PGIN opens 3rd Tan-ok fest

LAOAG CITY, Nov. 15 – The provincial government of Ilocos Norte opened the month-long Tan-ok ni Ilocano (Ilocano pride) festival with an animation workshop held at the La Tabacalera Function Hall here.

The festival is an occasion to display local culture. It runs until December 6.

The three- day workshop, which was set November 13-15, aimed to enhance Ilocano talents in animation production promoting various cultures, tradition and practices in the province.

The art’s seminar also provided young Ilocanos the opportunity to unleash their creativity in animation and explore local culture and heritage for artistic inspiration for a short film representing the northern region in animated local tales.

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos realized the arts’ training considering animation as one of the effective tools to engage the youths and artists in the preservation and revitalization of the Ilocano cultures.

The resources speakers of the seminar were prominent artists from the Creative Media (CREAM) and Film Society of the Philippines namely: Mark Anthony Ballesteros – the animation director of CREAM and a freelance animator of Toon City Animation Studio; Eugene Floyd Cruz – an animator awardee for best visual/special efects for the movie Pintakasi; Michael Magpantay – the current Creative Director of CREAM; and Armando Paz -a freelance layout artist at Toon City and DQ Animation Studio and currently working at CREAM studio. (FREDDIE G. LAZARO)