Filipino Culture,
Cast in Resin.

My take on the Sarimanok is based on the colorful culture of the Maranao people. The feathers on its head represent the colorful artwork of Maranaos as shown through their crafts, such as weaving and woodcrafting, while the gold adornments reflect the Maranao's skill in metal crafting. The body is painted predominantly in Philippine flag colors, with the gold highlighting royalty and pride. In Maranao folklore, the Sarimanok is a symbol of good fortune. This piece stands 12 inches tall, hand-sculpted and 3D printed in collaboration with 3Ready Prototyping Lab, finished in fiberglass-coated resin, and hand-painted by Luminary Studios.

12″ Mixed Media Sculpture · Hand-Sculpted, 3D Printed & Hand-Painted · Manila, Philippines

In the Trese comics created by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, the Kambal — "the Twins" — are a pair of enigmatic, mask-donning characters known as Crispin and Basilio, protagonist Alexandra Trese's fiercely loyal bodyguards. Their identities are concealed behind two mask designs, one of happiness and one of sorrow, reflecting the dichotomy of their personalities. This first version stands 7 inches tall in 100% resin, mounted on a base of real driftwood carrying its own Filipino-culture easter eggs: a fallen balete tree and a "Balete Dr." street sign, both nods to local urban legend as well as to the Trese universe itself.

7″ Resin on Real Driftwood · Trese-Inspired Character Sculpture · Manila, Philippines

In the Trese comics, the Kambal are a vital part of Team Trese, offering not just muscle but emotional support. Crispin and Basilio are identified by their distinct masks symbolizing contrasting emotions — a smiling face for Crispin and a frowning one for Basilio — though the personalities run ironically opposite: Crispin is the serious, disciplined one, while sorrowful-masked Basilio is the sociable, quick-witted comic relief. This 1-of-1, 7-inch, 100% resin version's base carries two more local easter eggs: a covered manhole nodding to the "Nuno sa Manhole" lore, and dilapidated signage referencing the "Walang Tawiran, Nakamamatay" jaywalking signs found across Metro Manila.

7″ 100% Resin · 1 of 1 · Trese-Inspired Character Sculpture · Manila, Philippines

The third and final evolution of this concept, and the opening entry in an ongoing series called "Nasaan Si Alexandra Trese," imagining the duo traveling different places in search of their boss, munting Trese. This 1-of-1, 7-inch, 100% resin piece grew alongside the artist's mastery of the concept, and its base is the most detail-packed yet: "Nuno sa Manhole" makes a full character appearance, "Boyset Paints" plays on the real Boysen paint brand — its buckets repurposed as a water bucket, a toolbox, and a trash can — and a partly worn-away "Bawal magtapon ng basura dito" ("Don't throw your trash here") sign completes the diorama. The Trese Kambal twins have since been featured in an official Trese collector's display and received a shout-out from CHiNOY TV.

7″ 100% Resin · 1 of 1 · Third in the "Nasaan Si Alexandra Trese" Series · Manila, Philippines