The Vision |
The designs that Ramona meticulously create and recreate in paper are transformed to life by her superb and talented craftsmen. Her quest for these extraordinary talents led her back to her beloved homeland, the Philippines. Delving into its jwelry making history she has learned that early masterpieces of Filipino goldsmiths dating as early as 5th-10th century were extraordinarily sophisticated and technically complex and were considered unparalleled in the South East Asia region ad were equal to that of the Etruscans. (Anee Richter, History of South East Asian Jewelry Making 243-256, New York Publishing Co, 2000). Unfortunately, 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 and this practice of exclusivity led to the deterioration and ultimately to the demise of skills and techniques. Unless drastic and immediate action will be taken to reverse the process this unique Filipino art and heritage will be lost forever. It was with the same fervor and intensity that Ramona applies in designing her masterpieces which compelled her to take action toward this direction. Using her personal resources, she boldly started her own non-profit jewelry making school 3 years ago. Starting with 2 students, she now have 12 students on full scholarship learning and training under one of the few remaining Filipino jewelers with decades of knowledge and experience on traditional Filipino jewelry making techniques. It is her vision to one day restore the glory of ancient Filipino jewelry making worthy of global recognition. Although the task is huge and at times daunting Ramona believes that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” |