Filipina tourist recounts dashed Louvre trip following jewel heist

Filipino tourist Melinda Ramo Baylon was all set to visit the Louvre on Monday, but this plan was dashed following the heist on Sunday that saw some of France's priceless crown jewels stolen. 

In Kuya Kim Atienza's report on "24 Oras" Wednesday, Melinda shared that she really wanted to visit the famed museum. 

"Target ko talagang pumunta dun sa museum na 'yun," she said. "When I went there, bawal pala pumasok kasi nga raw may nanakaw, so nag-observe lang ako dun sa place." 

The museum, which had been expected to reopen on Monday, remains closed to visitors. 

According to Melinda, she isn't really disappointed even though she only got to see the outside of the Louvre. 

"Personally ako hindi naman ako disappointed kasi nga naintindihan natin 'yung security, but at the same time I was sad kasi nga sana maibalik na 'yung mga nanakaw," she said. 

Filipino historian Melanie Turingan, meanwhile, shared that the heist was not just a physical loss of the jewels but also the loss of cultural memory. 

"According dun sa estimate ng curator, 88 million euros or $102 million," she said of the value of the stolen jewels," she said. "It's not about the physical structure, kung hindi 'yung pagkawala ng isang alaala na hindi mo na mapapalitan." 

On Sunday, four unarmed thieves broke into the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon where they stole eight pieces of royal jewelry using power tools. The stunning heist took between six to seven minutes — and occurred in broad daylight. 

—CDC, GMA Integrated News