Mario Dayo was born in Paete, Laguna in 1948. As a child, Mario learned how to do figures and measurements from acclaimed Paete sculptor, Froilan Madrinan, who was his godfather. He apprenticed under National Artist Napoleon Abueva at his Area17 studio in Diliman. Dayo later went abroad to do ice carving on an Italian shipping line. His first sculpture, made at the age of 13, served as molds for his mother’s paper mache business in Paete. He is best known for baroque relief murals in wood, figurative sculptures and large sized commissions and religious statuary in dark wood, such as his 7-foot for the Graur Community Chapel in Cainta. Dayo’s first solo exhibited was conducted by Heritage Art Gallery, Shangrila EDSA, 1996.
