Ilonggo artist transforms Bacolod landmarks into leaf art

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – As the 44th MassKara Festival kicked off this month, an Ilonggo artist sculpted various landmarks here to bring excitement to tourists who will come and visit the “City of Smiles.”

Architect Edimar Paclibar found the perfect subjects for his leaf art this month, as he sculpted some of the famous places here such as the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Provincial Capitol of Negros Occidental, Bandstand at the Bacolod public plaza, San Sebastian Cathedral, The Negros Museum, and the Sculpture at the Capitol Park and Lagoon.

Aside from these landmarks, the MassKara Festival logo, the Megaworld’s Upper East House, and pasalubong centers, among others were also transformed into a leaf art.

These art pieces sculpted on jackfruit leaves were posted on Ukit Dahon’s Facebook page.

Paclibar, who is a native of Iloilo, but is currently working here, said that he got curious on the uniqueness of such form of art and started doing it during the pandemic to ease his boredom, considering the series of lockdowns at that time.

Paclibar said that it is challenging, but there’s a sense of fulfillment when he’s able to transform his subject into a leaf art.

He had also previously sculpted landmarks of his hometown, showing its transformation over the past few years.

He was also able to sculpt faces of Filipino athletes, who joined the Tokyo Olympics, as a way of showing his appreciation and honor to them. (Photos courtesy of Ukit Dahon via Facebook)