Process - Carving on a Bamboo Amplifier

So I was on a month-long hiatus. So to make up for it, I'm posting my process on this little piece I've been posting on Facebook:

This Okir-inspired bamboo amplifier.

Actually a test piece, this was my first time to ever carve bamboo. I usually sculpt things with modelling clay or terra cotta... I must say it's a little tough on the hands. I can feel my adductor policis muscle sore af.

I visited the Design Center of the Philippines back in February, I think. It was then that I acquired "Philippine Ethnic Patterns: A Design Source Book." I've been seeing some Philippine motifs, and have taken to pinning most ethnic stuff on Pinterest, but this book actually tells of how these patterns originate. After reading a good portion of this reference material I finally got the confidence to actually try my hand on doing motifs similar to those found in this little piece of treasure.

Without further ado, here's the process:

My temporary best friend.

The process is pretty simple. Draw patterns, trace on patterns with the Dremel 4000.

One little detail at a time.

Like how the Okir's largely inspired by plant life, the tendril-like features just crawl all over this little piece.

Patience is a virtue. Yas.

Details of the unpolished bamboo carvings.

After carving all that, I polished it all with some sandpaper. 

Here's how it looks from the top.

After carving comes staining. I used some chocolate brown stain available in the workshop.

Everything's applied by rag. What's nice is the deeper contours absorb more of the stain, creating a lovely contrast between positive and negative.

Coating this thing's fairly easy. Love how the gloss makes the shapes pop up further. First coated with sanding sealer and finished with polyurethane.

It's not really perfect up close, but the roughness of some parts actually brings out what's organic. It's hand carved after all,

This is by far one of the most intricate 3d pieces I've done.

Details from behind the piece.

Personally though, it looks lovelier from behind. Hahaha.

The Okir-inspired bamboo amplifier.

On to the info!
Material: Bamboo (Kawayang Tinik)
Dimensions: 30cm x 8 cm dia.
Color:  Chocolate Brown
Price: Php12,000.00 Inclusive of wooden case.

Miss Santa Ignacia 2017

March 14 2017 marks the 103rd Foundation Anniversary of Santa Ignacia. To start off this memorable event, the local government unit has decided to hold the annual Miss Santa Ignacia pageant early.

Woodinspirations Crafts, being a proud enterprise hailing from this north western municipality of Tarlac was proud to showcase some of its best accessories made of wood and bamboo... worn by none other than the most beautiful faces of Santa Ignacia.

I've got some photos, but unfortunately they're taken some meters away from the stage:

This was how close I was from the stage. I fared better with this view than most of the spectators though, so can't complain :D

The beauties were made to wear Wisp Fashion Accessories by Woodinspirations Crafts during their casual wear walk.

Nice to see the chokers bring out some confidence on these lovely ladies.

Look at that poise.

That glamour.

Santa Ignacia's blessed to be given such beauties!

The most beautiful ladies of Santa Ignacia shone brighter and brighter as the night went on. Of the twelve contenders, here are those who stood out the most:

Alex Jestre is crowned second runner up.

Hannah Jumela Almeron crowned first runner up.

And Ms. Santa Ignacia 2017 is Debora Chantengco of Nambalan.

The winners, holding trophies made by Woodinspirations Crafts and the organizers strike a pose in front of the camera.

Congratulations to the local government unit of Santa Ignacia, through Mayor Nora Modomo, for yet another successful event! Hopefully this gives a much needed kick start for the municipality's tourism efforts! For Santa Ignacia!

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Woodinspirations Crafts would like to thank municipal councilor Donna Dacayanan-Follosco and Ms. Winea Figueroa-Domingo for this opportunity to partner with the local government unit.

Some Things to See in Santa Ignacia

Some days ago, Ms. Winea of the local government unit of Santa Ignacia approached me needing help with some frames required of the municipality by the provincial government of Tarlac.  Nine frames in total, I was asked to do layouts for seven of them.

With express permission from Ms. Winea, here are the seven photos I did for Santa Ignacia:

"The Pikkan Falls at Brgy. Calipayan. Thinly veiled by lush greenery within rolling fields and hills of Barangay Calipayan lies Santa Ignacia's secret, unlocked only by the seasons." Source photo from Carmela Prado.

"Brgy. Calipayan. Barangay Calipayan is a stretch of green abundance, situated at the western area of the municipality.  Its wood and farm lands are speckled with pools, ponds and creeks, both natural and man made, reflecting the serenity of the Santa Ignacia sky." 

"Woodinspirations Crafts. Magic happens in Barangay Poblacion East with an enterprise transforming second hand wood and bamboo into little trinkets and souvenirs for homes, offices, and gifts.  Woodinspirations does not only create memories from discardables, it also betters the lives of farmers, women and out of school youth."

