Photo Courtesy of Tribune.net.ph

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos recently commended Filipino Indigenouism artist Lauren Mark Libunao for his distinctive painting style that utilizes garlic oil as a medium, a unique contribution to Indigenouism art.

During a courtesy call on Tuesday, Libunao presented one of his notable works” a life-size painting of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.” to the First Lady, who praised his exceptional talent.

"(I) was happy to meet Lauren Mendoza Libunao, a talented Filipino artist who uses garlic oil as his medium," Araneta-Marcos shared in an Instagram post. "Iyan ang Tatak Pilipino," she added, emphasizing the uniqueness of Libunao's artistry.

Libunao, a native of Nueva Ecija, has earned global recognition for his one-of-a-kind technique. He is the only artist in the world certified by Ripley's Believe It or Not! for using garlic oil in his paintings. His portraits include prominent figures such as former presidents Rodrigo Duterte and the late Benigno Aquino III.

In 2008, Libunao's works were showcased at the municipal plaza of Guimba, Nueva Ecija. His journey as a garlic oil artist began while assisting his parents in their carinderia (eatery), where he observed garlic producing oil during cooking. This observation inspired him to explore the use of garlic oil in his paintings. Through experimentation, he successfully developed a unique artistic technique that transformed his ideas into impressive masterpieces.

Libunao's creative process requires several days or weeks to complete a piece, depending on the complexity of the subject. Despite the time and effort involved, Libunao dreams of seeing garlic painting gain wider recognition both locally and internationally.