A Journey from a Filipino Childhood to Global Lego Recognition
Amado Canlas Pinlac, known as ACPin in the Lego community, has carved out a unique path in the world of Lego building. Unlike many who grew up with access to Legos, Pinlac didn’t play with them as a child in the Philippines, where they were expensive and hard to find. That changed over time, and today, he is recognized as an AFOL (Adult Fan of Lego) Master on a global scale.
With over 25 years of experience, Pinlac has built and designed his own Lego creations, earning international acclaim. His work has been showcased around the world, making him the first and only Filipino to exhibit at the Lego House in Billund, Denmark—the home of Legos. One of his most notable works, a model of the Jasmine buds of Sampaguita, a native flower of the Philippines, is part of the Lego House’s permanent collection.
“I am very proud,” Pinlac said. “I was one of 34 hobbyists asked. One of five from the United States and the only one from the East Coast. But being the first and only Filipino—that makes me very proud.”
Building Bonds and Discovering Passion
Pinlac’s journey into the world of Lego began when he started building with his three sons, now grown, during their childhood. The activity not only helped them develop their creativity but also created a strong bond between father and children. “It allowed them to build whatever they put their mind to. And when they were building, they were quiet,” he laughed. “Bonding with our sons, helping them, I learned how to build with them.”
His passion for Lego deepened when he became a fan of "Star Wars" after its debut. In the late '90s, when Lego sets became available, he began collecting them. He would buy sets for his sons, but the more expensive "Star Wars" sets were reserved for himself. However, his attention to detail led him to modify existing designs. For example, he noticed that the Millennium Falcon design resembled a flying saucer rather than the iconic spaceship, and the middle piece on the TIE fighter was repurposed from a castle set.
"I'm a Star Wars fan—I care about the details," he said. "My first attempt at modifying one of the starships was the TIE Fighter—this middle piece. That's the beauty of Lego, because if you don't like how a set or how a feature of a set looks, you can modify it to your liking. And if you have the right pieces, you could do that. That was the beginning. I started doing more and more, changing things around."
From Modification to Creation
Over time, Pinlac transitioned from modifying sets to creating his own designs. He joined online AFOL groups and gained recognition for his work. In 2012, his "Theed Hangar Battle" design caught the attention of Lego, and a photo of it was included in "Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary" published in 2014. “Imagine being featured in that—it's amazing,” he said.
His career took off further when he began participating in Lego conventions after his children grew up. Now retired, he is often seen at events, posing for pictures and signing autographs. “When I started doing ‘Star Wars’ displays at one of my first shows, I was getting a picture taken of me behind the Theed Hangar Battle and one of my friends just shouted, ‘How big is it?’ And I just held out my arms like a fisherman,” he laughed. “In the hobby, that kind of became my trademark.”
Community Involvement and Artistic Growth
Pinlac’s journey began at the East Brunswick Public Library about 20 years ago. He noticed some empty display cases and thought others might enjoy seeing what he was working on in his basement workshop. He filled the cases with his collection, mostly "Star Wars" sets, and some of his own creations. This led to an annual tradition of showcasing his work at the library, where he also offers classes and drop-in sessions to share his love of Legos with people of all ages.
Inspired by his wife Mareth’s love of flowers and gardens, Pinlac explored botanical designs later in his career. A bouquet he created for their 40th anniversary ended up on the cover of a magazine. “My partner in crime—I wouldn't be here without her support,” he said. “If you compare this with all of my works, it's very innocuous, it's very simple. But it's beautiful. And this was the start. I hit the sweet spot.”
This work eventually inspired the popular Lego Botanicals line. At first, Pinlac was hesitant to be called an artist, but he has since embraced the title. “And now they added the Master Lego Artist to it,” he said.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Pinlac finds great satisfaction in mentoring aspiring Lego builders. He believes that anyone can achieve success by continuously improving their skills. “Here's what I tell aspiring builders. If I do one thing, the next one, make sure that the next one you do is better than the last one? And it's different,” he said. “If you want to do only cars, that's fine, but make sure the next one is better. And different. Get more complex. Learn. That's the whole thing. Learn.”
For Pinlac, the joy of Lego building comes from the challenge and the sense of accomplishment. Whether it's designing intricate models or sharing his passion with others, he remains dedicated to the hobby that brought him so much fulfillment. You can follow his work on social media under the handle ACPin or visit flickr.com/people/acpin for more of his creations.
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