"Pottery in Santa Ignacia. Some patches of soil in Santa Ignacia have been found to be suitable for pottery.  Local craftsmen have mastered the art of making paso (planters), traditional palayoks (cooking pots) dalikan (stoves) and eventually jars for indoor and outdoor aesthetics."

"Pascasio's Pottery. In Barangay Baldios, Pascasio's Pottery has set up a kiln and with it, batch upon batch of freshly fired ceramics of terra cotta clay.  In the yard are many different varieties of plants and landscaping accessories the visiting gardener can lay his eyes on."

"Kabyawan at Barangays San Francisco, Cabaruan and Taguiporo.  Sugarcane is traditionally milled in Barangay San Francisco, Cabaruan and Taguiporo from the months of December to May.  A kalabaw goes around the machine, squeezing the extracts from the stalks.  The sweet juice is later used to prepare local delicacies like the patupat (rice cakes wrapped in buri leaves) and kalti (cassava or papaya boiled in sugar) among others as it has always been since ages past." Source photo from Ms. Winea of LGU Santa Ignacia.

"Santa Ignacia's Patupat. Subtly sweet sticky rice wrapped in silag (buri) leaves, Santa Ignacia's patupat is cooked by boiling it in sugarcane juice.  A common sight in the public market, these along with local specialties such as kinalti, tupig, suman, iniruban, and other rice cakes make popular pasalubongs for the indulgent traveler."  Source photo from Ms. Winea of LGU Santa Ignacia.

Santa Ignacia, like the rest of Tarlac, has its understated charms, rarely known to everyone.

These frames, along with the rest of the municipalities' of the province will be available for viewing at the Museo de Tarlac.

Procuring Bamboo in Santa Ignacia

Some weeks back, we were looking for a supplier of bamboo poles.

The long and winding road!

You see, the family business processes these raw materials and turns them into handicrafts, of course with the help of local craftsmen.

From pieces for burning, to pretty pieces for home and office.

Typically, these things are made into place mats, fencing materials, a variety of native baskets like the bakke and bilao.  I've heard some years back that there's a guy somewhere in town who still makes tiklis (in Ilocano; in Tagalog they're known as kaing) baskets.

A bilao with lumpia wrappers. Image found in http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/marketmans-quest-for-the-thinnest-lumpia-wrappers

The sad truth is that it's a fading tradition.  The government has made efforts to address the revival of folk crafts in the form of livelihood training seminars. One example is that conducted in the neighboring town of Mayantoc some years ago by the Department of Trade and Industry Tarlac.

There's a guy somewhere in town who used to make place mats for us.

Place mats sold by Woodinspirations Crafts back in Likha ng Central Luzon 2015.

Now on to Santa Ignacia's kawayan.  This place, most especially the barrios, is actually littered with clumps of kawayan. Locals know where to get these, and there's widespread belief that rabong is easily pilfered by neighbors. LOL

The trouble with procuring kawayan for commercial use is that it's usually planted in ancestral lands of families, meaning it's shared property.  You wouldn't know who to pay upon purchasing good ones.  A harvester told us that there are lands within the municipality that's really abundant with bamboo, and he couldn't harvest cause the land owners will probably just fight over the payment. This made it hard for us to find kawayan to use.

Eventually, we got a referral from one of our workers and we managed to get some good poles.  We purchased them for about 25 pesos for every 3 meters. It's about a hundred pesos for every pole, from base to tip.

From the Calipayan-San Jose road, it's a left turn onto a dirt road. The very same path we took on our way to Pikkan Falls a few years back.

Here are some photos on our way to order the kawayan:

It was a sunny morning.

We stopped by this area before a creek/pond.

Walked a bit.

Over the hills, and far away...

...Teletubbies come to play. LOLJK

Oh diba pang Teletubbies nga. Haha.

If only these kawayan were more accessible then processing them would be a whole lot easier. Oh if only.  Hopefully, they'll be easier to procure within the next few years.

Mayantoc at 100!

Mayantoc, Tarlac's Summer Capital, is celebrating its centennial year this 2017.

Original image posted at https://monaliza2929.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/mayantoc-kiti-calao-waterfalls-a-place-that-you-must-see/

Mayantoc's the neighboring municipality of Santa Ignacia, to the north. It's pretty famous among us for its resorts, sights and water forms. Unlike most places in the province, they're fortunate enough to have a year-round supply of water, good for planting rice the whole year.

Ate Melai tells me it's home to one of only three twin falls in the Philippines. Now that's something.

The local government unit of Mayantoc is raising funds for their centennial celebration! You can help by purchasing these pretty little memorabilia available at their municipal hall:

A refrigerator magnet.

Clockwise, from top left: a refrigerator magnet, bamboo fans, key chains of varying shapes.

With all the festivities this 2017, it's probably the best year to drop by and experience Mayantoc.