Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo lauds its two Mabalaquenian artists as they showcase their masterpieces in regional and national art exhibits this month.

Mabalacat’s pride, Dodjie Aguinaldo, aka Agui Naldo, is one of the eleven artists from Pampanga to be included in the roster of the First Central Luzon Art Fair in Tarlac City which is held from Oct. 15 to 31.

Meanwhile, Nico Tulabut, a newcomer in the local art scene, will have his work displayed at Kabiyasnan: A Pampanga Lifestyle and Arts Fair at The Rockwell, Power Plant Mall on Oct. 14 to 16.

Garbo said local artists from Mabalacat City continue to bring pride by elevating their creativity and passion while sharing the local culture in the art scene through exhibits.

“Supporting our local artists and their art truly matters because we know this is where it begins. They bring honor and pride to the city, truly gratifying for these artists to share a reflection of our culture from regional to national,” the mayor said.

According to Nico, his works titled “Sunflower” and “Swan” are a manifestation of his love for nature and God’s creations. He said these art pieces are on display side by side with the paintings of one of the recipients of the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award, Leonardo Tulabut.

A BS Fine Arts graduate, Nico has been part of mural paintings by Sining Mabalacat artists and has also been included in local art exhibits. He is joined by Mabalaquenian artists Elizabeth Bondoc Sison (Autumn in Me and Sun and Moon), Jeffrey Quirido Gabatin (The Revival and Saklu) and Mary Vi Francine Yabut (Pucquitan and Garapun Ning Kapayapan) at the ‘Kabiyasnan‘ exhibit in Makati City.

For Agui Naldo, his approach on his pieces comes from unique styles and shades through the use of patterns and shapes. Among his displays is his masterpiece dubbed “A Thousand Shades of Passion” in acrylic paint on wood.

Venturing into a new style that reflects Kapampangan heritage such as the Christmas parol patterns, Agui Naldo first became a graphic artist for notebook covers then learning to become a props maker, mural painter, and a video editor where his artworks eventually evolved in over three decades.  

Born in the north of Luzon, Agui Naldo has embraced the Kapampangan lifestyle, culture and tradition where he also learned the art of Kulitan, an ancient form of writing of the Kapampangans

Agui Naldo is joined by equally stellar cast of artists from Pampanga that include the late Andy Bondoc, Donna Camaya, Simkin De Pio, Arnel Garcia, Francis Garzon, Alvaro Jimenez, Chelsie Pan, Richard Sy, Leonardo Tulabut, and Jojoy Zabala at the First Central Luzon Art Fair in Tarlac City. (Mabalacat CIO)