'World's largest' pearl emerges in Palawan

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/8/22/pearl-1.jpg"/></figure></div>A poor fisherman in Palawan found what is thought to be the world&#x27;s largest pearl, but hid it under his bed for a decade without knowing its worth, local authorities said.The man found the 34-kilogram (75-pound) pearl inside a giant clam that was snagged by his anchor as he waited out a storm at sea, according to local tourism department chief Cynthia Amurao, who is also his aunt.Not knowing it could be worth tens of millions of dollars, he kept the 30-centimeter by 60-centimeter (12-inch by 24-inch) pearl in his thatch hut on the western island of Palawan, tucked under a wooden bed as a good-luck charm, Amurao added.LOOK: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/22/16/look-34-kilogram-pearl-wows-in-puerto-princesa" target="_blank">34-kilogram pearl wows in Puerto Princesa</a> In July, the nephew moved to a new address and took the object to his aunt in a tricycle, asking her to hide it for him, said Amurao, the city tourism officer for Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital.&quot;I was awestruck when I saw it just sitting on the dinner table,&quot; Amurao told AFP.He described the fisherman as a member of the tiny Cuyonon ethno-linguistic group who live in a few small islands off Palawan, the biggest island in the southwest of the Philippines surrounded by the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.&quot;I told him it would be pointless to hide it as we do not know its value. Why don&#x27;t we put it on public display instead,&quot; she said.With his consent, the pearl was put on display at the city hall of Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital, on Monday and photos were posted on the government&#x27;s Facebook page.Local officials are hoping gemmologists will visit the city to assess its quality and value.The 14-kilogramme &quot;Pearl of Allah&quot;, also known as the &quot;Pearl of Lao Tzu&quot;, is often referred to as the world&#x27;s largest. It was also found off Palawan, in the 1930s, and has been appraised by gemmologists at tens of millions of dollars.Puerto Princesa city information officer Richard Ligad confirmed Amurao&#x27;s account and said the man who found it could be in for a massive change in his life&#x27;s fortunes.&quot;He has not signed any deed of donation (to the city) so it remains his property,&quot; Ligad said.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZPdCFGJFCk4" width="420"></iframe></figure>

A poor fisherman in Palawan found what is thought to be the world's largest pearl, but hid it under his bed for a decade without knowing its worth, local authorities said.

A poor fisherman in Palawan found what is thought to be the world's largest pearl, but hid it under his bed for a decade without knowing its worth, local authorities said.

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'World's largest' pearl emerges in Palawan

'World's largest' pearl emerges in Palawan

Agence France-Presse

Published Aug 25, 2016 03:59 AM PHT

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Palawan

pearl

Puerto Princesa

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