Igorot artist from Atok, Benguet creates realistic replicas of bus, trucks, jeeps, vans

Photo Courtesy || Marion Codeo

Cordillera - Marion Codeo, hailing from Calasipan, Atok, Benguet, has found his artistic calling in the quaint town of Bontoc, Mt. Province. Renowned for his remarkable skill in crafting miniature vehicles, he specializes in creating tiny masterpieces like mini buses, truck, vans, jeeps, and an array of other vehicles.

His journey into the world of miniature artistry began in elementary school, where his passion for creating small cars first took shape. Over the years, his craft has evolved and modernized, reaching new heights in 2004. Today, he not only continues to refine his art but also shares his talent with others, helping them replicate their own vehicles in miniature form.

Despite his growing popularity, Codeo remains humble, with most of his clientele being fellow community members. Pricing for his meticulous work varies, depending on the intricacy and size of the project. His innovative methods include using flat sheets, recycled plastics, damaged umbrellas, and various other materials.

Codeo's dedication to his craft has not gone unnoticed. In 2016, he clinched the top spot in an Artwork Contest, showcasing his exceptional talent. Furthermore, in 2022, he received a prestigious Plaque of Recognition for Outstanding Practices in Upcycling and Crafts Production.

For Codeo, each miniature creation is a labor of love, requiring immense patience and hard work to replicate every intricate detail of a vehicle. Alongside his passion for crafting, he also tends to his farm, embodying a true Renaissance spirit in both art and agriculture.

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Harold Banario: The Igorot MMA fighter and portrait artist

Photo Courtesy || Harold Banario

Cordillera - Honorio Banario, known for his prowess in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), is making waves in the art world with his remarkable talent as a portrait artist. 

The Benguet native gained widespread recognition in 2017 when his "Beauty and the Beast" masterpiece featuring Emma Watson went viral on social media. 

Inspired by the movie, Banario recently unveiled a new rendition, replacing the "Beast" with a self-portrait.

Expressing his admiration for the characters, particularly Emma Watson as Belle, Banario explained, "I did that portrayal of war and love, inspired by the Beauty and the Beast story." 

Beyond his success in MMA with a record of 4-1, Banario is proving his versatility in the arts. Notably, he spearheaded the "Heroes" mural project at the Baguio Athletic Bowl, celebrating the Cordillera region’s talents who excelled on the international sporting stage. 

Honorio Banario continues to leave an indelible mark both inside and outside the MMA cage, showcasing his multifaceted talents to the world.

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Self-taught Igorot artist from Benguet featured in an international magazine

Photo Courtesy || Pinta Seis

Cordillera - Born in Benguet and grew up in the city of Baguio, Jason Dominguez Duclan is a proud Igorot artist and one of the promising young artist members of the renowned Tam-awan Village.

Duclan once dream of becoming a cop so he took up a Criminology degree at the University of the Cordilleras but didn't finished it so he pursued his passion of becoming a full time professional artist instead.

Photo Courtesy || Pinta Sies

Duclan, a self-taught artist believes that being an artist is the purpose of his life. He wants to apply to paper and canvas the ideas, emotions, and the ugliness and beauty of the things around according to his own artistic perspective.

Since childhood, Jason loved arts. His school notebooks were full of carton/anime characters that he drew during his elementary and high school days. This was a proof of his passion in arts which he later pursued later in life - to become a professional artist.

Drawing became his hobby until college and he had no idea that it would also be his profession.

Photo Courtesy || Pinta Sies

Being an artist also help his family coped with financial problems when his mother was hospitalized with stage 4 cancer. He sold some of his artworks so he can help his family during those trying times. 

Today, Jason's works in the art industry has become popular and in fact, he was featured in the recent issue of the Showbiz Magazine. 

Pursuing what he really passionate about, Jason was able to raise family and thanks to those who shared ideas and those who patronized his art works. 

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Amazing: US-based Igorot artist creates wood artwork using chainsaw

Photo Courtesy || Fernando Dulnuan Jr. - Don's Chainsaw Creation

Cordillera - A full-blooded Igorot based in Oklahoma, USA is creating buzz with his chain saw art. 

Fernando Dulnuan Jr. uses chain saws and recycled wood to create his own unique chain saw artwork like wolves, bears, horses, eagles and American Indian totem poles. 

The chain saw artist who traces his roots to Ifugao province in the Cordillera had participated in a fair in the state of Oklahoma in 2018.

Dulnuan's chain saw art show draws dozens of people, who watched him turn a hunk of tree in a recognizable shaggy shape - a bear. 

In an interview with The Oklahoman, Dulnuan said he trained him self to learn the craft of chain saw carving. 

"I just trained myself. For me, let’s put it this way, it’s a God-given talent that right now it’s showing. I don’t know where it came from, but I know it came from God," said Dulnuan, 

"In our tribe there they do a lot of wood sculptures. … I just think my family has it." he added.

