Meet The Artisans

Behind every local product is astory of dedication and tradition. Meet the artisans and small businesess who keep Ilocos Sur's culture alive.

Riel Hilario

Born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, to a family of traditional furniture makers and woodcarvers, Riel Hilario did not take to craft-based work until very late in his formative career as an artist. His initial efforts were in cultural work, especially in curatorial practice, following his diverse art studies at the Philippine High School for the Arts and his research-based studies of Art History at the University of the Philippines. He was curator of Boston Art Gallery and Pinto Art Gallery for seven years, and a co-founder of the educational program of Artinformal in 2004. After exhibiting as a painter for several years since his first one-man show in 1996, he turned to work with wood carving and the tradition of rebulto-making that his family in Ilocos was also known for. By re-learning the craft and retooling to be a potent sculptural language in the platform of contemporary art, Hilario pressed for a full time career in sculpture in 2008. He produced wood carved sculptures that were elements to an installation work, often sourcing his dreams for imagery and without the benefit of studies and designs, spontaneously worked on mid to large scale works that were surreal in their construction and iconography .

He is a recipient of the 2012 CCP 13 Artist Award and has residencies in Paris and New York from 2012 to 2013, where he also held solo exhibits.

https://pintoart.org/riel-hilario

Fidel Go

The art and technology of making burnays were brought to Vigan by Chinese artisans. For which, the art of making burnays existed in the area of Vigan right before the Spaniards came in 1572. These Chinese artisans, who built this industry relied on the locals of Vigan for their clay and labor. The industry of making burnays prosper in 1890, when Pedro Go, a Chinese settler from Chinkang, in Fukien, Mainland China set-upped his camarin (jar factory) along what is now known as Rivero Street in Brgy. VIII. Later on around 1916, Ongkai Go, son of Pedro Go’s brother, came to the Philippines and worked with him, however, Ongkai went back to China to get marry when he was 18 years old.

Ongkai went back to the Philippines in 1922, and together with his cousin Igan Go, they built their own jar factory known until today as Ruby Pottery. Years later, the son of the late Ongkai, Fidel Go, inherited the factory from Igan Go. Continuing the tradition of the craft inherited and preserving the art of making burnays, Fidel Go was awarded with the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Folk Artist Award) of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts in 1990.

Mr. and Mrs. Ambrocio T. Felipe

The Ambros Ilocos Cornik was established in 1983 by Mr. and Mrs. Ambrocio T. Felipe. It is the first and original manufacturer of cornick industry in Candon City, Ilocos Sur that began from a small production with simple packaging and minimal sales.

The product demand increased in 1989 when more consumers and customers have come to know about the business. It continually increases because of the promising profitable business opportunity. This urges some buyers to kick start generating income through selling the product in their own way too.

The Ambros Ilocos Cornik is manufactured from glutinous white corn kernels which are widely produced in the Ilocos Region. The corn kernels are carefully cooked in multiple stages with quality control checks in between. This is very essential in maintaining the crunchy, delectable cornick that we know today.

Ambros Ilocos Cornik is then seasoned according to the most anticipated needs and preference of individuals. It comes in different flavors where consumers can readily choose from: Garlic flavor, Garlic Spicy, Sweet or Sweet and Spicy, BBQ, and Cheese. Garlic flavor has always been the best seller.

The demand for Ambros Ilocos Cornik manufacturing and production has improved significantly throughout the years. It has opened channels for business opportunities and employment for the people of Ilocos as well as the other clients from different parts of the country. The export market for the cornick has also been significant through our OFW clients bringing it to different countries across the world.

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