Revisiting Bacarra: A Photo Exhibit by the Bacarrenos

With the drive to help the community promote the tourism in Bacarra, tipster Andie Lamug conceptualized and proposed a photo exhibit project entitled Revisiting Bacarra: A Photo Exhibit by the Bacarrenos.

He invited other tipsters from Bacarra to help put up this project that includes Edwin Tangonan and Archi Joseph Reginaldo with the special participation of Alaric Yanos.

The photo exhibit runs from March 28 to April 4 at the Salakot ni Andres. Various photos featuring beautiful sights and historical landmarks of Bacarra were showcased. These photos were on sale and a cut of the sales goes to the church.

Adams commissions TIPS for its tourism photo project

It was during the Ragrag-o Photo Exhibit at the Capitol where Dr. Bielmaju Bawingan, Municipal Health Officer and First Lady of the municipality of Adams got attracted to the photos exhibited by TIPS. She was happy to see one of the photos in Adams being showcased.

From there on, she talked to the members and officers. She then commissioned TIPS for a tourism photo project where she invited the members to visit Adams for a photo shoot. It was an all-expense paid trip to their town. The photos shall be used for tourism brochures and for a future photo exhibit to promote the town of Adams.

Adams is considered to be a paradise for its beautiful sights and sceneries. It is a one barangay town located in the uplands. This is a home for several indigenous groups of people such as the Bago, Immalod, Kankanaey, Yapayao and Yloco.

Alaric Yanos, Bryan Rapadas, Dr. Edwin Antonio, Archi Joseph Reginaldo and Edwin Tangonan were the tipsters who made it to Adams for the photo shoot. They were met up by the guides at Panzian highway and served with breakfast composed of brown rice, longganisa and tortang talong. Later, Dr. Biel arrived and briefed the group about the itinerary.

Each of the members was deployed to a certain waterfalls area. Alaric was assigned to Maligligay Falls, Dr Edwin has the Pao Falls, Bryan documented Inuwayan Falls and four others, while Archi Joseph and Edwin joined forces covering Abbas, Kanayupan and Aki Falls.

After the landscape photography, food photography was slated next. The locals prepared native and exotic food from brown rice, wild ferns salad, balbalusa to adobong igat. The group ate the same food that they photographed. Then a model or portraiture shoot with the locals in their tribal costumes was done later.

The group was later sent off to their homestay at Annavic’s place. Tipsters took time to freshen up by taking a dip in the Bolo River. After which they were served with a sumptuous dinner. The group was invited at Dr Biel’s place for wine drinking over a serenade of a local string band. They were also offered the breaded fried frog to try. Dr. Biel called it a night soon after finishing the wine.

On the next day, the group was taken to the Lovers Peak where tipsters shot the sunrise against the mountain ranges. Product photography was later conducted with a visit to Lola Ingga’s Tapuey winery. A shot of the brooms made of tiger grass was also included. The group roamed around to shoot homestay places. The lunch was set at a hut beside a fishpond. This was Lyns place.

The last stop was at the winery of Dr Biel where we tasted different types of wines particulary the bugnay wine. She gifted the group members with bottles of bugnay wine, vinegar and brooms to take home to Laoag.

This was another fun-filled and most memorable photo shoot assignment for the participating tipsters.

2nd wave of TIPS membership application approaches

As the second year of TIPS' existence approaches, we are opening our doors to welcome new membership applicants. We will hold a meet and greet for those interested. It will be on April 5 at 6pm, in Saramsam Restaurant, Rizal Street, Laoag City.

Who are we looking for?
Ilocos-based photography enthusiasts who have their own camera and know his/her way around all the dizzying camera menus and commands. The applicant should have the eagerness to continually learn about photography, and be willing to share his/her existing knowledge to the group.

During the meet and greet, kindly bring 12-20 jpgs or printed photos which show your photography skill and passion. Be prepared to say a little something about the photos. Those who make a good first impression will undergo a three-month screening which involves shooting alongside official members on various photo opportunities as well as participating in photo contests exclusive to the new applicants only.

Please confirm your attendance to the meeting by commenting on this blog post or by sending an email to: ilocandiaphotographic[at]yahoo[dot]com. Don't hesitate to email us if you have any questions.

