This carved wood piece, titled “Ina ng Lahi” (Mother of Filipinos), is one of Jose P. Alcantara’s acclaimed artworks. Crafted from Narra, it received a special prize in 1951 from the Art Association of the Philippines.
A self-taught sculptor, painter, and muralist, Alcantara achieved his highest recognition when he won first place at the inaugural Southeast Asian Art Conference and Competition with his piece “Behold The Man”. Among his numerous accolades is his 1953 first-place award from the Art Association of the Philippines for “Mother and Child”.
A native of Manila, his artistic journey at age ten as an apprentice in a sculptural shop in Manila’s Quiapo district until he honed his skills and received all the accolades. He died in 2005 and his remains are laid in a cemetery in Taytay, Rizal.