“Philippine Gold – Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms,” will be an up and coming exhibition from September 11 to January 3 at the Asia Society in New York City.

The exhibition will showcase 100 gold artefacts from Butuan region on the island of Mindanao dating back to the 12th century, far before the Spanish colonisation of the Philippines.

History has shown that Butuan was a region of wealth and prominence which peaked in the 12th century. The exhibition intends to showcase that wealth to the world.

The exhibition will include bangles, waistbands, chains, necklaces, ritual bowls, implements and ceremonial weapons that show the early use of gold within the country.

The exhibit will also be “celebrated in a way that is not only prestigious, but one that will promote a higher level of understanding and appreciation of the Philippines by the US mainstream community,” said Philippines Consul General, L de Leon Jr.

The exhibition was put together by the Filipino-American community as well as planning which included several museums – some of the exhibit also shows items from neighbouring islands such as Samar, Cebu, Leyte, Mindoro, Marinduque and other parts of southern Luzon.