The Big Celebration… Wish I could be there

2008 marks IPMS Philippines Bert Anido’s 40th year.  2008 also marks the 6th National Scale Model Competition being hosted by the club…  So what is IPMS anyway?

International Plastic Modellers Society or IPMS is an organization for plastic model enthusiasts.  In the Philippines, the first one was started way back in May 1968 by a Philippine Air Force Reserve Pilot named Alberto “Bert” Anido.  He was a member of both IPMS UK and IPMS USA and one day, he thought, hey why not put up an IPMS for the Philippines?

In the year 2003, the Philippines’ Scale Model World suffered a great loss when he passed away.  As a tribute, IPMS Philippines affixed his name to the club’s name.

Now known as IPMS Philippines-Bert Anido forty years after its foundation, the club has grown so much and now have chapters of its own under it.  It has continued to foster the kind of camaraderie, friendship and sense of being a big family among its members that can never be rivaled by other modeling clubs that have sprouted after the founder’s passing.

IPMS Philippines Bert Anido’s Nationals has become a tradition on its own.  Every year in the last quarter, modellers and spectators alike would come to witness the exhibit spread before them.  This year, participants would once again gather at the Atrium of SM Megamall in Pasig City.

Submission of entries will start on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008 and will continue on until Nov. 24, 2008 during mall hours.  The display will be there until Nov. 29, 2008.

It warms me all over with merely the thought of me being a part of this club.  It saddens me, however, that I have to be some place else throughout the display.

Work has dictated that I have to go to the head office for almost a month.  As exciting as it can be for me, I would have to miss this event.  The event that I have been looking forward to for a really long time.

Those who can, please drop by.  There are no entrance fees.  Just take some time to allow yourself to be zapped back into time or zapped forward into the future by seeing the models spread before your very eyes.

The group would really appreciate if you could link to them just like this: