Regional Event in Pampanga,Philippines

The 3rd National On-the-spot Dukit Competition was held in the province of Pampanga, Central Luzon, Philippines. The activity was held at the Artists’ Haven and Park, a village in the woodcarving district of Betis in the Municipality of Guagua. It was the first time that participants of the on-the-spot competition used the roots of felled trees provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways from their ongoing roadwork and infrastructure development projects.

The use of root as material was inspired by the 1st International Root Carving Culture Exchange Week held in Kaihua, China sponsored by International Wood Culture Society and Kaihua County People's Government. Willy Tadeo Layug, the main proponent of the Dukit Festival represented the Philippines in China and came back inspired by the idea of staging a root carving exhibition and competition to promote sustainable artistic practices in his community and beyond. The event was staged in line with the Dukit Festival, held every year to feature the mandukit (woodcarvers) of the community and sustain interest in the woodcarving tradition among younger generations. The participants not only included woodcarvers from the said village in Betis but also those from the localities of Hungduan, Ifugao in Northern Luzon and Paete, Laguna in Southern Luzon.

 

World Wood Day