National Artist Napoleon Abueva has passed away. He is considered the Father of Philippine Sculpture. Among his famed public art are the Blood Compact monument,Bohol,the Transfiguration sculpture, Eternal Gardens, & perhaps the most popular,the sunburst above the Peninsula lobby pic.twitter.com/e8x66HfVqV

— ANC-X (@ancxph) February 16, 2018

MANILA (UPDATED) – National Artist Napoleon Abueva, considered the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture, has passed away. He was 88.

The news was confirmed to ABS-CBN News by his brother Jose Abueva on Friday.

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila also immediately sent their condolences to the loved ones left behind by the acclaimed sculptor.

According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Abueva was the youngest National Artist awardee at the age of 46.

“Abueva has helped shape the local sculpture scene to what it is now. Being adept in either academic representational style or modern abstract, he has utilized almost all kinds of materials from hard wood (molave, acacia, langka wood, ipil, kamagong, palm wood and bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze, iron, alabaster, coral and brass,” the NCCA wrote.

Abueva’s works can be found in various museums both here and abroad.

As enumerated by the NCCA, among Abueva’s popular works include Kaganapan, Kiss of Judas, Nine Muses in front of the UP Faculty Center, Sunburst at The Peninsula Manila hotel and the bronze figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of National Library.