Heritage jewelry captures Iloilo’s rich culture and history

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=809513
• Tuesday, September 29, 2015

(PNA), FPV/AJP/PGLENA/CBF

ILOILO CITY, Sept 29 (PNA) -- Iloilo’s famous landmarks found their way among the intricate designs developed by Sarabia Jewelry, Iloilo’s trusted jewelry maker that has been in the industry for 70 years and been passed on to three generations.

Kathy and Kathy Bespoke – a keepsake jewelry brand formed under the partnership of Kathy Sarabia-Babst and Kathy Gregorio Añover- designed the collection as a tribute to Iloilo.

“They were specifically made for this APEC event,” said Babst, who belongs to the third generations of the Sarabias.

The limited “Panubli-on” collection was inspired by the neo-gothic St. Anne Church in Molo district; beaux-art inspired Nelly Garden Mansion of the Lopezes in Jaro district; century-old Miagao church; Jaro Cathedral and the historical art deco, Calle Real.

“They are individually hand-carved to create a realistic pattern of the leaves and the colors are cascading from white to light green to green,” said Añover as she described the Tree of Life Medallion inspired by the Miagao Church, which is a UNESCO heritage site.

The two best of friends flew to Iloilo from Manila to join an activity that was dedicated to the spouses of ministers attending the series of meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

The spouses program chaired by Iloilo City First Lady Marivic Mabilog, Iloilo Province First Lady Cosette Defensor and Ms. Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, wife of city vice-mayor Joe Espinosa III, organized a Heritage Jewelry Fashion Show: The Ilonggo Story in Gold to entertain the spouses while their husbands are busy attending high-level meetings.

Some of the collections were paraded alongside a “hablon” fashion show held at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) and at the Royal Garden during welcome dinners for delegates of the 22nd Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (SMEMM) and related activities.

An intimate lunch held at the residence of Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, however, showed a bigger collection of the jewelry that was on display at the Sarabia museum that also featured designs made by Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, Regine Espinosa and Mila Imson.

Everything about the designs of Kathy and Kathy Bespoke is personalized, said Babst who handles the logistics and production. Añover takes care of creative and marketing.

“Every time you buy our product you help preserve the art of handcrafted jewelry. Right now, everything is stamped, molded and mass-produced. So, with us, workers really make everything without these machines,” Añover said.

Aside from the Ilonggo heritage collections, Kathy and Kathy Bespoke had already developed other keepsake collections.

Babst said interested customers may choose the materials that they would like to form part of their personalized jewelry.