The "Pearl of Datu" from palawan philippines

[janchelem]

I spend sometime with "utoy"(fisherman)...i asked him if he has a name for the pearl..."yes,is that possible?" he replied.."can i put my name on it?"...but then he told me the story how he got this pearl.

"Every morning of my life, i'm looking for food for my family...fishing is the only thing i know for living. One day i found a clam, but decided to hide it in corals beneath...everyday like this, i found another one, put them together, after there are five of them. But one day, i found out there is only one left, the four clams are gone...i decided to brought it to shore for food. I started to open it and there she is. I run to Datu Haron's(member of royal family) house thinking that i found something valuable. I tried to give it to him, but he refused and said.."it's yours, It's a gift from HIM...i can help you to sell it if you want"..."

Then he smiled at me..."I'll name it 'Pearl of Datu'...the family of Datu Haron sinced his grandparents, they are the one helping my grandfather, my father, now me and my family to survive...i have nothing to repay them...i hope this can be."

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I spend sometime with "utoy"(fisherman)...i asked him if he has a name for the pearl..."yes,is that possible?" he replied.."can i put my name on it?"...but then he told me the story how he got this pearl.

"Every morning of my life, i'm looking for food for my family...fishing is the only thing i know for living. One day i found a clam, but decided to hide it in corals beneath...everyday like this, i found another one, put them together, after there are five of them. But one day, i found out there is only one left, the four clams are gone...i decided to brought it to shore for food. I started to open it and there she is. I run to Datu Haron's(member of royal family) house thinking that i found something valuable. I tried to give it to him, but he refused and said.."it's yours, It's a gift from HIM...i can help you to sell it if you want"..."

Then he smiled at me..."I'll name it 'Pearl of Datu'...the family of Datu Haron sinced his grandparents, they are the one helping my grandfather, my father, now me and my family to survive...i have nothing to repay them...i hope this can be."

This is a nice story.

I'm glad the royal family gave the pearl back to the fisherman. In the past, there have been too many stories of fishermen being bilked out their finds by ruthless barons.

"The Pearl of Datu" is a highly appropriate name, given the long-standing rapport between the families.

You've done well to represent yourself, the fisherman and the region of origin with integrity. When it comes to evaluation of natural pearls, provenance is a VERY important factor.

Again, thank you for sharing this pearl with us. I'm quite sure you'll be able to find a buyer eventually, who will appreciate the finder's experience every bit as much as the pearl itslef.

To be honest, if I could afford it, I'd buy it.

 

[janchelem]

Thanks Dave.

I know this Royal Families personally, they are humble and down to earth, they are not wealthy and have been forgotten for long years.

To "utoy" THANK YOU!

 

[mausketeer]

I spend sometime with "utoy"(fisherman)...i asked him if he has a name for the pearl..."yes,is that possible?" he replied.."can i put my name on it?"...but then he told me the story how he got this pearl.

"Every morning of my life, i'm looking for food for my family...fishing is the only thing i know for living. One day i found a clam, but decided to hide it in corals beneath...everyday like this, i found another one, put them together, after there are five of them. But one day, i found out there is only one left, the four clams are gone...i decided to brought it to shore for food. I started to open it and there she is. I run to Datu Haron's(member of royal family) house thinking that i found something valuable. I tried to give it to him, but he refused and said.."it's yours, It's a gift from HIM...i can help you to sell it if you want"..."

Then he smiled at me..."I'll name it 'Pearl of Datu'...the family of Datu Haron sinced his grandparents, they are the one helping my grandfather, my father, now me and my family to survive...i have nothing to repay them...i hope this can be."

Oh my god - that's so lovely - it actually made me cry! Very touching!

So have we figured out how much this pearl is worth? A dollar figure rather than per carat or per gram? It's certainly interesting and I do find it beautiful in a strange way....... it might not be nacreous but it has a nice surface at least. And a neat shape (brain, cauliflower!)

I hope he gets as much money as he can for it! (and you're a good friend for going to all this trouble and finding this website for him!)

- Jodie -

 

[SteveM]

To be honest, if I could afford it, I'd buy it.

