORY
On June 2015, Liinda Grandia commissioned the Florida based International Jewelry Designer, Ramona Haar, to design and create a crown for Miss Multiverse®. Mrs. Haar agreed to do it and finish it in time for the 2016 coronation on the following condition: she will forgo any monetary compensation and use her own financial resources to make the crown, and in return, Miss Multiverse® will tell the story of the rich and unknown heritage of the Philippines prior to its colonization by the West, more specifically the Philippine ancient jewelry making heritage.
The Philippines is Ramona Haar’s birthplace and the designs that she meticulously create in paper are transformed to life by her superb and talented Filipino craftsmen. Hence, the crown is crafted by Filipino goldsmiths. Their story becomes the crown’s story.
The Philippine archipelago of 7,100 islands lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Volcanic actions that formed the major features of the Philippine plate produced plenty of gold in the islands. The Philippines has the second largest gold deposits in the world. Unfortunately, the wealth of the country has also been a scourge of its people, bringing strangers into the islands.
Around the 14th century Europe, the power of the Western countries depended on the amount of precious metals each could accumulate. For Spain in particular, precious metals were recovered to service the monarchy’s mounting foreign debts. This situation motivated Spanish expeditions (Constantino 177:16).
One of the Spanish expeditions led by Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippine Islands on March 1521. For the next 330 years, the Spaniards robbed and looted the natives of their gold and shipped it out. “Gold ornaments that fell into the hands of the Spaniards were lost to the crucible, since worked gold was ordered melted to extract the ‘royal fifth’ or 20% share for the crown” (Muller 1972:27).
The story of this rich cultural heritage would have ended with the last gold ornaments that the Spaniards melted down. Fortunately for the Philippines, the natives buried their loved ones adorned with gold, as gold performed a central role in many aspects of ancient Philippine life. Gold ornaments were an integral part of religious ceremonies (Villegas 1983:109).
In the last 40 years, gold ornaments have been found and continue to be found in the Philippine Islands. “Excavations in the central and some southern islands have revealed gold ornaments of extraordinary beauty and technical sophistication that date back from the 1st millennium and the first half of the 2nd millennium. The royal sashes of finely woven gold with granular decoration and the granulated necklace fitting that display tiny human figures engaged in ceremonial activities around a cosmic tree are masterpieces of the goldsmith’s art. The delicacy and density of some granulation are equal to that of the Etruscan” (Anne Richter 2000:247).
Sadly, this ancient art of jewelry making is fast becoming a lost art and is on the brink of extinction. Traditional jewelers pass on their skills and knowledge only to the immediate members of their family. This practice of exclusivity will lead to the deterioration, and ultimately, to the demise of skills and technique.
By sharing this story on a grand platform such as the Miss Multiverse®, and by continually training and mentoring young Filipino goldsmiths, Ramona Haar hopes that young Filipinos everywhere will know, appreciate, and feel proud of this remarkable legacy and glorious heritage. It is a priceless gift from their ancestors who crafted magnificent gold jewelry masterpieces equal to that of the best in the world.