TIPS membership opening happens only twice a year, so, grab this opportunity now! :-D

TIPS captures scenes from martial arts tournament

After attending the Gamet Festival in the town of Burgos, Alaric Yanos and Dr. Edwin Antonio rushed to Laoag to witness the first ever mixed martial arts tournament entitled Suntukan sa Laoag upon the invitation of Luis Tugas, one of the organizers of this event. This was the very first time that a contact sport like this was held in Ilocos.

Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is a full combat contact sport employing a wide array of fighting techniques and skills. It allows the use of striking and grappling techniques in standing and in the ground. This event is also called shooto, freestyle fighting, no holds barred (NHB) and Ultimate Fighting Championships was founded from this.



It was conceptualized and organized by the officers and members of Sangguniang Kabataan headed SK Federation President Rudys Caesar Farinas. It was a big success since it had 16 pairs who matched and fought in this event. Prior to that, weighing of each competitor and face off was done. This was mostly participated in by local amateurs and some professional fighters from Benguet, Manila, US and Egypt. It was a thrilling event and a great suspense. Backbreaking and some were bloody matches but competitors were pitted against one another with the observance of maximum rules for safety.

This was a new photographic experience for TIPS particularly in the area of sports.

TIPS documents Guling-guling, Pamulinawen, and Ragrag-o Festivals

February is the busiest month in the province of Ilocos Norte. Several events are usually held in celebration of various festivals. The Ilocandia Photographic Society (TIPS) members went to cover most of these events.

Ragrag-o Festival was the first one on the line. It was held on February 2, 2010. It was the 192nd founding anniversary of the province of Ilocos Norte where all the municipalities were invited to perform and compete with each other. Tribal groups from the towns of Adams, Dumalneg, Carasi and Nueva Era joined this event. There was a float parade followed by dance showdown where the towns of Vintar, San Nicolas and Batac emerged as winners placing as 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place respectively.

It was followed by Pamulinawen Festival held on February 10, 2010. Again, the different municipalities of Ilocos Norte, different institutions in Laoag City and including guest competing groups such as Santa Maria from Ilocos Sur competed with each other for the much coveted plum prize of Php100,000. After the showdown, the board of judges composed of people from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts were convinced that Ilocos Norte National High School should take home the grand prize. Second place went with La Paz School of Fisheries and the third place was given to San Nicolas group.

Guling-guling festival is an event close to the hearts of the TIPS members. This is because majority of them met here a year ago. So again majority of the members went to cover this event on February 16, 2010. Most of the barangays in town participated in the street pageantry displaying their beautiful abel costumes with their ever graceful dance choreography. Guling-guling is the last day of celebrations and merrymaking before the Lenten Season. Later on that day, the group proceeded to celebrate the birthday of member Ronald Macatulad at his home in the same town of Paoay.

TIPS takes part in Ms Laoag Pageant

With the growing popularity of the The Ilocandia Photographic Society (TIPS) in the local community, the group was tapped to participate in the Miss Laoag City Pageant, one of the highlights of the Pamulinawen Festival, specifically in the question and answer portion.

They were requested to act as paparazzi covering the lovely candidates as they sashayed down the ramp before they posed for a question from TIPS. Each member of TIPS was asked to present his or her photo work to the candidates and derive question from there.

A total of 16 photographs was presented during the pageant night. Alaric Yanos, Anthony Ramos, Dr. Robert Luzod, Ronald Macatulad, Michael Ong, Ferina Albano, Dr. Edwin Antonio, Lorna Tolentino-Macatulad, Joseph Reginaldo, Andie Lamug and Bryan Rapadas were the TIPS members who participated. The pageant was shown live regionwide on cable network.

Capitol and TIPS unveil the Ragrag-o Photos

On the occasion of the celebration of the 192nd foundation anniversary of Ilocos Norte Province, the Capitol and TIPS opened to the public the viewing of the Ragrag-o exhibit photos. The exhibit composed of photographs of breathtaking destinations and attractions in the province. It also included Ilocano culture and traditions.

Hon. Oscar P. Palabyab, Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism, led the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon assisted by Hon. Martin S. Valera, Regional Director of Ilocos Region of the Department of Tourism in the presence of Board Members Renato Peralta and Portia Salenda, former city administrator Gloria Peralta, and other key personalities in the province. Dr. Jose Orosa III, president of TIPS was present in the event together with other TIPS members Dr. Robert Luzod, Dr. Edwin Antonio, Alaric Yanos, Michael Ong and Joseph Reginaldo.

In the same event, the entries for the in-club photo contest with the theme abstract were also exhibited. The winners of the same contest were announced during the exhibit opening.