TIPS documents Begnas Ylocos Festival

After several postponements of the holding of the Begnas Ylocos Festival, finally it was celebrated on December 29, 2009 at the town of Galimuyod and the city of Candon in Ilocos Sur.

Dr. Edwin Antonio, after attending several festivals in Ilocos Norte, he rushed to Candon in the wee hours of the morning to catch up and witness the said event. He was warmly received by the people of Galimuyod especially Mayor Jessie Balingsat to his right on the above photo.

The festival is now on its second year. This is a big gathering of the tribal groups in the province of Ilocos Sur. Tingguians, Bago, Isneg, and Igorots are some of the existing tribes in the province. The event is participated in by majority of the towns of Ilocos Sur.

TIPS covers Damili and Siwawer Festivals

In the 100 years celebration of the founding of the two towns of Ilocos Norte, The Ilocandia Photographic Society (TIPS) was there to document the events through the lenses.

The town of Vintar celebrated its centennial through Siwawer Festival on December 27, 2009. It’s a tribute to the symbolic icon Siwawer, specie of bird. A dance parade highlighted the one month celebration. Dr. Edwin Antonio and Alaric Yanos were there to witness the event.

While the town of San Nicolas celebrated its 100 years through Damili Festival on December 28, 2009. This is a festival that pays tribute to their town’s main product, ceramic pot or damili. A street pageantry was held to highlight the affair. Dr. Jose Orosa III, Alaric Yanos, Dr. Edwin Antonio and Joseph Andie Lamug covered the historic event.

A Photo Workshop cum Christmas Party of TIPS held in Vigan

As a commitment to continuing education to members and aspiring members of The Ilocandia Photographic Society, a photography lecture and workshop was held in Ilocos Sur on December 13, 2009.

The first part of the program was the lecture on light room rendered by Alaric Yanos and Andie Lamug and lecture on studio lighting and ethical treatment of models by Ronald Macatulad and Michael Ong.

A model shoot was later held at the Arce Mansion where we were allowed by the designer and entrepreneur Lito Perez of Camp Suki to use it for free. Vintage materials from dining tables, cutleries, chandeliers and whatnot were there to amaze the group and let them traveled back to the past. There was a wide array of collection of colonial costumes available for the models like Sally, Filan and Gem of Tropica Ilocandia and Carlo who rendered their services free of charge. They were also joined by tipsters Lorna, Doc Edwin and Bryan to model other costumes. They hopped to another timeless venue that was the Heritage Village or the Crisologo Street.

The second part of the program was the dinner and Christmas party of the participants held at Epektos Resto Bar with owner Mawie Chan who graciously hosted the group. The group had a few bottles of beer and sang the night out.

TIPS attends an Art Exhibit

The Ilocandia Photographic Society (TIPS) was invited by Dr Joven Cuanang, owner of the Sitio Remedios Resort to attend the launching of the art exhibit of Antonio Leano entitled Anthropometrics.

The art exhibit was held at Sitio Remedios in Victoria, Currimao on December 5, 2009. The exhibit was composed of mixed media arts where it portrayed women in their baro’t saya, Jesuit priests and illustrados in their studio poses. Anthropometry is basically measurement of people in order to better understand physical differences.

Dr. Jose Orosa, Alaric Yanos, Dr. Edwin Antonio and Bryan Rapadas were the TIPS members who attended and met the featured artist. They had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the patron of art Dr Cuanang and he proposed photo project for TIPS.

"Low Key" in-club photo contest winners

The entries in the third in-club photo contest of The Ilocandia Photographic Society were exhibited at Saramsam Cafe in Laoag City and the contest has recently been concluded. Here are all the entries and winners of this "Low Key" photo competition.


"Low key portrait"

1. Ronald Macatulad, 2. Lorna Tolentino-Macatulad, 3. Joseph Andie Lamug, 4. Joseph Reginaldo, 5. Michael Ong, 6. Neil Ratuita, 7. Dr. robert Francis G. Luzod7, 8. Alaric Yanos, 9. Edwin Antonio, 10. Jose B. Orosa III, 11. Bryan Rapadas, 12. Mawie Chan



"Low Key Landscape"

1. Michael Ong, 2. Jose B. Orosa III, 3. Mawie Chan, 4. Lorna Tolentino-Macatulad, 5. Ronald Macatulad, 6. Neil Ratuita, 7. Joseph Reginaldo, 8. Bryan Rapadas, 9. Joseph Andie Lamug/a>, 10. Alaric Yanos, 11. Edwin Antonio



"Low key still life"

1. Mawie Chan, 2. Alaric Yanos, 3. Bryan Rapadas, 4. Neil Ratuita, 5. Edwin Antonio, 6. Michael Ong, 7. Joseph Reginaldo, 8. Jose B. Orosa III, 9. Lorna Tolentino-Macatulad, 10. Ronald Macatulad


AND the winners are!


1. Ronald T. Macatulad, 2. Michael C. Ong, 3. Lorna Tolentino-Macatulad, 4. Joseph Andie R. Lamug, 5. Mawie Chan




1. Michael C. Ong, 2. Joseph Andie R. Lamug, 3. Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, 4. Mawie Chan, 5. Neil G. Ratuita



1. Alaric Yanos, 2. Mawie Chan, 3. Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, 4. Michael C. Ong, 5. Lorna Tolentino-Macatulad

Huge thanks to Mr. Neil Garcia, Editor-in-chief of the best photography magazine out there: I-Mag Photography Magazine, for selecting the top photos in each category Agyaman kami unay, apo!!! ^_^

Incidentally, we also organized a photo contest for the TIPS newcomers to participate in. And the best three photos from the 18 photos submitted by the nine TIPS applicants are:

by Godwinn Vicente

by Raffy Pasalo

by Edward Bulusan


Congratulations to all of us! :-D

TIPS covers Bac-bacarra Festival

As a tribute to the extinct local fish called bac-baccara which the name of the town Bacarra was derived from, a festival celebration is being held annually. The Ilocandia Photographic Society (TIPS) went to document the said event on November 30.

Tipsters Alaric Yanos, Bryan Rapadas, Michael Ong, Dr. Edwin Antonio, Archi. Joseph Reginaldo and Andie Lamug went to experience the said festival. The highlight of the festival was the street dancing parade. There were only nine groups who participated in the parade.

Prior to the dance parade, when some of the tipsters who went to shoot dance parade participants on their preparation, they shy away from the cameras. It was learned that locals were aloof of photographers because of their experience that an old time photographer based there shoot people and let them pay for the photos.

After the event, they went on a photo op at the historical landmark of the town that is the Bacarra Domeless Tower.

TIPS receives certificates from Hawaii

On November 19, Dr. Jose Orosa III, TIPS president called a general assembly meeting with the main agendum of evaluation of the Gameng Photo Exhibit in Hawaii, USA.

Dr. Edwin Antonio who represented TIPS in the said photo exhibit at the University of Hawaii at Manoa described to the group the rigors as well as the excitement of putting up an exhibit in an international level. He presented the photos and video documentation of the exhibit.

Dr Antonio turned over to TIPS president the certificate of appreciation given by the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He remitted the sales in US dollars to each exhibitor who sold their photos. One by one, he awarded the certificates to every exhibitor.


Lastly, TIPS president Dr. Orosa gave a speech in a happy reaction to the success of the photo exhibit.