AGUILARDO “AGI” PAGKATIPUNAN, affectionately known as the “Wood Wizard” by his peers, was born and raised in Maly, a small barangay in the hilly province of San Mateo, Rizal. He pursued a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the Central Colleges of the Philippines.

Agi is a renowned furniture maker and designer—an architect who found his true calling as a carpenter-sculptor and interior designer. His artistic journey is deeply rooted in his passion for wood, particularly salvaged and reclaimed Philippine hardwoods. He breathes new life into these discarded materials, transforming them into what he fondly calls "functional sculptures"—works of art that embody soul, substance, and masterful craftsmanship.

Though trained as an architect, Agi’s deep fascination with wood led him to create distinctive, soulful pieces. His works reflect not only a high level of artistry but also a profound respect for material and meaning.

Agi lives by strong values, both in life and in his craft:

“Given things may seem wasted in the present, but if you hold onto them, time will eventually reveal their purpose and meaning in an artistic way.”

“I never compromise my principles. I’ve walked away from clients before—and I’ll continue to do so when my values are at stake.”

“The form of wood dictates the design. The more materials I have, the more possibilities I see.”

“Kaya nalulungkot ako kapag kumokonti ang mga kahoy ko.”
(That’s why I get disheartened when I see my lumber stock dwindling.)

Agi credits much of his artistic philosophy to the late sculptors Maestro Jerry Araos and Maestro Luis E. Yee Jr., whom he affectionately called Tatay. Their influence—rooted in conversations about art, craft, and even the rawness of life—taught him to truly “listen to the wood.”

He also draws architectural inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright and upholds the modernist ideals of "form follows function and function follows form," championed by Le Corbusier.

“I live for my art—and my art, in turn, sustains me.”