Paete Woodcarving & The Life of Danilo – Comprehensive Study Notes

Origin of the Town’s Name

• The town’s name is Paete (spelled “Peppe” in the transcript).
• "Paete" is a Filipino word meaning “chisel.”
  • Legend: A Spanish priest asked locals for the name of the town; a wood-carver thought he was asking about his tool and answered “paet” (chisel).
  • The priest recorded this as the settlement’s name, and it eventually became Paete.

Paete as the Carving Capital

• Referred to locally as the “Carving Capital of the Philippines.”
  • Peak period: (1970\text{s} - 1980\text{s}) when almost every household practiced woodcarving.
• Famous for two distinct craft traditions:
  • Taka (papier-mâché figurines).
  • Wood-carved religious icons supplied to churches all over the Philippines.

Featured Artist: Danilo “Danny” (Cardes / Cards)

• Born in Paete, Laguna.
• Personal history
  • Lost his mother at age (2).
  • Father worked in Manila as a taal (traditional) carpenter.
  • Entire family (siblings, grandfather, grand-uncle) are artists.
• Career path
  • Began carving right after high school.
  • First lessons from his older brother; typical learning sequence: ear → hand → entire figure.
  • Today focuses on mother-and-child statues and other religious pieces.
• Current age: (51); hopes to stay productive until at least (75).
• Balances commission work (to fund children’s college education) with his own creative projects.
• Daily rhythm: Home and workshop are the same place—“I carve when I wake up; I sleep when I’m tired.”

Materials & Techniques

• Primary medium: Hardwood—especially mahogany.
  • Often works with blocks weighing several kilos; mentioned “about (3) mahogany logs” in one sculpture.
• Finishing choices
  • Prefers to leave the grain visible when the wood is of high quality.
  • Uses oil paint with a dry-brush and sometimes a roller for subtle tints.
• Tools
  • Chisels (paet) remain the core implement.
  • Keeps brushes meticulously clean (“How’s the brush? I cleaned this.”).
• Example artwork
  • Figure of his daughter sitting on a bench, holding a lollipop—demonstrates portraiture from life.

Multi-Generational Legacy

• Family residence contains chairs built circa (1600) with paint layers dating back to (1717) (≈100-year-old coating).
  • Grandfather and grand-uncle collaborated on elaborate carvings, e.g.
  • A grasshopper motif where both faces are fully realized, entirely hand-tooled.
  • Showcases “unique techniques” now studied by younger artisans.

Training the Next Generation

• Target trainees: High-school students \ge 16 years old.
• Observed trends
  • Youth gravitate toward painting and digital art; fewer commit to woodcarving because it is physically taxing and technically demanding.
• Apprenticeship model
  • Graduating students spend 1–2 months in a master’s shop to “learn how to hold the chisel.”
  • Community ethos: “We are always willing to teach.”

Current Challenges

• Wood scarcity
  • Government logging bans protect native species; hardwood can now be sourced only from high-elevation zones.
  • Prices rising; “big problem to buy a bundle now.”
• Risk of losing craft knowledge if material remains unavailable.
  • Artist is exploring stone carving as a contingency.
• Community pride vs. imitation
  • Other towns claim to be the “carving capital,” but many studios reportedly “gave up” when faced with material and skill shortages.

Proposed Solutions & Future Outlook

• Reforestation
  • Plan to identify land where traditional carving timbers can be replanted, ensuring long-term supply.
• Skill Preservation
  • Continue mentoring youth; promote Paete’s authentic methods to maintain cultural identity.
• Diversification
  • Transition to alternative materials (stone, composite) if wood becomes impossible to source.

Personal Philosophy & Motivation

• Carving is described as both a livelihood and a calling of the heart.
• Despite economic pressures, Danilo strives to “keep improving my ability” and “inspire young people to get the job done.”
• Belief that tradition can survive through passion, teaching, and environmental stewardship.