I would purchase at Jeremy's estimate. For all the tongue-in-cheek, 'Pearl of Datu' has attractive luster in addition to its size and overall symmetry. Jeremy's appraisal would result in a ready sale, no doubt.

The larger issue for me is whether such concretions are even pearls, produced as they are between the mantle and the shell and more often than not attached to the shell?cancerous shell growths or simply odd in-fillings in the mad rush to produce a great bulky calcareous mass.

'Kima' on the other hand, are produced in pearl sacs within the mantle, and grow according to the predictable physical forces of liquid crystals in a defined space. Symmetry is the usual result, not to mention phenomenal surface features.

It's just rare to catch them before ejection from the sac, attachment to the shell, and subsequent surrender to gross shell calcification.

Here is a large one harvested within weeks of its attachment to the shell, beauty thankfully preserved.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I would purchase at Jeremy's estimate. For all the tongue-in-cheek, 'Pearl of Datu' has attractive luster in addition to its size and overall symmetry. Jeremy's appraisal would result in a ready sale, no doubt.

I agree. Jeremey's appraisal is on the money (no pun intended).

The larger issue for me is whether such concretions are even pearls, produced as they are between the mantle and the shell and more often than not attached to the shell—cancerous shell growths or simply odd in-fillings in the mad rush to produce a great bulky calcareous mass.

'Kima' on the other hand, are produced in pearl sacs within the mantle, and grow according to the predictable physical forces of liquid crystals in a defined space. Symmetry is the usual result, not to mention phenomenal surface features.

It's just rare to catch them before ejection from the sac, attachment to the shell, and subsequent surrender to gross shell calcification.

I suppose these to be pearls, despite their appearance. As you say, many conjunctions are the result of pearls being ejected from the sac and lodged in extrapallial space, where they become concreted to the shells. In that vain, when would a pearl no longer be a pearl and become a concretion? Peel the many layers and you might find a terrific gem. You'd be amazed what you'd find beneath the layers of "old growth" pearls.

 

[janchelem]

It took me a week to find this site, at first i'm looking for auction online...but i think 'Pearl of Datu' found his HOME here!

Thanks guys!

 

[SteveM]

Peel the many layers and you might find a terrific gem. You'd be amazed what you'd find beneath the layers of "old growth" pearls.

With modern MicroCT technology?3D imaging at microscopic resolution in under 20 minutes per specimen?this would certainly be worth the modest add-on fee upon certification. A clear image of whatever began Pearl of Datu's existence would be the result.

The lost art of peeling predates any interest in non-nacreous pearls and I'm not certain that non-nacreous microstructures, lacking in nacre's interlamellar organic layers, would be conducive.

I'm imagining starting, in this case, with a hammer and a chisel.

 

[mausketeer]

Either way, if a buyer was found, the seller would be looking at $1500 to $2500 for the pearl.

Ah, sorry, somehow I missed this entry - I think I must have been distracted by the new photos!

Well good luck to you Crystal (not sure if that's your name, it's on your email) I hope you can find a buyer soon for your fisherman friend!

- Jodie -

 

[Caitlin]

Ah,Yes. The "Pearl of Datu" or maybe, because it is such a brain, the "Datu Pearl". Datu is good. It is a significator of respect translating roughly to "Chief". It is a Boss Pearl for sure. I can just imagine it sitting on someone's desk holding down the fort. It is a pearl one can actually have a conversation with.
"Hi Boss Pearl, wazup?"
"Just keeping an eye out....."
"Great. Well let me know if anything interesting comes up."
"Sure thing. Did you know that your gusimeter is off by 3 trikobugs? Better recalibrate that, ASAP"
"Thank you for the observation, Boss Pearl. I will adjust the pegmonitor immediately. You are one smart non-nacreous concretion!"
"You're welcome. I am more known for my smarts than my looks. Brains aren't pretty, but they are smart"

 

[lisa c]

Hey Caitlin - "...in our Ye-e-llow Sub-ma-rine, aha"

 

[janchelem]

Thanks Jodie...i hope somebody out there have a golden heart

Datu is a title given to prince, son of Sultan(king)...or any heir to the throne...
The Royals of southern Palawan were once a powerful monarch leading the Sultanate of Sulu w/c includes southern Philippines and bigger part of Malaysia...they still exist but almost forgotten because of colonization...The Pearl of Allah once belong to them.

