Group decries ‘exploitation’ in mining ‘blood pearls’ for Miss Universe crown

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Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig. Image: Instagram/@missuniverse

Indigenous group Sambilog-Balik Bugsuk Movement is urging newly crowned Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjaer Theilvig to speak up about the alleged exploitation of marginalized communities in the Philippines, as the crown she is wearing is made from the “suffering” of indigenous peoples in Bugsuk Island, Balabac, Palawan.

On Nov. 13 in Mexico City, the Miss Universe organization unveiled the crown that will be used in this year’s pageant. Called “Lumière de l’Infini” (Light of Infinity), the crown was created by Filipino craftsmen using rare South Sea pearls harvested off the coasts of Palawan, which was the first time in the pageant’s history that a crown came from the Philippines.

In the open letter posted on their official Facebook page, the group, which received the backing of other indigenous leaders and supporters worldwide, demanded the new Miss Universe use her platform to address the issue faced by the marginalized communities in Palawan.

“Dear Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, congratulations on your remarkable victory as Miss Universe! Your achievement is a celebration of empowerment and a symbol of hope for many, particularly those fighting for justice and dignity. Today, we call on your platform and influence to shine a light on an urgent and critical issue affecting marginalized communities in the Philippines,” they began their letter.

“Your crown, while a beacon of triumph, carries pearls tied to the suffering of Indigenous Peoples in Bugsuk Island, Balabac, Palawan. These ‘blood pearls,’ sourced from waters controlled by powerful corporations, are products of decades of exploitation, displacement, and violence against the rightful stewards of these lands,” continued the organization.

The Palawan-based group asserted that many indigenous individuals are facing displacement and violence from giant corporations.

“In 1974, thousands of indigenous individuals were forcibly removed from their ancestral territories in Bugsuk and Pandanan Islands. Today, corporations like [Jewelmer] continue to control and profit from these lands and waters, leaving Indigenous Peoples dispossessed and vulnerable,” the group said.

“Human rights violations persist: fishers are harassed for venturing near company-controlled buoys covering thousands of hectares of ancestral waters. Armed guards intimidate families defending their homes and livelihoods on Marihangin Island, part of Bugsuk,” continued the letter.

Sambilog explained that despite the legal frameworks established to protect the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, it’s not enough to attain justice, as they implore Theilvig to lend her voice to amplify their calls for justice, including urging the Philippine government to reinstate CARPER coverage (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) and hold corporations accountable.

“Your support will make a profound impact, exposing the injustices tied to these “blood pearls” and bringing hope to communities who have suffered in silence for too long. By standing with the SAMBILOG-BALIK Bugsuk Movement, you champion a cause of humanity, dignity, and justice,” the group declared.

The local organization then encouraged Theilvig to educate herself further about the issue involving the Philippine marginalized groups, declaring their message “not just an appeal but a call to action.”

“Together, we can ensure that your crown truly represents justice, hope, and empowerment for all,” they concluded their post.

INQUIRER.net have sought the reaction of Jewelmer as well as the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH), which holds the franchise to send a representative to the Miss Universe pageant.