Ubah Rumah Residency Artist

'Kuya' ('Big Brother') Nicky Dumapit is an artist, musician, eco-warrior, radio host and tour guide born and based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. He dedicates his life to a cause close to his heart and formative to his very identity: spreading the message of respecting and protecting the natural environment. Dumapit travels around his local island (often on foot) and around the Philippines, astonishing and entertaining his audiences from remote villages and schools to crowds of tourists from all over the world, by performing with his hand-crafted indigenous instruments made from natural and recycled materials that perfectly and uncannily mimic the sounds of tropical rain, thunder, babbling river water, native birds, frogs, geckos and more, all the while campaigning for the conservation of our 'Mother Earth'. His locally well-known catchphrase is 'Lipay ang Kalibutan', which loosely translates to 'The World is Happy'.

In 2010, as his gift to Mother Earth during his birthday month, Dumapit walked 102 kilometres from Dumaguete to Bayawan in humble flip flops and even partially with bare feet, verbally spreading the message of love and peace for the environment to anyone he met along his way. In 2013, Dumapit was awarded a Gawad Kalinga' Parangal ng mga Bayani', or 'Honour of the Heroes' Award, for his outstanding service to the Negros Oriental community by way of championing the environment they live within and rely upon.

As well as voluntarily hosting his Sunday radio programme 'HIGALA KUMUSTA KA' for local radio station DYWC Radyo Bandilyo for more than 20 years, Dumapit is a prolifically active performer, speaker and environmental activist, and also promotes elements of his local culture which are intrinsically tied to his island's natural resources, such as the locally crafted 'ligiron' carts which are raced in annual local tournaments, frequently hosted by Dumapit. His noteworthy projects and achievements have been recognised and featured both nationally and internationally on various media outlets, including Far Eastern Entertainment, Japan and the Henry Golding travel show for the BBC, UK. More recently, Dumapit was invited as a performer and storyteller for Malaysian-founded Big Bad Wolf Books' 'Bad is Good' book sale festival in Manila in 2023 to celebrate the love of reading and endeavour to make books accessible to everyone.

Dumapit continues to generously share his talent, knowledge, positivity and hope for world peace, and live his life in pursuit of his dream of bringing healing, reconciliation, light and love to everyone. He continues to harness his innovative creativity and natural ability to connect with and inspire all walks of life to advocate for Mother Earth and the love and respect that she so deserves.