 

[Caitlin]

We have a Datu from that line or a competitor's who posts here. I am interested in the quarrels about who is the real royal ruling line. We have heard conflicting stories here.

But in the end, it is the pearls and the full truth about them, that will win over the lies of the past, before the internet made it much harder to lie like that and get away with it. I am talking about Cobb. We have a whole article on the subject posted here. I helped write it. Have you read it? https://www.pearl-guide.com/the-pearl-of-allah.shtml

Has anyone read it? Anyone have anything to change or add to this article? We wrote it with the best info available at the time. How is it holding up? I would be especially interested in your opinion, janchelem. You are in a great position to have some back story we didn't cover!

 

[Caitlin]

Hey Caitlin - "...in our Ye-e-llow Sub-ma-rine, aha"

What? Are you busting me? lol

 

[Caitlin]

It took me a week to find this site, at first i'm looking for auction online...but i think 'Pearl of Datu' found his HOME here!

Thanks guys!

I think you are right! He is a pet pearl and an unofficial mascot. Octavia is very busy, so we haven't seen photos of her out and about lately and need some mascot photos for today.

I am foster/adopting him and must get the final approval before he goes to his forever home! (wink) I think you may have some other foster parents here, too.

Take more pix! We must know what he is doing today! Besides sitting on a box or tobacco product (bad boy! he must be hanging out with some of Pinnochio's street buddies!) How about a visit to the beach? Or the park? Or a romance with an abalone shell?

 

[janchelem]

We have a Datu from that line or a competitor's who posts here. I am interested in the quarrels about who is the real royal ruling line. We have heard conflicting stories here.

But in the end, it is the pearls and the full truth about them, that will win over the lies of the past, before the internet made it much harder to lie like that and get away with it. I am talking about Cobb. We have a whole article on the subject posted here. I helped write it. Have you read it? https://www.pearl-guide.com/the-pearl-of-allah.shtml

Has anyone read it? Anyone have anything to change or add to this article? We wrote it with the best info available at the time. How is it holding up? I would be especially interested in your opinion, janchelem. You are in a great position to have some back story we didn't cover!

Yes Caitlin i read it...what we have now was the story of Mr. Cobb...did we think on the first place that this story is true, i mean did somebody went to Palawan to ask the HEIR of REAL owner what was happen? Thanks i have this oppurtunity to clear something....

Panglima Pisi the trusted chieftain of Datu Bataraza(son of Sultan Harun), the rightful owner of Pearl of Allah. First they are not anymore Dayak, they are 'tausug' people from Sulu southern Philippines. In 1890's Sultan Harun and his people retired to Palawan as He abdicate his throne. Like Mr. Cobb said in his story,Panglima Pisi is not a 'pearl trader' back then. He doesn't even now that the 'thing' he is kicking downstair is a pearl! He knows of pearl a rounded one used by Royals. He wants to keep it because his sons are playing with it, and how in this world have something like this! Panglima Pisi found it 'ashore'...there is no 'diver' thing or something. The place where the pearl found is uninhabited since the 'tausug' came to Palawan.

But how it landed on hands of Mr. Cobb? In 1930's, Datu Bataraza have a son Datu Sapioddin a 7yr old that time then later became Mayor of Brookes Point Palawan. Mr. Cobb have a courtesy call to Datu Bataraza where he was being escorted by Panglima Pisi, thats the first time he saw the pearl, yes he wants to buy it, but the panglima refused and joked 'if the Datu's will ask for it i'll give it will all my heart'... Later Mr. Cobb befriended the young Datu Sapi and ask if he can 'BORROW' the 'thing'...Datu Sapi ask Panglima Pisi to give it to Mr. Cobb because the later will just wants it to be authenticate in Manila and "return" it back. Who can refused the son of Datu Bataraza! Panglima Pisi gave it to Mr. Cobb....since then there's no Mr. Cobb coming back as well as the pearl...