Running in his blood are genes of wood carvers from the northern part of the Philippines, Dulnuan interest in wood carving started when he migrated to America. 

READ ALSO:  Igorot artist from Mt. Province chosen as one of the 40 best portrait painters in the world

"I like wood. When I see some wood lying around that says this is all free. I said, 'There's something in them that needs to come out." So, that's where I started, he said. 

Dulnuan then turned to Google and YouTube to learn the art of chain saw carving, and from then on his passion for carving started.

RELATED: Self-taught Igorota artist makes intricate wire sculpture by twisting single strand of wire

“I want to do this my whole life, until I cannot hold a chain saw anymore. I like this. It’s always different. I like to encourage myself, to improve myself, and do all this. I have more ideas I want to go through with the wood,” Dulnuan said.

source || The Oklahoman

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Igorot Film 'Namnama en Lolang' receives Honorable Mention Award at International Film Festival in New York

Photo Courtesy || Kairos Media PH

Cordillera - Producer of the short film "Namnama en Lolang" (Mother's Hope) nnounced that the film has received an Honorable Mention Award at the International Film Festival Manhattan New York City. 

READ ALSO: Self-taught Igorota artist makes intricate wire sculpture by twisting single strand of wire

The film was also a semifinalist at QCShortsShorts QCinema 2020 and also an Official Selection at the International Short Film Festival India 2020. 

The film also bagged the 1st Runner Up in the Quarancine Film Festival 2020. 

'Namnama en Lolang' is a local film about Lola Keyag Kudyaman who lives with her baby grandson in a peaceful home in Benguet.

READ ALSO: Baguio makeup artist creates incredible illusion painting on her face.

Lola Kudyaman tries her best to do her daily tasks and at the same time take care of her baby grandson during the quarantine.

She hopes and waits patiently for the lockdown to be lifted so that they could visit the parents of her grandson. 

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Film of Igorot Director Lumigued "Dad-aan Na" wins DILG ADVOCACY AWARD.

Photo Courtesy || FDCPChannnel

Cordillera - The film "Dad-aan Na" (Her Walks) by Igorot director Julius Lumigued has won the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Advocacy Award. 

The film is all about an Igorot woman who bravely went out from her house during a military-rebel conflict just to search her son. 

Lumigued's film was chosen by the DILG for its advocacy which is in line with the department's call for an end to the armed conflict in the region. 

The film was shot entirely in Besao, Mt. Province - the home province of Direk Julius Lumigued. 

Recently, the film was among the 12 finalists for this year's CineMarya Women's Film Festival which is an initiative of the FDCP in partnership with the Philippine Commission on Women, Quezon City Film Development, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. 

CineMarya challenges Filipino filmmakers to create women-centered short films that aim to empower women and men alike to propagate gender sensitization.

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Self-taught Igorota artist makes intricate wire sculpture by twisting single strand of wire

Photo Courtesy || DME DIY arts & craft

Cordillera - Itogon-based artist Mich Camolo created intricate wire sculpture by twisting single strands of wire and using a pair of pliers as her tool. 

What's more amazing is that Mich is a self-taught artist. 

According to the Cordillera Sun post, Mich started making wire jewelries only last year. During the months of lockdown, she took the opportunity to create bigger and more complicated sculptures. 

READ ALSO: Igorot artist from Mt. Province chosen as one of the 40 best portrait painters in the world

She was able to develop wire sculptures in the form of animals, birds, human and mythical creatures like dragon. 

Mich said, it can take a week or a month to finish a sculpture depending on the size and the complexity of the design. 

RELATED: Abra kids win National Music Competition for Young Artist in Pasay City

Take a look some of Mich creation below. You can also visit her Facebook page at DME DIY arts & crafts to view some of her amazing wire creations. 

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Igorot folklore in a comic book launched by Cordillera artists

Staff of Gripo, comic books publisher in Baguio
Photo courtesy: K.V. Damian

Cordillera- Igorot mythological creatures "Pinading", "Gatui" and "Lampong" are now making a scene as stars in a comic book, Gayang  launched last Saturday.

A group  of Senior High School students studied and discovered stories about Igorot mythological creatures in the high lands of Cordillera. This inspired the making of Gayang that includes some of the artworks of the students, Gerald Asbucan, the creator of Gripo comics brand, said. 

Gatui of Ifugao is one among the favorite characters. Gatui is believed to feast on the souls of people most specially unborn children. It has a slight resemblance of the well known  "manananggal".

Likewise, Pinading is another Tuwali Ifugao creature. It is believed to be a spirit wearing a yellow hair that looks like a European fairy.

Lampong on the other hand, is like a dwarf  and known to be the protector of nature.

A selection of comic books published by Gripo.
Photo courtesy: K.V. Damian

The group wants to share the Igorot culture through these untold legends, Asbucan said.

"We barely scratched the surface of the Igorot folklore so we will put more effort into research to be able to feature more highland myths," he added.

In six months time, the next Gayang series will be out.

Source || Inquirer.net

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