Azalea Residences Baguio: From Glowing Art to Heartfelt Wishes
Azalea Residences Baguio welcomes travelers with the perfect balance of comfort, convenience, and modern design in the heart of the City of Pines. Nestled along
Baguio City
The Pulse of Heritage in the Age of Progress
Ibagiw 2025 Brought Timeless Art to Life
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- Baguio City
The Ibagiw 2025 exhibition curated by Cordillerian artist Clinton Aniversario brought together over 30 local creators in a showcase that blended tradition with modern expression inside the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. Featuring everything from weaving and metalwork to mixed-media pieces, the exhibit highlighted the festival theme “Traditions Rooted, Futures Routed” through works that reflected both cultural heritage and contemporary perspectives. Standout elements like Aniversario’s hands-on Camera Box and the sculptural display of a Large Wooden Sugarcane Press offered visitors a fresh way to engage with Cordilleran stories. The space became a welcoming stop for travelers, students, and art enthusiasts, giving them a meaningful glimpse into Baguio’s creative identity and the evolving dialogue between past and progress.
Explore the Philippines through my lens as we venture into The Pulse of Heritage in the Age of Progress with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll guide you on an interactive tour, revealing the behind-the-scenes of capturing the shots shared here. Let’s dive into this visual journey together and uncover the wonders through my lens!
Let’s explore the PHILIPPINES through my lens as we journey on a photo slideshow to The Pulse of Heritage in the Age of Progress. Join me in this visual adventure and discover the wonders captured through my lens! Check out the shared slideshow here.
Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, has long carried a creative pulse — the kind that threads through its cool air and lively communities. In 2025, the Ibagiw Creative Festival continued that tradition, and one of its most memorable highlights was an exhibition curated by Cordillerian artist Clinton Aniversario at the basement level of the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center (BCCC). The showcase brought together contemporary ideas and deep cultural grounding in a way that genuinely resonated with visitors.
Check out the video for more highlights. See what I’ve captured through my lens with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll take you on an interactive tour, showing you behind-the-scenes moments of capturing the shots shared here.
Check out the video below for additional features. Explore what I’ve captured through my lens in this cinematic slideshow.
Celebrating Baguio’s Creativity
“The Pulse of Heritage in the Age of Progress” formed part of the Ibagiw Festival, Baguio City’s month-long celebration of art, crafts, and local talent spearheaded by the Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC). The festival’s name stemmed from bagiw, the Ibaloi word for moss, symbolizing something rooted firmly in Baguio’s identity.
Since Baguio’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City in 2017, Ibagiw grew into a dynamic platform for weaving, woodwork, visual arts, and stories from local communities. The 2025 theme, “Traditions Rooted, Futures Routed,” was launched on November 14 with a ceremonial ritual at the BCCC. During the opening, CBCC Co-Chair Ms. Marie Venus Tan emphasized how tradition served as a grounding point that allowed artists to express themselves freely. Honestly, that idea echoed strongly across the entire exhibit.
A Journey Through Art and Culture
Curated by Clinton Aniversario, the exhibit showcased works from more than 30 artists — painters, photographers, sculptors, textile makers, and creators exploring newer mediums. You know what? Walking through the space felt like moving through different eras of Cordilleran life, where traditional techniques and modern experimentation met in unexpected but meaningful ways.
Intricate weaving, expressive metalwork, abstract pieces, and mixed-media explorations filled the gallery. Each work carried its own narrative while contributing to a broader dialogue about heritage and how the region’s creative community continues to evolve.
Clinton Aniversario’s Camera Box
A standout attraction was Clinton Aniversario’s Camera Box, an installation that invited guests to experience analog photography firsthand. Let me explain — in a digital world where everything is instant, the Camera Box slowed the pace and turned each image into a small personal moment. This blend of nostalgia and artistic play encouraged visitors to think about memory, storytelling, and the beauty of older photographic practices that still hold a certain magic today.
The Large Wooden Sugarcane Press
Another striking element was the Large Wooden Sugarcane Press, a traditional Cordilleran tool for extracting sugarcane juice. Displayed as a sculptural centerpiece, it highlighted the craftsmanship behind everyday agricultural implements. The reinterpretation allowed viewers to see the region’s farming heritage through a creative lens, reminding them that even utilitarian objects carry cultural depth.
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Welcoming and Accessible
Set in the basement of the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, the exhibit offered an inviting space for students, travelers, and art lovers alike. The layout encouraged visitors to take their time, explore details up close, and appreciate the quiet stories woven into each artwork. It served as a refreshing pause from the city’s busy streets, giving people a chance to connect with Baguio’s creative identity in a more personal way.
Connecting Tradition with Progress
The exhibit reflected the festival’s theme with clarity. “Traditions Rooted, Futures Routed” wasn’t just a tagline — it represented how Baguio and the Cordilleras continued to honor their heritage while fostering new ideas. Through the works of both emerging and established creators, the exhibit highlighted a community that embraced change without losing the cultural foundations that shaped it.
A Cultural Highlight for Travelers
For travelers who explored Ibagiw 2025, Clinton Aniversario’s exhibition offered more than visual appreciation. It provided insight into Baguio’s character — its rhythm, its stories, and its evolving art scene. You could say it revealed the city’s beating heart, shaped by tradition but always ready to reimagine itself.
Whether visitors came seeking inspiration, cultural understanding, or simply an engaging experience, the exhibition stood out as a memorable journey through Baguio’s creative landscape, showing how heritage and progress can sit together comfortably and keep pushing the city’s artistic story forward.
I’m looking forward to the stories and images leaving a lasting positive impression on you, just as they have on me. Stay connected with us on social media for a weekly exploration of travel assignments and breathtaking visuals. Our focus is on championing local tourism, showcasing small businesses, and honoring the magnificence of the Philippines through the content we curate. Join us in spreading the word by clicking the ‘share’ buttons below. Your support means the world to us.
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