Phil Dizon: Balancing work, family life, and photography

With NYC Chief Technology Officer Minerva Tantoco at the opening of his Philippine Center exhibit in Manhattan

With NYC Chief Technology Officer Minerva Tantoco at the opening of his Philippine Center exhibit in Manhattan

‘Kaputiputian’

‘Kaputiputian’

By Cristina Dc Pastor

Photography did not come to Phil Dizon in a dream.

The muse he met as an exchange student in Colorado when he got hold of a borrowed camera. He pursued it all the way to UCLA where he met a Vogue photographer who would one day be his mentor.

“In high school, I was an exchange student in Colorado,” he began. “My foster dad lent me his Canon FTB, and with the breathtaking views in picturesque Colorado, I found myself interested in landscape photography.”

Phil and camera had become inseparable since, capturing stunning shots of Colorado’s mountains, roadways, and charming sceneries. His American foster dad taught him how to develop black and white photos in a darkroom, so Phil was well grounded in the basics way before the advent of the handy digital camera.

At UCLA, where he was enrolled in General Studies, Phil attended a fashion photography workshop where he met a photographer who traveled the fashion capitals of the world to do the covers for Vogue and Cosmopolitan. This fortunate encounter would take his photography in a new direction.

“I got so inspired by my mentor who did fashion photography. I thought it was such a glamorous job and was inspired to do the same,” he shared.

Last week, Phil had occasion to unveil a carefully selected collection of landscape and fashion images. In his solo exhibit “Philippine Faces and Places,” presented from July 5 to 15 at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue, he debuted a collection of pictures meant to “highlight the uniqueness of Philippine scenery and culture.”

“For this project, I traveled to iconic landmarks of the Philippines, as well as beautiful places that are less known,” he said in his artist’s statement. “If you are from the Philippines, hopefully this brings back beautiful memories of your homeland. If you are from elsewhere, may these photos inspire you to visit our beautiful country.”

“Very realistic” was heard from many who viewed Phil’s lustrous photos. His glamour portraits featured prominent personalities, such as CEO and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis; president of Seven Seven Corporate Group Macario Fojas; and Mila Sering who is senior managing director for Asia Pacific Sales and Marketing for Seven Seven Global Services.

His landscape photos were, whispered one patron, “mesmerizing.” Two images stood out. One, the Tayid lighthouse in Batanes snapped at 3 in the morning to capture the stellar attraction of the Milky Way. The second, the Mayon volcano at 5:30 a.m. Nursing a fever, he trekked the Albay Gulf looking for the right location for the volcano’s superb symmetry. For Phil, it has to be the perfect shot. No technical tweaking will do.

During the exhibit, Phil’s children Jessica and Justin, helped entertain their father’s many guests. Phil lost his wife eight years ago, and his children have remained at the center of his life.

“Being a single parent keeps me grounded, my priorities are my kids,” he told The FilAm in an interview. “I’m trying to pass on the right values to them.”

Phil reveres photography as art and also makes it work for him as bread and butter. On his return from studies in the U.S., he opened a studio, Voyeur Visage Studio in Shoppesville Mall in Greenhills. That storefront has recently acquired the eponymous name Phildiz after its owner and founder. There are now two Phildiz studios in Manila. A third one is slated to be inaugurated by the end of the year, and a fourth in Tagaytay is “still in the works,” he said. In-house and freelance photographers handle school portraits, weddings, family events and other commercial assignments.

Pharmaceutical executive
In his opening remarks, Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. noted how Phil is equally an accomplished businessman. He is CEO of Vendiz, the family-owned pharmaceutical company, founded by his father Ven Dizon.

“Mostly we sell opthalmics, otics, cream and ointments, capsules, and tablets,” he said, explaining how the family has been in the business of eye care for more than 25 years. “I’ve been the CEO since November 2007.”

Phil is also the vice president for business development at Ashford Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Inc., which manufacturers the products sold by Vendiz. Ashford was acquired by his family 26 years ago, and is currently managed by his brother, Gary. He stressed all their products meet global standards.

Being on a constant quest to photograph an alluring face or an intriguing location has “taught me a lot,” he said. Photography has been with him half his life allowing him to travel to many places, meet important people, and establish enduring friendships. He is reminded of what his grandfather used to say, “If money is lost, nothing is lost. If health is lost, something is lost. If character is lost, everything is lost!”

He reflects on this aphorism every now and then and hopes his children understand the wisdom behind it.

Mila Sering

Mila Sering


‘Handful of Heat’

‘Handful of Heat’


‘Diwatang Magayon’

‘Diwatang Magayon’

red line



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