“We were amazed when he brought it to us”, Puerto Princesca tourism officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao told Metro.
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Amurao also disclosed she was not aware of the discovery of the “fortune”, until she started searching the internet.
The lucky angler, who has not been identified, discovered the 75-pound pearl – believed to be the biggest ever – in the sea off Palawan Island, the Mirror of the United Kingdom reported. The owner and officials in Palawan have decided to make the pearl as one of the tourists’ attractions displayed in the city hall. If testing proves it is a natural pearl, it could be worth $100 million.
The enormous pearl, which measures 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) wide and 67 centimeters (36.4 inches) long and weighs 34 kilograms (75 pounds), could be the biggest natural pearl ever found. The officials of the city opened a public viewing last August 22 from 8-9 a.m.at the Atrium of New Green City Hall, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.
The family hid the pearl in a bag under a bed, rubbing it with their hands before going out to sea in the belief it would bring them luck, she said.
Maggay-Amurao, who says she persuaded her relative to display the pearl instead of hiding it, has called for gemologists to visit Puerto Princesa to examine the pearl for authenticity and an estimate of its value.
Palawan island is no stranger to giant pearls. The fisherman will receive a still-unspecified reward from the local government, Amurao said, adding that he never meant to sell it.
Finally, when he was moving, he gave it to his aunt, who just happens to be a tourism official in Puerto Princesa, reports the Guardian.
The fisherman’s pearl is far bigger and heavier than the current record holder, the Pearl of Allah or Pearl of Lao Tze, which was also found off the coast of Palawan. Unaware of how much this pearl was worth, he chose to put it under his bed for good luck.
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The pearl is almost one foot wide and 27 inches long, and it weighs a whopping 75 pounds, The Guardian reports.
