ABW June 2016-1

LA UNION
Tuddingan Falls
enables it to survive an earthquake. The wooden
frame gives it flexibility and stability, while the
one-storey high stone base is less likely to collapse
irrespective of the peril. It was quite a prominent
and popular design for Philippine homes in the past
but now tradition has given way to modernity and
these houses are becoming very rare indeed.
One such house still standing is the Bahay na Bato of
Luna that showcases sculpture, carvings and crafts
made from stones and scraps of driftwood plucked
from the area’s many beaches. Korean artist Vong
Kim is the main sculptor, but he is assisted by, and
mentors, many talented Filipino art-ists. The Bahay
na Bato Open Art Gallery is open from 6:00 am until
8:00 pm: with an entrance fee of P20, (the gallery is
free for children 4 years old and below). On entering
the compound visitors are struck by the thousands
of stones scattered all around and along the walkway
lined by larger stones with sculpted faces.
To fully explore the numerous stone and wood
carvings, items of furniture, sculptures, and other
extraordinary trinkets could take a couple of hours
bit it is worth the effort. The compound is ideal for
photographers and a swell spot for those selfies
that ultimately find a way onto Facebook. Aside
from the many sculptured faces, there are sculptures
of ducks, fish, a lump of driftwood carved like a
dragon’e head, a sun dial made of stone that was
used as a rudimentary clock in a bygone era, and a
lot of other interesting artefacts that are somewhat
distorted yet still of great interest. There is an area
where visitors names are carved onto stones, which
are then displayed on a driftwood table. The area
around Bahay na Bato is said to produce an endless
supply of stones, which most probably come from
far beneath the sea. Visitors may not, however,
remove any of the stones.
This is a great destination for those who like to be
visually entertained by an amazing array of craftsmanship
that can be both bizarre and odd-looking
and is sometimes outrageous and sensational
because of the distortion and size. What is very
evident here is the creativity that exudes from every
work, even though some are hideous or malformed.
No worries there; authorities have questioned the
52