Philippines South Sea Pearls

Pearl cultivation in the Philippines was pioneered by Sukeo and Masayo Fujita in the early 1900s. There work centered around two main areas: Southern Mindanao, in the Samal Island archipelago, and Northern Palawan's Calamian Island chain in the Sulu Sea and South China Sea.

Samal Pearl Farm Resort

South Sea pearl culturing in the Southern Mindanao region of the Philippines took place in the Samal Island archipelago, in the south-east part of the country. White-lipped oysters were transported from the Sulu Sea, on the western side of the Philippines, to be cultivated along the western side of Samal Island. Samal was known for its cultivated gold, pink, and white south-sea pearls.

Pearl cultivation in the Sulu Sea's Northern Palawan region of Southern Tagalog, takes place around Lamud Island, in what is known as the "pearl islands" of Western Busuanga. This are is at the northern end of Palawan, between Busuanga island and Culion Island. Pearl cultivation in Zamboanga began in the early 1900s.

The world's largest pearl (Pearl of Lao-Tzu or Pearl of Allah) was found this region in 1934, weighing 14 lbs. There were several unsuccessful attempts to expand cultivation, concluding with the failed 'Zamboanga Pearl Farms' in the 1960s. There is still an indigenous pearling industry in Zamboanga, selling 'Badjao Pearls' farmed by the Badjaos peoples.