Question 1: Pugad artist has been in existence for quite sometime now. Can you say something about it, like how did it came to be and why the name Pugad? How long have you been around?
BM: In 1991 Pugad was realized, explosion of the Gulf war and the eruption of Mount Pinatubo gave me the sign to stay ( in the Philippines) for good. For good because serving the community is more than the dollar I earned.
Pugad is an artist haven, where anybody could “hatch their ideas and dreams”. Pugad is a nesting place for all ages. A combination of contemporary, superstitious and traditional beliefs is practiced. We don’t have boundaries for art but we respect democratic practices as well.For about 19 years Pugad had hatched a number of Pugad Artists and mostly called “Pugad Boys”
Question 2. What works of art do you do?
Sculptures and Terracotta beads. Now we give more time on stone sculptures, mural painting souvenir items, trophies and terracotta bracelets, etc.
Question 3. Do you consider your work as industry or do you have a steady clientele that you feel obliged to cater? Can you mention your lists of clients so far?
BM: In Pugad, we consider two things. Our arts and our crafts. Our art pieces are usually created with emotions and concepts. Our crafts are done with the collaboration of the clientele and our own concept of the project.
The Municipality of Oton, DSWD Region VI, Museo Iloilo even international clientele to name a few as our clientele.
Questions 4. In the market world, what are the challenges that you encountered in marketing your products?
BM: The consciousness of the Ilonggos with regards to art is far from the interest of the people in Manila and abroad. Although we do artwork, we are not much affected when marketing our crafts and arts. Even though, today there many artworks run by technology, we till believe that our work is beyond compare.
Question 5: What measures would you recommend to the government to the government, local and national to promote and protect your work and that of other Ogtonganon and Filipino Artists?
BM: Artists are destined to starve” According to one writer. We have great and famous artists. The government I suggest can extend big help to the visual arts, performing arts and our culture and history. It’s sad to know that a great but frustrated artist like Vincent Van Gogh should die first and be recognized as master of the brush, and to be great and famous.
To start we should start to know our roots and culture. It’s good if we can retrieve our arts and artifacts of our history and culture like the one we have, the gold mask which is now at the national museum. Then we can organize culture bearers and artists to help the promising artist to create a good form of art. Art for service to the community and not only art for fame. The government now can collect and document works from all forms of art.
Question 6: How do you see the future of artists like you given our economically challenging times?
BM: Artists are the agents of change. Artists create the beauty and development of the world and also design the destruction our minds, values, our culture and our lifestyle. We, the Pugad artist are quite sure that we can survive, that we can grow and become a big flock or artist to migrate to other places. The hatching ideas and dreams will continue because our chicks will grow and make their own “Pugad” for the future.
Question 7: What message can you impart to the young artists particularly your kasimanwa?
BM: Be yourself… express your feelings and emotions through clay, stone,canvass or whatever medium or art form you want. Make art pieces with love and care. Do not think of money ahead of your work. Art critics and writer for journalists donot measure our value and our fame alone but also by god and he whole society itself.
Let you creation of art be the instrument of change to the development of our town and our nation. OGTONGANONS- our history and culture is our strength.
