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Eduardomutuc
EDUARDO MUTUC A KAPAMPANGAN MASTER IN CRAFTSMAN OF RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR ART IN PLATED SILVER. HIS DELICATE CRAFTSMANSHIP TO DETAIL ARE EVIDENT FROM THE SMALLEST DETAIL IN A PIECE OF METALCRAFT TO THE FORTY-FOOT RETABLOS THAT HE PRODUCES. HE WAS AWARDED THE GAMABA OR THE NATIONAL LIVING TREASURE AWARD IN 2004.
EDUARDO MUTUC DISCOVERED HIS TALENTS FOR METALWORK AND SCULPTURING QUITE LATE. HIS SPENT HIS FIRST YEAR AN APPRENTICE TO A CARVERS OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE. THE HARDEST CHALLENGE THAT HE ENCOUNTER WAS LEARNING A PROFESSION THAT HE HAD NO ANY IDEA OR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT. HIS CHOICES WERE ONLY LIMITED BECAUSE OF HIS MINIMUM WAGES AND HE ONLY FINISHED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AT HIS FIFTH AND SIXTH YEAR AS A FURNITURE MAKER, A COLLEAGUE TAUGHT HIM TO DO ART OF SILVER PLATING. SILVER PLATING IS A TECHNIQUE THAT IS OFTEN USED TO EMULATE GOLD AND SILVER LEAF IN A DECORATION OF SAINTS AND RELIGIOUS SCREENS FOUND IN THE COLONIAL CHURCHES.
HE LEFT HIS WORK IN THE FURNITURE SHOP. HIS FIRST COMMISSION CAME FROM MOSIGNOR FIDELIS LIMCAUCO, HE ASKS HIM TO CREATE A TABERNACLE FOR THE PARISH OF FAIRVIEW, QUEZON CITY.
MANY CLIENTS INITIATE TO COMMISSION HIM AND MOST OF THE DESIGNS ARE BASED ON THE SPANISH COLONIAL. HE DERIVES INSPIRATION FROM TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS DESIGNS. HE FINDS INSPIRATION IN CHURCH ART.
Eduardo Mutuc is also called “Tatang Eddie”. Tatang Eddie got married at 20 years old. In his late twenties, he became an apprentice as an antique shop helper from a business owned by the Lozano family, which were his relatives. Through working at that time, he learned basic fundamentals in wood carving. As times goes by, he proceeded into the metal craft, locally called “pinukpuk”, which the design process were embossed on metal sheets that are used as adornments in mostly ecclesiastical items.
Tatang Eddie himself is very humble and he don’t brag about his accomplishments. His parents were farmers and grew up with nine other children in the family. He never reached high school and began helping his family in the farm right after his elementary graduation.
achievements
The GAMABA or National Living Treasure award is given to the traditional artists in the Philippines, similar to the National Artist award. Only ten Filipinos were given this honor. From those 10 people, only one Kapampangan recipient got the award, Mr. Eduardo Tubig Mutuc of Apalit, Pampanga, who was granted in 2004. He became one of the pride of Pampanga and his family and fellow Kapampangans were very proud of him. He won because of his delicate craftmanship and attention to detail are manifest and clear from the smallest piece of metalcraft to the forty-foot retablos he produces.
For more than 30 years, he made his mark as the finest metal craftsman in the Philippines. Some of his products were sold at Tesoro’s in Manila. His ecclesiastical works include ecclesiastical pieces such as altar tables and tabernacles, and collector’ items like candelabras, picture frames and even salakots.
