1st woodcarving contest launched

GUAGUA — Woodcarvers and furniture makers organized the first-ever on-the-spot woodcarving contest as part of the Dukit Festival over the weekend to promote the woodcarving industries.

Myrna Bituin of Betis Crafts, one of the main organizers of the event, said the contest brings together different woodcarving talents of the town into one competition centering on art and creativity.

“The event aims to promote the woodcarving industry among the younger generation and the woodcarving industry here as a tourism destination,” Bituin said.

She said the woodcarving industry here has served as a major income-generating industry for whole communities.

The event also featured an exhibit of the best woodcarving products of the town from ecclesiastical and religious art to furniture and art accents. 

The whole event was participated by at least 30 woodcarvers and 50 independent exhibitors from Betis district.

Presidential Medal of Merit awardee Willy Layug said the event shows the ingenuity of Betis woodcarvers, the traditions that are passed on from generation to generation, and the dilemma of holding on to the tradition in the age of mechanical reproduction and modern technology.

Layug said entries in the competition will be turned over to the Betis Museum. 

He also said they are looking at creating a foundation that will see the promotion of the festival and in the continuity of the festival’s objectives. 

Local tourists and woodcarvers from as far as Paete in Laguna visited the event.