This is why Dr. Nestor Castro, Ph. D.. is saddened that the antique figure showed up at an auction by Christie's instead of being displayed in the National Museum of the Philippines.
Christie's website estimated the value of the figure between 200,000 to 300,000 euros but it was eventually sold at a much higher price. Christie's traced its provenance to William Gambuk Beyer, the son of Henry Otley Beyer who is considered as the “Father of Philippine Anthropology.” "Si Beyer ang unang unang nagturo ng anthropology sa Pilipinas noong 1914. Nagturo sya sa UP Manila. Noong 1917 itinayo naman nya ang UP Department of Anthropology," Castro said.He added that Beyer, who died and was buried in Ifugao, was considered by some locals as one of their own.