POSSIBLE SRI-VIJAYAN OR MAJAPAHIT ARTIFACT

Agusan Gold Image: Sui generis

By Vicente C. de Jesús

The image, weighing nearly four pounds and made of 21-carat gold(
William H. Scott says "a kilo and a half of 24-carat gold"), is that
of a female Buddhist? Hindu? deity, seated cross-legged. Its
headdress, arms and other parts of the body are richly ornamented.
Dr. Juan Francisco dates it to the late 13th or early 14th century.
Francisco thinks it is Buddhist, a Mahayana bodhisattva from
Madjapahit Java. It's considered "one of the most spectacular
discoveries in Philippine archaeological history." The object is now
with The Field Museum in Chicago. Quite mystifyingly Field Museum
has not come out with a more rigorous investigation by world experts
that would arguably give a more definitive view.

Here's a brief chronology of this unique artifact that has few
equals anywhere in the world:

•      1917-- After a storm and flood Manobo woman finds a gold
image "projecting" from the silt in a ravine at the left bank of
Wawa River near Esperanza, Agusan.

•      From the Manobo woman the image then passed into the hands
of Agusan Deputy Gov. Bias Baklagon, for which reason it became
known as "Buwawan ni Baclagon" (Gold of Baclagon).

•      Ownership next passed to the Agusan Coconut Company to whom
Baclagon owed a sizeable debt.

•      1918—Dr. H. Otley Beyer, father of Philippine Anthropology
and Archaeology, attempts to have the government buy it for the
National Museum. For lack of funds his attempt failed.

•      1920 or 21 – The image is major item at the Manila
Exposition of 1920/21. There the wife of American Governor General
Leonard Wood, Faye Cooper-Cole, curator of Field Museum's Southeast
Asian department, and Shaler Matthews of University of Chicago
bought the image for P4,000.00.

•      1922—The image is shipped to the United States and finally
housed at the Chicago Field Museum.

•      1970s—The Butuan Museum Foundation, Inc. and the Butuan
Regional Museum take steps for the repatriation of the image. Field
Museum sends a replica, instead.

•      1999 –The Agusan Association of America renews efforts,
soliciting support of Butuanons all over the globe and contacting
Field Museum. Dr. Ben Bronson of Field Museum writes National Museum
they are not averse to return of the image subject to ff.
conditions: a fail-safe repository, negotiation will be between
Field and the Philippine National Museum.

•      2001—The Butuan Club of Southern California establish
alliance with Agusan Association of America to push for
repatriation, and both ask Butuan City administration to take steps.

•      2003—Butuan Mayor Daisy Plaza sits down with National Museum
officials to discuss what steps to take. She was told the National
Museum itself cannot provide a safe haven for the gold image, a
precondition of Field Museum.

•      2005 – The Butuan Global Foundation, worldwide organization
of Butuanons,  revivify effort, framing it against concrete steps
that require decision-actions by the City government, Cong. Banaag,
the National Museum, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Butuan
Global Foundation.
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