TIPS covers Guling-guling Festival

It was another year of celebration of the Guling-guling Festival in the town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. This is an annual festivity to signify the last day of merrymaking before the observance of the Lenten Season by the Catholic community.

Guling-guling is the Ilocano term for smearing a cross on the forehead with white rice flour symbolizing purification of oneself from past sins. This festival was introduced by the Spanish friars in the 16th century and thereby being celebrated for over 400 years now.

This year’s celebration of Guling-guling on February is special because Paoay Kumakaway tourism program of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte was launched.

The Ilocandia Photographic Society (TIPS) members are always covering this event annually. They covered the assembly of dancers from the beginning point to their exciting street dancing, to the dramatic smearing highlight by the mayor, to the fabulous dance showdown and to the grand fireworks display.

TIPSters present were Bryan Rapadas, Alaric Yanos, Lorna Tolentino-Macatulad, Dr. Robert Luzod, Ronald Macatulad and Dr. Edwin Antonio who was invited at the same time to judge the dance showdown.

TIPS documents gamet picking in Burgos

On one weekend of January, TIPSters Alaric Yanos, Dr. Edwin Antonio and Bryan Rapadas went on a photoshoot in the town of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. They went early in the morning to catch a glimpse of the activities of the gamet pickers in the barangay of Saoit.

Upon arrival at the area they were awed by the wonderful sight, the beach area, cave and the corals. They saw just a few groups of people gathering some black seaweeds or locally called the gamet.

Gamet is a priced seasweed that’s only collected in the season of November to February. Picking is painstakingly done with the use of their hands covered with socks or net to avoid bruising the fingers. Pickers are always at risk of falling on the rocks because they have to run against the waves.