The glow of history at Kultura Filipino

MANILA, Philippines - This Christmas, give a gift of history – and great love – with jewelry inspired by three women in our National Hero Jose Rizal’s life – the fascinating Frenchwoman Nellie Boustead, the beautiful Belgian Suzanne Jacoby, and his remarkable mother Teodora Alonso.

Designed by two of his talented great grandnieces Barbara Gonzales and Mia Faustmann, the new designs are part of their Yzabelle collection at Kultura Filipino. Just in time for the ongoing Rizal@150 celebrations and for his death anniversary this December, the collection is their way of honoring their illustrious ancestor, and to let more people know about him.

Earlier in the year, Barbara and Mia highlighted jewelry inspired by Rizal’s “great love” Leonor Rivera and O Sei San, the daughter of a Japanese samurai; as well as his immortal words from El Filibusterismo, “Only love will work wonders.”

Nellie Boustead: The cross collection

Rizal entertained the thought of courting other women after he learned that Leonor Rivera was marrying an Englishman. During a brief trip to Biarritz in 1889, he stayed in the residence of Eduardo Boustead, where he befriended his host’s two pretty daughters.

Nellie, one of the daughters, had a romance with Rizal, but this relationship did not end up in marriage because Rizal refused to convert to Nellie’s Protestant faith. Faith – expressed in cross-themed silver and gold plated jewelry – is the inspiration for Yzabelle’s Nellie Boustead line.

Suzanne Jacoby:  The heart of the matter

In 1890, Rizal moved to Brussels because of the high cost of living in Paris. He lived in the boarding house of the Jacoby sisters Catherine and Suzanne during his stay, and it is said that he and Suzanne fell deeply in love with each other. Rizal, however, had to leave for Madrid, which left Suzanne distraught. 

Mother of pearl earrings and pendants set in silver highlight Yzabelle’s Suzanne Jacoby collection. These are set in heart designs, which represent Suzanne Jacoby’s great love for Rizal.

Teodora Alonso: Black onyx and engraved feathers

Rizal had many loves in his life, but the most important one was his mother, Teodora Alonso. She was his first teacher, and later on in life, was his inspiration in his crusade for freedom.

Jose was Teodora’s youngest son, and she loved him beyond death. After his execution, the family took his body from the Paco Cemetery, and Teodora kept his bones wrapped in a cloth close to her.

After Rizal was declared a National Hero, the country’s legislature offered Teodora a lifetime pension as a token of gratitude. She graciously declined by saying that if the government had that much money, maybe they should just reduce the taxes.

The collection inspired by Teodora Alonzo features black onyx set in silver and accented with engraved feather designs, which gives it a classic appeal. The designs are also reminiscent of the brooch enclosures worn with pañuelos during the 19th century.

The Jose Rizal collection by Yzabelle is available exclusively at Kultura Filipino stores at SM Makati, SM Megamall, the SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, and SM City Cebu.