Maria Teodora Conde-Prieto, also known as Dinggot Prieto, is the artist behind the giant Christmas tree that was raised in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Prieto, who majored in comparative literature, and philosophy back in college, was a self taught artist. Although she was not able to get a formal training, painting and art is her passion.
Dinggot Prieto was born and raised in Baguio City, but her mother was a native of Puerto Princesa. Prieto went back to her roots when she decided to migrate back to Palawan in 1990. This act also resulted for Prieto to pursue her art by establishing a cafe-gallery and repository for arts and culture in Puerto Princesa in 1994 called Kamarikutan.
Prieto worked with the national Commission for Culture and the Arts from 2002 to 2008. She was also a member of the executive committee for visual arts. She also joined the provincial government of Palawan as program director for culture and arts, and established the Palawan Culture and Arts Guild together with Governor Joel Reyes. READ MORE..
