British Twins Finds Gold Nuggets and other Treasures in Taal Lake Batangas

10/21/2014, Worcester, England | The Philippines Bureau of Treasury feels cheated after hearing the news about British twins who unearthed gold nuggets and other treasures in Napayong Island, Taal Lake, Batangas. Secretary Cesar Purisima of Department of Finance ordered his subordinates to investigate the news published in UK tabloid last week, but dismayed when he found out that the finding of treasure happened a year ago and the British twins had already left the country.

An 11.2 ounce gold nugget. One of several gold nuggets found by British twins at Napayong Island, Batangas. Photo provided by Teodoro Casillias Jr.

According to Teodoro Casillias Jr., a native of Balete, Batangas and the owner of the pumped boat rented by the Gallagher family, the latter asked him to take them to Napayong Island as they heard that the Island is good for fly fishing. “We left Balete pier at 6:00AM and arrived the island after 20 minutes. I asked them if they want me to wait but they told me that I can return later so I gave them my contact number and left the island. Mr. Gallagher told me to return at around 3PM but they contacted me 3 hours earlier. I thought they couldn’t catch any fish so they decided to leave”. Mr. Cassillias who is already in Leeds, UK with his wife and teenage daughter explained everything during the interview.

Thomas Gallagher and his wife Sharon, together with their teenage twins William and Henry visited the Philippines on January 13, 2013 and rented an apartment in Tagaytay City. Thomas, an avid metal detectorist for 25 years is a freelance photographer and writer who write books about metal detecting and treasure hunting. His wife Sharon is a travel blogger who ran a popular travel and food blogs. Their 13-year old twins are also fond of metal detecting and fishing.

The twins brought the family’s Fisher F75 Metal Detector, a professional and advanced detector designed for relic and coin hunting and can detect the target up to 10 inches deep underground. The detector is designed for hobbyist for old coins and relics hunting.

Napayong Island is a small uninhabited island in the middle of Taal Lake and it was not clear how the 137 ounce (3.8kg) of gold nuggets and other precious treasure ended up in a remote island not known to many people outside Batangas. The total finds amounted to around 105,889.39 British Pound Sterling or 7,667, 881.97 Philippine Peso in today’s exchange rate. Teodoro said the family was silent while sailing back to pier and he thought something bad happened but he did not asked them. “They asked again my contact number and made sure that the number was mine before they left in a hurry”, he added.

British twins William and Henry poses for a camera at their house in Leeds

Teodo Cassilias was contacted by the Gallaghers after 6 months and he was terrified when the latter offered him help to bring his family to UK without any precondition. It was just last August that Thomas told him everything and that he could tell his family and neighbors back in Batangas if he wants. “You and I and our family are in a safer place now so I thought it would be better not to keep a secret. You can tell your family back there and I will tell mine here without any fear”, Thomas told him sometime in August.

“They are falling angels. Our neighbors are jealous of what I have and even though I am not the one who found the treasure, I am lucky enough to be here. I understand what they did and that was a great decision made by them. Telling Philippine authorities that time would place all of our lives in danger”, Teodoro explained.

After the news breaks out, several locals started searching the Island for possible treasures but no finds have been reported so far. Some local folks are against the ongoing activity of treasure hunting as they think it could cause accidents and other disaster.

Metal detecting in Philippines is not a known hobby but after hearing the news, people are starting to buy metal detectors and even asking their OFW relatives to buy metal detectors for them. The government has no specific comment on the matter whether metal detecting will be allowed in public places like beaches, old parks and cemeteries, and other historical areas where old coins and other valuable relics can be found.

/Lolita Lavatete, Teodoro Casillias Jr./ Assisted Press, Leeds, UK

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