If you just can see the life of the descendants of Panglima Pisi today!

I fell sorry to the family of Mr. Cobb, but the truth should come up. If there's somebody out there from the authorities to check on this and confirm...i'm willing to help them!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Panglima Pisi found it 'ashore'...there is no 'diver' thing or something. The place where the pearl found is uninhabited since the 'tausug' came to Palawan.

Later Mr. Cobb befriended the young Datu Sapi and ask if he can 'BORROW' the 'thing'...Datu Sapi ask Panglima Pisi to give it to Mr. Cobb because the later will just wants it to be authenticate in Manila and "return" it back. Who can refused the son of Datu Bataraza! Panglima Pisi gave it to Mr. Cobb....since then there's no Mr. Cobb coming back as well as the pearl....

Certainly a far cry from the outrageous claims made by Cobb. He stole it, plan and simple.

If you just can see the life of the descendants of Panglima Pisi today!

Please forgive my ignorance of the culture in your area, but am I correct in assuming abject poverty?

I fell sorry to the family of Mr. Cobb, but the truth should come up. If there's somebody out there from the authorities to check on this and confirm...i'm willing to help them!

From a legal standpoint, it can be difficult to recover items after they have changed hands. I do however, have some experience with having artifacts returned from where they came. There is two ways to do it. First, one can have the object declared as antiquity or heritage value only, hence the item no longer becomes saleable or one can lobby the current owners to make good and return the item to the rightful owners. Given the history of the Pearl of Allah, the current owners as a benefactor just might get alot more value from seeing the greater good, as opposed to speculating a profit that likely will never be realized.

This would take some doing, because both sides would need assurances that it's disposition would be maintained, legally and respectfully. To that end, I too, would be willing to help.

 

[Caitlin]

Thank you for this information. I have a great deal to say about it, but I will just give some headlines here. From the second Cobb stole the pearl, no one ever ever saw any good come of it. Cobb made some spare change on it at Wrigley's believe it or not, but he was delusional about its value. Only another thief could buy into that delusion, so when Cobb died, 200k was promised to his family for the pearl. It has come to my attention that Cobb's family did not receive much money a couple of thousand dollars to get hold of it. It was a promise- no real cash until the pearl sold. The pearl has never sold. It has not even been seen, not even in its last court case.

It currently is claimed to be in the possession of Mario Barbish, Victor Barbish's son. The pearl has not been seen, let alone authenticated since it changed hands in 1966. My private suspicion is they did decide to try to carbon date the pearl and it shattered when they tried to get a core from it. Copies were made and there are copies of it in several museums around the world, but the pearl itself has disappeared even though the family who supposedly possesses it could make some money if it were brought forth and reexamined.

This case will never cool off, so there is no reason to hide it. there is only reason to suspect it is missing, shattered into worthless chunks of porcelaineous material. Absolutely not one thing has happened since the judge in CO ruled in favor of the Bonicelli claim. If the pearl were intact, just sightings of it would be worth money, but it will never happen because the pearl was accidently destroyed decades ago.

The person who can turn this story into a top notch movie is the only one who will benefit. I have already seen moviemakers come and go over this pearl and novel writers, too.

Maybe now, with your oversight, Janchelem, we can begin to tell the real story about Cobb. And he was an amateur compared to Barbish et al.

 

[janchelem]

Yes Dave it's poverty!

I think money is not the reason here, it's honor, recognition....sad to say even some (most i mean)filipinos doesn't even care for them...maybe at this time their neighbors doesn't know they are the rightful owner of that pearl....

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I have a great deal to say about it... Maybe now, with your oversight, Janchelem, we can begin to tell the real story about Cobb.

Thanks Caitlin for the detailed accounts. Tell us more!

I think money is not the reason here, it's honor, recognition...

It seems the pearl is unrecoverable, but not the deserved recognition of it's finder. The Pearl of Datu may well find a home soon. I am sure whoever buys it, would very much like to know about the finder, the area it was found and the circumstances that brought it to them.

I can't say it enough times, but provenance is exceedingly important when it comes to natural pearls.

This thread is very informative and intriguing!