One of the Remaining Pabalat Craft Keepers
One of the Remaining Pabalat Craft Keepers
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Meet the second-generation pastillas girl, Maria Natividad Ocampo-Castro.
After Luz Ocampo passed away at the age of 93 in 2016, Nanay Naty granted her mother’s wish to continue her legacy in creating the intricate paper-cutting culture or the pabalat craft in Malolos, Bulacan. She is now considered as one of the remaining keepers of the pastillas pabalat as she continues to practice the craft as well as conduct workshops to teach younger generations about the traditional craft. Through her constant efforts, she was able to obtain recognition awards for her dedication in keeping the craft alive despite the occurrence of the modern generation.
Recognized by several cultural organizations and known people.
Many organizations and universities: few of these were University of the Philippines—Baguio, Museo ng Baliwag, and Bulacan State University. These have already recognized Naty Ocampo-Castro as the
second-generation pabalat artisan after Luz Ocampo.
She created pabalat designs customized for known Filipino independent filmmaker and internationally acclaimed director, Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza. These designs were given to Dir. Mendoza during his first film workshop and the grand launch of Brillante Mendoza Film Festival in SM City San Jose del Monte last August 2018.
Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza in Brillante Mendoza Film Festival's grand launch at SM City San Jose del Monte. Photo courtesy from Diva Princess at https://bit.ly/3w15fIO.
May 23, 2019. Nanay Naty attended as the resource person through sharing her skills on pabalat practice at the 2019 Summer Workshop for Children: Borlas De Pastillas Making that was held at Intramuros, Manila. The event was organized by the Department of Labor and Employment under the Human Resources Development Service.
March 18, 2022. She was also nominated for Parangal BCAC para sa Tradisyunal na sining ng Likhang Kamay: Pagkilala sa mga Bulakenyong Alagad ng Sining at Kultura sa Panahon ng Pandemya. This was organized by the Bulacan Culture and Arts Council at San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan to give recognition for their local artisans in thriving to practice their craftmanship.
June 29, 2023. She was given the recognition by Advocates for Heritage Preservation (AHP) for conducting a workshop and sharing her knowledge about the Pabalat craft in Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, Quiapo, Manila.
And recently on April 16, 2024. The Kalutong Bulakenyo in Malolos, Bulacan awarded Naty Ocampo-Castro for her dedication and efforts on maintaining the craft of pabalat and pag-ukit sa dayap alive through conducting countless workshops and attending as guest speakers to share with the younger generations her expertise on the craft.
This award is to recognize Nanay Naty as an inspiration to the future generations that they will continue engaging and practicing the Pabalat craft of Bulacan.
Naty Ocampo-Castro in hopes of keeping the craft for longer decades.
Above all, Nanay Naty Ocampo-Castro remains positive in maintaining the legacy of the pabalat heritage through promoting the craft in workshops and lectures and with her delicacies brand, Ocampo’s Specialty Products.
Like her mother, Nanay Naty continuously hopes to inspire and maintain the practice of pabalat craft to the future generations.
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