Kapampangan woodcarver is Pulilan art awardee

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Kapampangan woodcarving artist Edwin Layug was among awardees of the Gintong Pulilenyo Art Awards at the Events Place of Robinsons Townville recently.

The awarding is part of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, with the municipality of Pulilan, Bulacan, Museo de Pulilan and Jefarca Arts and Historical Society presents Katuparan program under the 2017 Mandala Art Festival.

Layug joins other Pulilan-born artist in the national showbiz and music industry among the aw ar dees.

The Guagua-born artist, who now resides in Pulilan town in Bulacan, is one of the most renowned artists in Bulacan and the region having made a mark in the field of ecclesiastical art.

Layug is now one of the most popular names in the local wood sculpture industry. The artist is famous for his use of traditional polychrome style mixed with an obvious Spanish influence in polychrome technique, something which he has acquired from a recent training in Spain.

He is already considered a master in his art. Facebook pages devoted to religious art collectors refer to him as among the “young masters” of the craft.

Layug is the first Filipino to install a full altar in Singapore.

He made the Pope Pius X Priory retablo along Upper Thompson Road in Singapore. The priory is under the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), which is an international traditionalist Catholic organization founded in 1970 by the French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The SSPX has presence in various countries in Europe and Asia.

Layug said he was honored to have been given the trust to craft and install the new altar, which was a fusion of baroque and classical art.

He said the project has given him the opportunity to showcase Filipino craftsmanship in a foreign country. The Betis-born woodcarver is favorite artisan for local churches in Bulacan.

Layug was able to accomplish dozens of projects, including altar works in Calumpit and San Rafael towns where his works on main altars now adorn churches there.

He was also commissioned to work on the altar and images inside the Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao t ow n.

Layug’s latest project includes the majestic altar at the Saint Joseph Parish in Taguig City .

He is currently working on contemporary works for competitions here. He is also a member of the Mandukit Anluagui ning Sta. Ursula.

Layug is the artist behind grand Holy Week processional images in many Bulacan towns and is a sought after artist for his beautiful carrozas and tableaus.