Guagua celebrates 14th Dukit Festival

By Ian Ocampo Flora

GUAGUA town’s 14th Dukit Festival pushed through Monday, December 27, 2021, at the Artist Haven’s Park in Barangay Santa Ursula with minimum health protocols in place as woodcarvers showcase their talents in woodcarving that promotes this town’s woodcrafts.

Guagua town Mayor Dante Torres said the event pushed through despite the pandemic.

The event aimed to promote the woodcarving industry among the younger generation and the wood carving industry in Guagua as a tourism destination, said Torres. This year’s competition included the best wood carvers from Betis, as well as guest carvers from Paete, Laguna, another woodcarving town.

The event also highlighted the best wood carving products of the town, from ecclesiastical and religious art to furniture and art accents.

“This event showed 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,” Torres added.

In previous celebrations, the Dukit Festival was held in Barangay Sta. Ursula Betis and was participated by the best woodcarvers of the district.

Known woodcarver and Presidential Merit Awardee for Ecclesiastical Art Willy Layug said woodcarving has become a major industry in Guagua, generating millions each year.

Layug lamented that fewer younger people are going into the trade, adding there is also less attention toward the continuing education of woodcarvers as artists rather than mere craftsmen.

“The event hopes to highlight the creative and artistic aspect of the craft and attract more people into this art form. We also hope to bring woodcarving here to a whole new level and bring more attention towards education and improvement of skills of woodcarvers and attract tourists and buyers,” Layug said.

Guagua’s Betis District is known for its wood carving industry that has grown from furniture, religious and installation art.