Paete: From Wood Carving to Ice and Vegetable Sculptors

Paete, a Laguna town proud of the title "Carving Capital of the Philippines," with artists' blood intrinsic in every Paetenian's veins even before the Spaniards came, and yet the carving industry is in a moribund state due to numerous reasons. There currently is a dwindling number of sculptors carving wood due to the scarcity of the precious item from fallen trees.

The carving industry also gave birth to the taka (papier mache) industry, mostly led by the womenfolks, but is also in its twilight years unless the people and government find ways to arrest the problem.

While vacationing in Paete, Tutubi chanced upon his neighbor at work, a veteran wood carver still churning out made-to-order religious items.


a station of the cross sample as model
use of a wooden mallet instead of a hammer
chisels galore, tools of the trade

It's a common knowledge that the town got its name from the paet but contrary to popular belief that the paet refers to chisels, it's actually a type of chisel with straight edge (shown below). Locals call chisels pang-ukit. Other types of chisels are the lukob (U-shaped chisel), landay (slightly arched chisel), trespiko or the V-shaped chisel(from Spanish tres pico meaning three peaks), hiwas (chisel with diagonal tip that looks like a scalpel). (There are also odd-shaped and contorted chisels designed for hard-to-reach areas but Tutubi needs his memory refreshed)

the paet: straight-edged chisel

The country's total log ban resulted in the dearth of wood making life hard for the carvers, made worse by government indifference (and politicians full of empty promises), lack of fresh ideas of some carvers, increased competition and unethical business practices.

Sculptors nowadays turn to other medium e.g escayola (plaster of paris), resin, and others in lieu of wood to carry out their sculpting pursuits. New generation of sculptors now work as kitchen artists in hotels and restaurants here and abroad mostly working with ice, vegetable, butter and chocolate creating astounding centerpieces.

young artists compete at the annual ice carving competition at the town plaza on July 24, the day before Paete town fiesta

a vegetable carver at work

Here's a tip: if you're looking for the usual religious items, souvenirs, there are many handicraft stores and souvenir shops at the town center (mainly on Rizal, Quesada and F. Sario St.). There are also sculptures, besides paintings,on display at Kape Kesada. For custom-made wood carvings, you may get in touch with the woodcarvers themselves for discounts, usually much cheaper when bought in Manila. Rates and estimates are always in length/height of the image and the required finish.

Notes:
Pictures taken using Canon 300D EF 50mm f1.8
Other areas with carving traditions include Betis, Guagua in Pampanga, and people of the Cordilleras.

A marriage of sculpting and painting, called "paintures," popularized by visual artists/brothers Manuel and Angelo Baldemor (a future post).

Related Posts:
Ice Carving
Kape Kesada


Looking wood carvings stores and shops in Paete? Being a true-blooded son of Paete, he'll soon post a list of shops selling wood carvings and handicrafts, much cheaper that stores in Quiapo, Manila. If you want custom-made carvings, the going rate is usually per foot, say saints, and the final price depends on the finish i.e. varnish or paint (encarna) et al...just leave a comment!