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Philippine pearls sparkle at Prague’s international charity market
PRAGUE — Hundreds of marketgoers lined up in the Philippines’ exhibition room at the Mezinárodní charitativní trh ambasád (International Embassies Charity Market) 2024 in Prague to buy jewelry made of South Sea pearls.
Billed as one of the most important winter events in the Czech capital, the extravaganza brought together over 40 countries that showcased their native delicacies, spices, handicrafts, and gift items.
The Philippines presented two booths, including a sari-sari store-inspired table teeming with dried mangoes, instant noodles, canned sardines, banig and woven bags, small parol Christmas tree décor, and more. Its pearl collection, which was in a separate exhibition room, attracted many shoppers looking for Christmas presents, including public relations professor Denisa Hejlová, who comes to the market every year.
“The Philippine stall is always my favorite place,” Hejlová said, showing the matching bracelets with South Sea pearls she bought for her and her daughter.
“I’ve been shopping for Philippine pearls for quite a long time, and often wear them to university classes. I like that [the items in the market] are sold for charity, so I often shop all my Christmas gifts here. [...] Now, I pass on my pearls to my daughters!”
Doctor-lawyer-entrepreneur Samuel D. Bernal, who exhibited the collection, said the items were “not just jewelry” but “a living product” because it took many years for the pearls to grow at their current size.
At the same time, “specific conditions lead to these pearls,” Bernal added, including ensuring fresh and clean water is circulated during cultivation and collection.
Among the pieces that stood out were the golden pearl necklaces that cost more than P845,000 ($14,400). The tinge of these pearls came from the natural color of their mother clam.
“One pearl [in this golden pearl necklace] constitutes less than one percent of what was collected, which means it is very rare. It is perfect—there are no defects.”
Aside from shoppers, several visitors also checked out the exhibition for business ideas. Czech-American video editor Anna Curtis Lit and her Filipino husband, chef Daniel Curtis, attended the market for the first time. The newlywed couple hopes to start a potential venture to import Philippine pearls to the Czech Republic.
“My sister-in-law gave us a wedding gift of pearl earrings, a bracelet, and a ring with pearls. It was a very valuable gift, which I wore to the wedding ceremony. And we had an idea that we might start a business importing pearls to the Czech Republic. We hope to pursue that,” she said.
The Diplomatic Spouses Association in the Czech Republic organized the event. Its committee secretary, Marissa Meñez, said they expected more than 3,000 market visitors.
“This big event is also when embassies [and diplomatic missions in the Czech Republic] get together. At the same time, embassy staff bring their communities to the event,” she said.
Meñez said the ambassadors and diplomatic officials were the ones who set up the booths and even sold items during the sale day.
“It’s great to see them work together for this charity event,” she said.
The market also featured cultural performances from children’s choruses, dance troupes, and musical ensembles from Afghanistan, China, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Tunisia, Ukraine, and more.
Part of the proceeds from all booths will be collected and then distributed as grants to various Czech charities to be chosen by the succeeding event committee in early 2025. Last year’s market collected more than CZK 1 million (P 2.44 million), which was distributed to 14 Czech charities for children. — BM, GMA Integrated News
